Hi Katie! The spikes in the ELMN8 7 are embedded in the spike plate, so dull spikes can indicate that it is time to replace your spikes for the best performance. If you'd like to chat further, our Runner Experience Specialists are here to help! You can connect with us at https://support.brooksrunning.com/hc/en-us/requests/new or via phone at 1-855-427-6657, weekdays 6am-5pm PST. We look forward to hearing from you!