Where Can You Use Screw-In Ice Studs: ATVs, UTVs, Tractors and Heavy Equipment

Most people find carbide studs while solving one specific problem. A side-by-side that won't hold a driveway. A tractor spinning in a frozen feedlot. A skid steer sliding on a job site that froze overnight. The stud fixes that problem, and that's usually where the thinking stops.

What's less obvious is that the same product line covers nearly everything else on the property. The machine changes, the surface changes, the loads change, but the underlying problem is identical: rubber has almost no grip on hard ice, and a carbide tip does.

This is a guide to the range. Which machines take screw-in carbide studs, which INS Products line suits each one, and where studs genuinely aren't the answer. All studs use Hold-Tite™ threads, need no pre-drilling, and are proudly made in the USA.

One Principle Covers Every Machine

Before the machine-by-machine breakdown, it's worth understanding why the same product works across such a wide range. Two things make it possible.

The stud installs into rubber, not into the vehicle. A Hold-Tite™ thread self-taps into lug material  tire or track; it doesn't matter. Nothing is bolted to the machine, nothing is drilled through structure, and no vehicle-specific fitment is involved. If it has rubber lugs with enough depth, it can take a stud.

Sizing is by lug height, not by vehicle. You don't order studs for a make and model. You measure the lug base to top and match a thread length to it. A compact tractor and a wheel loader might well take the same stud if their lugs measure the same.

That's the whole system. Which product line you choose depends on the surface you work on; which size depends on your lug measurement. Everything below is an application of those two rules.

 ATVs and UTVs

Side-by-sides and quads are where studs often make the most immediately obvious difference, because these machines carry real momentum without the weight to plant tires on ice. Aggressive mud tread that works beautifully in July does almost nothing on hardpack in January.

Common winter uses

• Trail riding on packed snow and ice
• Plowing driveways and yards; push power depends entirely on grip
• Hunting and property access on frozen ground
• Towing sleds, trailers, and firewood
• Reaching outbuildings, stands, and equipment across frozen terrain

Which line

For trails, frozen ground, and mixed off-road terrain, Gripmasters® are the fit; the oversized carbide head is built for hard ice and rough surfaces. For machines that mainly plow paved driveways and lots, Roadmasters® are purpose-built for icy pavement.

Worth noting: Roadmasters® are intended for icy driveways, lots, and local surfaces, not high-speed highway use. Rules on studded tires and road-legal UTVs also vary by state and municipality, so check local regulations before planning around road use.

3Tractors and Agricultural Equipment

Farm work doesn't pause for ice, and a frozen yard creates problems that go beyond inconvenience. Loader work with a raised bucket on ice is genuinely hazardous, and a tractor that can't hold footing on a sloped approach is a machine you can't safely use.

Common winter uses

• Feeding and bedding in frozen feedlots and barn approaches
• Loader work where weight transfer forward unloads the rear tires
• Moving round bales and equipment across icy ground
• Snow removal on farm lanes and yards
• General property access on frozen, rutted ground

Which line

Gripmasters® suit most agricultural use; frozen dirt, mud, rutted ground, and gravel lanes are exactly what all-terrain studs are for. Tractor tires vary enormously in lug depth between models and tire types, so measuring matters more here than almost anywhere else. Don't assume the front and rear tires take the same size.

Two things worth planning for. Ag tires often carry deeper lugs than equipment tires, which means the 1" thread length comes into play more often than on other machines; measure before assuming a mid-range size. And if you run duals, decide up front whether you're studding both wheels or just the inner, because a half-studded dual gives you uneven grip across a contact patch that's meant to work as one.

Skid Steers and Compact Loaders

Skid steers are especially vulnerable on ice. They steer by differential wheel speed, which means they need to slip to turn  fine on dirt, uncontrolled on hardpack. Add significant weight over a short wheelbase, and every pass polishes the surface a little further.

Common winter uses

• Site work on frozen or ice-packed ground
• Snow pushing and stockpile work
• Material handling on frozen yards
• Ramp and slope work where lateral slide is the real risk

Which line

Gripmasters® for job sites, gravel yards, and frozen ground; Roadmasters® for machines working paved lots and finished concrete. Both install into pneumatic tires, and Gripmasters® also work in rubber track lugs, which makes them unusual in this category. See the skid steer traction collection for the full range.

 Construction and Heavy Equipment

Larger machines bring larger consequences. A wheel loader sliding on a ramp, an excavator repositioning on frozen ground, or a crawler carrier working a pipeline right-of-way, these are situations where traction loss is a safety event, not a productivity one.

Common applications

• Wheel loaders and graders on frozen sites
• Backhoes traveling between work areas on ice
• Excavators repositioning on frozen or sloped ground
• Crawler carriers and pipeline equipment on rough frozen terrain
• Site vehicles crossing packed snow and ice daily

Which line

Gripmasters® cover a wide span of equipment sizes across three thread lengths. For the largest machines, Traction Kings® use a 1½" (38mm) thread with a substantially larger carbide head  ¾" wide by ⅝" high, designed for crawler carriers, excavators, large loaders, pipeline machinery, and military vehicles. Available in 50, 100, and 250 packs. Check current availability before planning around them.

Forestry, Mining, and Specialist Operations

These sectors share a common problem: the work happens where the terrain is worst, the machines are expensive, and stopping for weather isn't an option.

• Forestry and land clearing on frozen ground and icy log yards
• Mining vehicles on packed haul roads, ice, and rock
• Pipeline and utility access across rough frozen right-of-way
• Military and defense vehicles on ice, frozen ground, and unimproved terrain

Gripmasters® handle most of this range; Traction Kings® are built for the largest and most demanding machines. Because these operations typically stud entire fleets, custom quantities are worth discussing directly; call 585-678-9106 or email carbide@insproducts.net.

 Snow Removal, Forklifts, and Yard Equipment

Machines that work paved surfaces have different requirements. They need a controlled grip on ice without the aggressive protrusion suited to broken ground, and they cross finished concrete regularly, where chains cause real damage.

• Snow removal equipment working lots, driveways, and walkways
• Forklifts and tow motors in yards, loading areas, and cold storage approaches
• Commercial vehicles moving between paved areas in winter
• Property maintenance equipment on icy paved surfaces

Roadmasters® are the line for this work, available in 15mm, 18mm, and 25mm. Again: designed for icy driveways, lots, and local roads, not high-speed highway use.

Beyond Vehicles: Snowmobiles and Boots

The same carbide technology covers two applications that aren't vehicles with tires at all.

Snowmobile studs: Icemasters® screw directly into track lugs with no drilling, while Hornets and Fatheads use a traditional push-through installation with backer plates. Same carbide principle, different retention method.

Boot studs: Bootmasters® and Rock Grabrz™ thread into boot outsoles for ice fishing, wading, winter work, and hiking. If you're studding the machine, studding the boots you walk around it in is worth considering.

 Where Screw-In Studs Aren't the Answer

Quick Reference: Which Line for Which Machine

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the same studs work on different machines?

Often yes. Studs are sized by lug height, not by vehicle, so a tractor and a loader with similar lug depth may take the same thread length. What changes is which line you choose, and that depends on the surface, not the machine.

Do I need to drill holes first?

No. INS Products screw-in studs use Hold-Tite™ threads that self-tap into lug rubber. That's true across tires and rubber tracks alike, and it's what makes the install manageable without specialist equipment.

Will studs work on rubber tracks as well as tires?

Yes. Gripmasters® install into rubber track lugs the same way as pneumatic tires, which is unusual in this product category and one reason they suit mixed fleets running both wheeled and tracked machines.

How do I know what size I need?

Measure the lug height from the base to the top, keeping the ruler perpendicular. Match the thread length to that measurement without exceeding it. Gripmasters® come in ½", ¾", and 1"; Roadmasters® in 15mm, 18mm, and 25mm. Call 585-678-9106 if you're between sizes.

Are studs better than chains?

On ice, hardpack, and mixed surfaces, generally yes. Better lateral stability, no pavement damage, faster to fit, and compatible with tracked machines. In deep loose snow, chains still have a real argument. Match the tool to the conditions.

Can I stud a whole fleet?

Yes, and custom quantities are available for fleet and commercial orders. Contact INS Products directly rather than ordering pack by pack; call 585-678-9106 or email carbide@insproducts.net.

Can I stud only the drive wheels?

You can, and on some machines it's a reasonable compromise, studding the rear of a tractor that does most of its pulling there, for instance. But be aware you're creating an imbalance: studded wheels grip, unstudded ones don't, and braking and steering behavior will reflect that. On skid steers and other machines that rely on all four corners working together, stud everything.

How many studs will I need per tire?

It depends on tire size, lug pattern, and machine weight. Because Gripmasters® use the industry's largest carbide head, you typically need up to 50% fewer studs than traditional traction methods for comparable grip. Rather than estimate, call with your tire size; it's a short conversation and avoids a reorder.

Are these made in the USA?

Yes. INS Products manufactures its carbide traction products in the USA.

 Final Thoughts: One Principle, Many Machines

The reason screw-in carbide studs cover such a wide range isn't that there are dozens of specialized versions. It's that ice behaves the same way under every machine, and a carbide tip in a rubber lug solves it the same way every time.

Measure your lug height. Pick the line that matches your surface. The machine matters less than most people expect.

INS Products carbide traction studs: solid tungsten carbide tips, Hold-Tite™ threads, no pre-drilling, proudly made in the USA.