Winter tyre choice..top contact or studded?

[hennbell]

The roads are gritted and cleared quite well to be fair, but early morning commutes in the past have learnt me that sometimes the gritters don't come till late morning.

I managed the worst winter in the last seven years on M+'s on my Brompton but it was really dodgy at times.

And some winters the local authority use some pretty weird grit which turns the sides of the roads in to what can only be described as being similar to slush puppies.

Where I am it get very cold but very dry so no slush except for at the very start and end of winter.

 

[djb1971]

I've used marathon winters and they're great. Perfect for frost, ice and snow. Schwalbe also sent me a bag of free replacement studs after a few popped out this winter.

They make a lovely rice crispy noise too

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Marathon ice spikers at the first touch of ice for me, they worked well last year, felt secure commuting every day.
Seems they will last me at least another 2 winters, so money well spent if you ride when ice is a possibility.

 

[line71]

Pointless,we are'nt living in Siberia or scandinavia,just a complete waste of money for a bit of light dusting which invariably is all a British winter amounts to plus no amount of grip is any good on icy conditions,waste of time

 

[wilkotom]

Pointless,we are'nt living in Siberia or scandinavia,just a complete waste of money for a bit of light dusting which invariably is all a British winter amounts to plus no amount of grip is any good on icy conditions,waste of time

Depends where you are in the country. The further north you go, the worse things get. Bits of the Pennines can stay covered in snow and ice for much of the winter. I imagine the Lakes and Scotland are even worse.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Pointless,we are'nt living in Siberia or scandinavia,just a complete waste of money for a bit of light dusting which invariably is all a British winter amounts to plus no amount of grip is any good on icy conditions,waste of time

Oh well you speak with such authority you must know better than me.

 

[fossyant]

It's not snow you worry about, it's ice.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Oh well you speak with such authority you must know better than me.

My bum, sore after a fall on ice, is the final authority here!

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

My bum, sore after a fall on ice, is the final authority here!

Oh dear....woooooooooossssshhhhhh!!.....

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Oh dear....woooooooooossssshhhhhh!!.....

That was before I discovered the ice tyres

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Oh dear oh dear pat....

 

[Cyclopathic]

I used ice tyres once...but they melted.

 

[BSRU]

Pointless,we are'nt living in Siberia or scandinavia,just a complete waste of money for a bit of light dusting which invariably is all a British winter amounts to plus no amount of grip is any good on icy conditions,waste of time

Complete tosh of the highest order, you can ride over sheet ice on studded tyres.

 

[donnydave]

I got by with gatorskins on fresh snow but my route has barely any corners to speak of apart from a couple of road crossings on the guided busway where I got off and walked across like a wimp.

No chance on frozen rutted snow though. I borrowed the wifes mountain bike with knobblies on for these occasions and it was ok but a bit slow. I dont think I've got the clearance to the frame on my giant rapid for larger studded tyres so I'm thinking of getting a cheapy mtb of my own (I used to have a GT Avalanche but it got nicked) and put some studded tyres on just in case.

 

[Mr Foldy]

I'm more worried about the salt damage than the few days where we do get ice and snow. Doesn't put me off though.