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Winter tyres

Posted: 22 Jan 2017, 6:41pm
by Garry Booth
My riding in the morning has been somewhat curtailed by the hard frosts we have been having here in East Anglia. I once came off very badly on black ice and now have no sight in one eye as a result of the injury. Anyway, I was thinking about how on the continent people fit winter tyres on their cars. The idea is that the rubber compound stays soft even when very cold. Does anyone make a bike tyre with such rubber? Or would it make so little difference on a 25mm as not to be worth it?

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 22 Jan 2017, 7:03pm
by Threevok
Compound makes no difference on ice, neither does tread. You may as well be using slicks. Studs are the only defense.

I did an 8 mile mountain loop today, including a cat 4 climb and passed many riders turning back, because the trails were too icy. I however, had the single speed set up for exactly those conditions - complete with spiked tyres.

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 22 Jan 2017, 7:12pm
by hamish
Well I use Continental winter tyres. They aren't studded but use a different tyre compound. Whilst they aren't magic, they do really help on ice.

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 22 Jan 2017, 8:36pm
by gaz
Previous thread discussing difference between "winter" tyres and studded tyres.

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 22 Jan 2017, 8:46pm
by robc02

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 22 Jan 2017, 9:49pm
by seph
Yep, lots of discussion on this every winter!
I've had a set of Schwalbe snow studs on my winter/ off road bike for 6 or 7 years now. They're slow, but fantastic !

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 23 Jan 2017, 10:06am
by Rich_Clements
seph wrote:Yep, lots of discussion on this every winter!
I've had a set of Schwalbe snow studs on my winter/ off road bike for 6 or 7 years now. They're slow, but fantastic !
I have a pair of those to, as you say slow but work well.

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 23 Jan 2017, 10:15am
by robc02
hamish wrote:Well I use Continental winter tyres. They aren't studded but use a different tyre compound. Whilst they aren't magic, they do really help on ice.


Have you tried studded tyres? I wondered how your Continentals compare to them.

I have Schwalbe Winters. As mentioned by other posters, they grip well but are slow. Since I rarely encounter sheet ice - its normally just patches here and there - I wonder whether the Continentals would be a better compromise?

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 23 Jan 2017, 11:21am
by Threevok
robc02 wrote:
hamish wrote:Well I use Continental winter tyres. They aren't studded but use a different tyre compound. Whilst they aren't magic, they do really help on ice.


Have you tried studded tyres? I wondered how your Continentals compare to them.

I have Schwalbe Winters. As mentioned by other posters, they grip well but are slow. Since I rarely encounter sheet ice - its normally just patches here and there - I wonder whether the Continentals would be a better compromise?



I have, and there is absolutely no comparison in my experience...

Winter tyres = broken elbow
Spiked tyres = no broken elbow
Result = no brainer

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 23 Jan 2017, 11:53am
by mig
i have ridden both types of these tyres extensively for several years. studs are good in proper snow and ice. the winter compound (mine are continental winter 2) are good on frost and slippery surfaces. i use the latter most of the time and have some studs ready for if the white stuff falls. as snow has been more infrequent in my area the winter compound ones are normally on all winter.

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 23 Jan 2017, 8:43pm
by andrew_s
Threevok wrote:I have, and there is absolutely no comparison in my experience...

Winter tyres = broken elbow
Spiked tyres = no broken elbow
Result = no brainer

I have too, but it seems my experience is different to your experience
Top Contact Winter II = not fallen off
Marathon Winter spiked = fallen off twice

from which I'd say that an adequate amount of care is necessary whatever tyres you are using.

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 25 Jan 2017, 12:09pm
by Garry Booth
OK so the Conti tyre seems to be made of the right stuff, but doesn't come in a 25 size. I guess the sensible thing to do is stay off the road when it's icy!

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 25 Jan 2017, 12:14pm
by [XAP]Bob
Three wheels = far preferable solution...
Power slides, doughnuts in the fresh snow...

Oh, and studded tyres for the really icy weather.

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 8 Feb 2017, 12:38pm
by horizon
I was in the New Forest at the weekend. On Monday morning there was a thick frost and ice had formed where water had collected. I didn't have my studded tyres with me as the forecast had been reasonably mild though this had dropped to minus 5 in rural areas by Sunday night. I waited until midday before heading off to Salisbury. There was by then no ice (although there were still the ice warning signs at fords). There was no way it would have been safe IMV to cycle in the early morning in such conditions on normal tyres and yet for a day's ride, studded tyres would have been unnecessary for most of it. I think it's a hard call sometimes to know what is best to do.

Re: Winter tyres

Posted: 8 Feb 2017, 2:45pm
by RickH
A couple of thoughts:-

While I was looking for something else, I came across Schwalbe's new tyre online - Marathon GT 365. It seems another one to possibly throw in the mix for wintery conditions.

I don't know if anyone has tried it (I'm sure they must have done) but, with the increasing popularity of disc brakes, removable snow "chains" may be feasible.