Winter Cycling - Winter/All-Season Tire Recommendations, Please

I may 'inherit' a Raleigh SC30 'comfort bike.' Current tires are Kenda Kross Plus 'police' tires, 26x1.95. If I want to ride in the snowy, pot-holed northeast winters, will these tires suffice? If not, what tire do folks here recommend? Should I get 'all-season' tires, instead? Again, recommendations for that type of tire are appreciated.

Thank you.

I may 'inherit' a Raleigh SC30 'comfort bike.' Current tires are Kenda Kross Plus 'police' tires, 26x1.95. If I want to ride in the snowy, pot-holed northeast winters, will these tires suffice? If not, what tire do folks here recommend? Should I get 'all-season' tires, instead? Again, recommendations for that type of tire are appreciated.

Thank you.

For year round use, these are OK except for snow/ice, you could keep these for the rest of the year and switch them out for semi studded when the white stuff falls. The problem with the Kendas is the lack of any traction blocks along the center line, you need that for snow or mud. If you want a year round tire, see what you LBS carries, depending on how much slippery stuff you intend to ride on, then get a tire that is more or less knobby. The ones with a semi solid center rib can be fairly easy rolling but still good grip for crud.

For year round use, these are OK except for snow/ice, you could keep these for the rest of the year and switch them out for semi studded when the white stuff falls. The problem with the Kendas is the lack of any traction blocks along the center line, you need that for snow or mud. If you want a year round tire, see what you LBS carries, depending on how much slippery stuff you intend to ride on, then get a tire that is more or less knobby. The ones with a semi solid center rib can be fairly easy rolling but still good grip for crud.

Thanks, workingbike. Using your advice, I have three 'candidates' so far: Geax Evolution; IRC Mythos XC; and WTC VelociRaptor.

Make sure you don't buy studded, unless you wanna pay $100 a tire, replace them every season and aren't that skilled on ice and snow. I have rode over ten winters and never needed a stud. A good set of knobby tires will more than suffice for snow, ice, ice ruts, and anything winter can throw at you. However, most beginner cyclists and those who are still learning will still opt for a studded tire, so if you are just learning, maybe you don't want to put a price on safety.

Make sure you don't buy studded, unless you wanna pay $100 a tire, replace them every season and aren't that skilled on ice and snow. I have rode over ten winters and never needed a stud. A good set of knobby tires will more than suffice for snow, ice, ice ruts, and anything winter can throw at you. However, most beginner cyclists and those who are still learning will still opt for a studded tire, so if you are just learning, maybe you don't want to put a price on safety.

:::::crosses studded tires off the list::::::

Or purchase good studded tires like the Nokian Extreme 296 tires that I've used for seven winters now. The studs show little wear although they've had lots of use. This experience is very different then my first winter using cheaper Innova studded tires. The studs wore down in half a season.

Studded tires give you much better control, significantly reduce your chance of falling from a wheel slide and allow you to ride, with confidence, at a higher speed with better control.

~Jamie N

Make sure you don't buy studded, unless you wanna pay $100 a tire, replace them every season and aren't that skilled on ice and snow. I have rode over ten winters and never needed a stud. A good set of knobby tires will more than suffice for snow, ice, ice ruts, and anything winter can throw at you. However, most beginner cyclists and those who are still learning will still opt for a studded tire, so if you are just learning, maybe you don't want to put a price on safety.
More like $50-60 per tire. And they do help on ice, especially those surprise patches the show up on otherwise clear roads. But they are really, really heavy.

whatever... if you own two sets of wheels for studded and non-studded tires, you can save your "$100" tires for when you need them the most. That way you don't need to replace them every year. Secondly, I would not ride on the road, surrounded by traffic, on patches of glare ice if you plan on turning, braking, riding up or down hill, etc. One one hand, I agree that there is a ridiculous amount of crap you can ride through on knobbies--- and once there is snow, you really don't "need" studs-- but on ice, on crazy terrain, you are safer on studs than you are walking.

I would rather pay a few hundred dollars for studs than end up with a broken collarbone.

(I have learned what a difference studs can make after being caught at work after an ice/snow storm--- without my studs. Also-- EVERYONE around here rides studs in the winter--- even on cars.)


Make sure you don't buy studded, unless you wanna pay $100 a tire, replace them every season and aren't that skilled on ice and snow. I have rode over ten winters and never needed a stud. A good set of knobby tires will more than suffice for snow, ice, ice ruts, and anything winter can throw at you. However, most beginner cyclists and those who are still learning will still opt for a studded tire, so if you are just learning, maybe you don't want to put a price on safety.

This is just what I have personally found that works for me... if you feel that you need extra control on ice, or would like the added traction, then by all means, go with studs!

Winter surfaces vary a lot. In much of the US, glare ice is the norm, because there is a freeze-thaw cycle every winter day. Further north, the snow compacts without melting. Studs are essential in the first case; irrelevant in the second. Basically, what is best for you depends upon your climate.

Paul

if you feel that you need extra control on ice, or would like the added traction, then by all means, go with studs!

Well, when you put it that way, studded tires do seem ridiculous. I'm going to throw mine away right now!

Make sure you don't buy studded, unless you wanna pay $100 a tire, replace them every season and aren't that skilled on ice and snow. I have rode over ten winters and never needed a stud. A good set of knobby tires will more than suffice for snow, ice, ice ruts, and anything winter can throw at you. However, most beginner cyclists and those who are still learning will still opt for a studded tire, so if you are just learning, maybe you don't want to put a price on safety.


try and ignore jonny who knows absolutely nothing about cycling but can get you a good deal on cheap smokes in Canada.

Nashbar rebrands kenda studded tires and they can usually be had for less that $25 a piece, my last set lasted me 3 seasons and I could easily get another season out of them. There are numerous threads on the subject in this forum and you should have a look.

Well, when you put it that way, studded tires do seem ridiculous. I'm going to throw mine away right now!

That's hilarious :lol:

Nokian Hakapilita W-106. Mine go on in December and come off in March. They have lasted four seasons and about 2,500 miles so far.

Paul

try and ignore jonny who knows absolutely nothing about cycling but can get you a good deal on cheap smokes in Canada.

Nashbar rebrands kenda studded tires and they can usually be had for less that $25 a piece, my last set lasted me 3 seasons and I could easily get another season out of them. There are numerous threads on the subject in this forum and you should have a look.

Can you tell me where you found studded tires that cheap? Like I said, the cheapest ones I could find were about 60 -100$. And don't even try to argue like you know me or like you know what I know..
I'm not in here bashing americans for their choices in government or the rest of the poor decisions that have been made by their politicians..,.

Well, when you put it that way, studded tires do seem ridiculous. I'm going to throw mine away right now!

You guys are straight up Fukked in the head! Why does everyone try to act like I'm dissing their gear... I find this is what works for me and many other people I know.... if you don't agree with what someone has to say, then make a REAL point back, don't sit there like a little punk biotch trying to be a comedian, cuz you won't make it if you quit your day job.

Can you tell me where you found studded tires that cheap?

Uhh... I dunno...


Nashbar rebrands kenda studded tires and they can usually be had for less that $25 a piece

;)

(And, they're cheaper than that. $17.99 for the most expensive. Take a look under their specialty tires.)

well, maybe where you're from, but the cheapest studded tires in GP cost 50 bucks a piece when I checked this winter...

Nashbar is a website.

They even advertise on here in the text ads, below the second post in a thread. And I know you can see them, you don't have a red star. ;)

My tires & tubes arrived yesterday. The tires are knobbier than I thought they'd be (not complaining). They should be fun. :)

of course a guy can buy it off the internet, but I don't really support online shopping, besides I am satisfied with what I have already....
meh... maybe this winter if I go to edmonton I might buy some if they are cheap there, but when I was in United Cycle, river valley cycle, and several other bike stores there the cheapest studded tires were 50 a piece, and one to rarely spend more than 40 bucks on a new wardrobe, I would just rather have the extra money! more beers!!! dis is jonny manybeers signin off

of course a guy can buy it off the internet, but I don't really support online shopping, besides I am satisfied with what I have already....

yeah, its tough doing online shopping without a credit or bank account eh?


meh... maybe this winter if I go to edmonton I might buy some if they are cheap there, but when I was in United Cycle, river valley cycle, and several other bike stores there the cheapest studded tires were 50 a piece, and one to rarely spend more than 40 bucks on a new wardrobe, I would just rather have the extra money! more beers!!! dis is jonny manybeers signin off

and 40 almost buys two dozen beer in GP eh! :roflmao:

ha more like closer to 36 beers and again, I advocate the use of cash, and support of LOCAL stores, (not including franchises if possible) and if you are having trouble like you say without a bank account or credit, why bother with the online...