Winter tyres for hybrid (Scott Sportster 700c)

[Schneil]

I'm considering getting some Winter tyres for my hybrid. I currently use Continental tour contact 700x 37c semi - slicks.

What would you recommend for sub-zero Winter commuting? I'm mainly concerned with ice and compacted snow on ungritted roads. Something that would fit under my guards would be great. I'm unlikely to be hitting trails.
On bike-discount-de I've seen:
Continental Nordic 120 spike (£30.39)
Continental TopContact Winter II 37-622 (£39.04)
SCHWALBE Winter 120 Spikes 28 x 1,35" 700 x 35C (£19.08)
SCHWALBE Marathon Winter 240 Spikes 700 x 40C (£27.08)

What would you recommend? Something that I could chuck on and continue my commuting round Manchester would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[buddha]

Marathon Winters (700c) for me for the past few years. It was smugly satisfying, last year, to (gingerly) ride over a patch of black ice with no problems, while a car watched and then followed, and then proceeded to head in to a ditch!

Just bought some from hibike.com (another German site) in 26" as they were a little cheaper, inc shipping.

They do slow you down a few mph though and turn heads because of the noise. But you get used to that. Although on untreated roads, frozen ruts made by car tyres can still be a problem.

edit: just checked, the snow starts next week!

 

[e-rider]

Tyres with metal studs are terrible when it's not snowing or a decent amount of ice. Yes, something like Marathon winters are supposed to be for all winter conditions but the reality is that if you use them on normal roads, they are noisy, painfully slow and heavy and also the studs get ripped out. Conti topcontact Winters are your best bet for 'normal' winter riding. Then fit studded tyres when the snow/ice comes.

 

[Schneil]

HI chaps
Thanks for the advice. Topcontact Winters sound like what I need so I've asked for a price on some at the LBS.