Winter tire stud

1. A stud configured to be inserted into a tread portion of a tire, the stud comprising:

a tip end protruding from the tread portion for contacting a surface, the tip end comprising a radially outer portion with a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, a fifth surface, a sixth surface, and a seventh surface, the first surface defining a quadrilateral and extending radially inward from the fourth surface toward a planar side of the tip end; and

a base including a flanged bottom portion provided on an end opposite the tip end and extending radially outward, a stump portion provided between the bottom portion and the tip end, and a shank portion interconnecting the stump portion and the bottom portion,

the base being embedded and secured in the tread portion of the tire in which the stud is installed, the bottom portion having a tear-drop shape comprising three planar sides and one semi-cylindrical side,

the second surface defining a quadrilateral, the third surface defining a quadrilateral, the fourth surface defining a pentagon, the fifth surface defining a pentagon, the sixth surface defining a pentagon, and the seventh surface defining a pentagon,

the second surface extending radially inward from the first surface toward a first vertical hollow of the tip end, the third surface extending radially inward from the first surface toward a second vertical hollow of the tip end, the fourth surface extending radially inward from the first surface toward a third vertical hollow of the tip end.

2. The stud as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fifth surface defines a pentagon and extends radially inward from the first, second, and third surfaces toward a planar side of the tip end and the first and second vertical hollows of the tip end.

3. The stud as set forth in claim 2 wherein the sixth surface defines a pentagon and extends radially inward from the second surface toward a planar side of the tip end and the first and third vertical hollows of the tip end.

4. The stud as set forth in claim 3 wherein the seventh surface defines a pentagon and extends radially inward from the third surface toward a planar side of the tip end and the second and third vertical hollows of the tip end.

5. The stud as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bottom portion has a “saucer” configuration with an inclined surface extending radially inward from sides of the bottom portion and away from the tip end, the inclined surface having a tear-drop shape.

6. The stud as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bottom portion has a configuration such that an inclined surface extends radially inward from sides of the bottom portion and away from the tip end.

7. A stud configured to be inserted into a tread portion of a tire, the stud comprising:

a tip end protruding from the tread portion for contacting a surface; and

a base including a flanged bottom portion provided on an end opposite the tip end and extending radially outward, a stump portion provided between the bottom portion and the tip end, and a shank portion interconnecting the stump portion and the bottom portion,

the base being embedded and secured in the tread portion of the tire in which the stud is installed, the bottom portion having a tear-drop shape comprising three planar sides and one semi-cylindrical side,

the bottom portion of the base having a “saucer” configuration such that an inclined surface extends radially inward from vertical sides of the bottom portion away from the tip end such that the inclined surface takes on the tear-drop shape of the bottom portion

the stud further including a first surface of the tip end and a second surface of the tip end, the second surface defining a quadrilateral and extending radially inward from the first surface toward the vertical hollow of the tip end.

8. The stud as set forth in claim 7 further including a third surface of the tip end defining a quadrilateral and extending radially inward from the first surface toward a vertical hollow of the tip end.

9. The stud as set forth in claim 7 further including a third surface of the tip end and a fourth surface of the tip end, the fourth surface defining a pentagon and extending radially inward from the first surface toward a vertical hollow of the tip end.

10. The stud as set forth in claim 7 further including a third surface of the tip end, a fourth surface of the tip end, and a fifth surface of the tip end, the fifth surface defining a pentagon and extending radially inward from the first, second, and third surfaces toward a planar side of the tip end and two vertical hollows of the tip end.

11. The stud as set forth in claim 7 further including a third surface of the tip end, a fourth surface of the tip end, a fifth surface of the tip end, and a sixth surface of the tip end, the sixth surface defining a pentagon and extending radially inward from the second surface toward a planar side of the tip end and two vertical hollows of the tip end.

12. The stud as set forth in claim 7 further including a third surface of the tip end, a fourth surface of the tip end, a fifth surface of the tip end, a sixth surface of the tip end, and a seventh surface of the tip end, the seventh surface defining a pentagon and extending radially inward from the third surface toward a planar side of the tip end and two vertical hollows of the tip end.

13. The stud as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bottom portion has a “saucer” configuration with an inclined surface extending radially inward from sides of the bottom portion and away from the tip end, the inclined surface having a tear-drop shape.