Rear trike tyre for winter

[AlanT82]

I know it's still August but I'm planning ahead and wondering what tyre would be a good choice for the rear of the trike in snow/slush conditions. Last year I struggled on with a Big Apple but it wasn't great in the snow. I'm currently running a Furious Fred.

I've been eyeing up the Schwalbe Winter (http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/spikes/winter/) but at 1Kg it's a beast. The Marathon Mondial (http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/tour/marathon-mondial/) looks like it might have enough bite for light snow and slush and at 720g isn't too bad for a winter commuting tyre. The Rocket Ron (http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/x-country/rocket-ron/) is a lightweight but might be a bit draggy on clear roads.

What does everyone use?

 

[Recycle]

I have marathon winters but as you say, the tyre is a beast. It's heavy, has a high rolling resistance, and doesn't work that well in slush. On my recumbent this winter I will switch to a more puncture resistant tyre and limit the marathon winters to my electric assist upright. The power assistance helps with the higher rolling resistance.

If there is snow then I'll just have to compromise by using the upright.

 

[GrasB]

Not sure about trikes but the best snow tyres I've found is the ITS Micro Knobby & the ITS Mk2. The Mk2 is a bit faster rolling as the centre of the tread is the inverse tread pattern to the MK, however the MK is available in a wider range of sizes (Intense don't list the MK in 559 sizes anymore). Both work well on ice/hard pack snow as long as there is a bit of texture to it or there's a bit of lose material, though they're not as good proper spikes.

For narrower tyres the Kenda Small Block 8 is a more reasonably priced alternative.

 

[AlanT82]

Not sure about trikes but the best snow tyres I've found is the ITS Micro Knobby & the ITS Mk2. The Mk2 is a bit faster rolling as the centre of the tread is the inverse tread pattern to the MK, however the MK is available in a wider range of sizes (Intense don't list the MK in 559 sizes anymore). Both work well on ice/hard pack snow as long as there is a bit of texture to it or there's a bit of lose material, though they're not as good proper spikes.

For narrower tyres the Kenda Small Block 8 is a more reasonably priced alternative.

Hmm... the tread patterns on the ITS tyres looks interesting, unfortunately they don't appear to be available in 559 sizes, which is what I need.

The Kenda Small Block 8 looks like just the thing, available in 1.75" and 1.95" widths (and wider) and light too. Thanks for that

 

[GrasB]

Hmm... the tread patterns on the ITS tyres looks interesting, unfortunately they don't appear to be available in 559 sizes, which is what I need.

Shame, I've got a pair & they've very good.

The Kenda Small Block 8 looks like just the thing, available in 1.75" and 1.95" widths (and wider) and light too. Thanks for that

The problem with SB8 At over 1.75" it isn't that good on snow & ice. It needs to be <1.5"

 

[AlanT82]

Shame, I've got a pair & they've very good.


The problem with SB8 At over 1.75" it isn't that good on snow & ice. It needs to be <1.5"

But the 1.75" won't be any worse than a 2" Big Apple which is effectively a slick. I can't find any narrow knobby tyres in 559 sizes, if it were 700c I'd be laughing.

 

[GrasB]

It's not narrow you need, it's that the blocks on the SB8 are too big at 1.75". You'll actually be better off with a 'semi-slick' 2" tyre than a SB8 in snow.

 

[AlanT82]

It's not narrow you need, it's that the blocks on the SB8 are too big at 1.75". You'll actually be better off with a 'semi-slick' 2" tyre than a SB8 in snow.

Interesting. The Furious Fred that I have on the trike at the moment is what I'd call a semi-slick - it doesn't look like it would be good in snow but I'm prepared to accept that it might be - do you think the Fred will be more effective than a SB8?

 

[GrasB]

Could well be better.