Winter Tyres ?

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J4CKO

New Member
Just swapped my 700cc 28 Conti slicks for some 37mm Michelin Transworld Sprint road/trail tyres, I was having traction issues on the off road bit of my journey, nothing focuses your attention like four inch deep mud and a spinning rear tyre when clipped in !

They look, er, interesting but have a nice reflective sidewall. In a straight line they dont roll as well (70 psi vs 105) but not too bad, cornering isnt much fun, it goes all squirmy but on the plus side, very comfy and has some off road grip, it might save my rims a bit, discovered a broken spoke the other day after 800 miles.
 

Randochap

Senior hunter
What's the question?
 

downfader

extimus uero philosophus
Location
'ampsheeeer
I just put panracer crosstown's on my new kona. The cheap tyres, although the grip was great on grass and mud, were a bit flimsy for the road, hence my recent flat. I've kept them though, seems a waste to dump them tbh, and I'll get kevlar strips and stuff to line them if I switch back. :wacko:

Havent a clue how the crosstowns will perform yet. I'll have an idea tomorrow as it will be a) wet and ;) my first proper run with them
 

Randochap

Senior hunter
J4CKO said:
Sorry, wasn't very clear was I, but do you run separate Winter tyres ?

Nothing special. I just switch to cheap ones, because there's a lot of detritus gets swept into the gutters by rain and I don't want to ruin my expensive "event" tyres. I don't ride offroad (except hard-surface MUP), so don't need large treads.
 
Funnily enough, I commuted into work in the dark and through a short-lived but intense blizzard this morning on my Conti 700x28c Gators. Put a good inch of snow down in 20 mins and looked like a snowman by time I arrived. As this was a first time in snow on these tyres (and as I'm getting rid of them for Schwalbe M+ shortly - fed up with punc***es) I wondered how they would cope. Felt the back slide a couple of times, but I think tbh any tyre would have had problems this morning. I was cycling more slowly - took 50 mins instead of 30 - and more cautiously as there hadn't been much traffic to clear me a path, but I didn't feel unsteady really.
 

threefingerjoe

Über Member
If you're really determined to commute to work on ice and snow, I highly recommend good studded tyres. They're heavy and slow, but they'll get you there. You won't slip. You can climb a glazed icy hill. You can stop...you can steer. You just have to remember, that you're still on ice, though, and don't go fast into turns. Also, when you stop on ice, remember that when you put a foot down, you may do a split, and land in a heap....unless, of course, you have studded shoes, too! ;-) I use these, http://www.suomityres.com/w106.html . Notice that they only have studs in the center. They're intended for ploughed roads with packed snow or blackice. There are more aggressive models for getting you out of deep ruts.

As far as I know, only Nokian and Schwalbe use carbide studs in their studded tyres. They last a LONG time...probably the life of the tyre. I'm told that some manufacturers use steel studs, that wear out.
 

yello

back and brave
Location
France
Different tyres for winter? No - different bikes! Kind of anyway, I have gatorskins on the fixed and 4 Seasons on the audax bike and they get winter usage. The bianchi has GP4000 but doesn't see winter roads.

btw, if you hadn't guessed, I'm a conti fan!
 

downfader

extimus uero philosophus
Location
'ampsheeeer
Hmm studded tyres are illegal on motorvehicles, I'm told... doesnt that extend to cycles?:biggrin:

Mind you it was a kwick fit guy who said it. :biggrin:
 
OP
OP
J

J4CKO

New Member
Studded tyres are overkill for the few days of cold we get, generally our winters are mild and wet.

Really happy with my new ones, better comfort and off road they are so much better, dont have to pick my way round bumps.
 
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