Winter Tires for SE Michigan

[Motorad]

I have a Trek 730 (circa 1993) that I would like to set up for winter riding. It currently has smooth 32mm tires. What are some recommended brands of winter tires, to include mfr, model, and width?

Also, where are good surfaces to ride on in the winter, where the only issue is the snow and not ice? In other words, are the metropark bike paths safe to ride on in Michigan winters?

[brotherdan]

I have a cheap pair of studded 35mm cyclocross tires that I've been using for the last two winters for commuting. I think the only brand logo on them is nashbar. I picked them up for a good price on nashbar.com a couple of years ago. As far as I;m concerned, these tires have been a bit excessive for the kind of weather that we've had. There have only been a couple of times that there has been enough snow or ice to really need studded tires. But they have performed well when needed. If you are just looking to ride on MUPs, I'd avoid buying special tires altogether. You can probably get away with riding the tires you have and just staying off the paths on the few bad days.

If you plan on commuting on your bike in the winter, or you have to be able to ride in all conditions no matter what, get some studded nobby tires, even if you likely won't need them.

[Road Fan]

I have a Trek 730 (circa 1993) that I would like to set up for winter riding. It currently has smooth 32mm tires. What are some recommended brands of winter tires, to include mfr, model, and width?

Also, where are good surfaces to ride on in the winter, where the only issue is the snow and not ice? In other words, are the metropark bike paths safe to ride on in Michigan winters?

Hi, Motor!

I don't ride much in the winter, but I do know that the Metropark system closes. Not a huge problem, but I think I'd be a bit careful in terms of personal safety as dark approaches.

My wife and I ride some early mornings here in Ann Arbor, and her big tires, similar to Schwalbe Marathons, are fine. I've tried some 'cross tubulars, not to happy with them so far; rough on pavement, not so great on snow, no better than Gatorskins on ice.

Looks like you got into the Metroparks -- Good job!

Road Fan

[Tom Servo]

Assuming you can fit them, some 35mm cyclocross tires should do the trick so long as you aren't going to be ridingi n icy conditions. Knobbies work just fine in the snow, studs are for ice.
Having said that... ice is usually what is beneath the snow. ;)

Stony Creek is open in the winter BTW, I have gone snow shoeing in there nad have seen cyclists riding the lake loop before.

Oh, and nashbar will not be carying studded tires this winter. It was mentioned in another thread a week ago or so.

[Motorad]

Thanks Tom. I'm pretty sure my Trek has had 38mm tires on them.

What kind of maintenance do the Michigan metropark bike paths get in the winter? Can you even see the metropark bike paths in the winter, and are the parking areas pretty accessible by regular car in the winter?

[pj7]

Thanks Tom. I'm pretty sure my Trek has had 38mm tires on them.

What kind of maintenance do the Michigan metropark bike paths get in the winter? Can you even see the metropark bike paths in the winter, and are the parking areas pretty accessible by regular car in the winter?

I've been XCskiing at Stony in the winter and they do quite a bit of caretaking when the snow falls.
I have never ridden the MUP loop there but I know for sure it gets plowed, and the roads get cleared off too. I'm pretty sure that the roads get salted.

[DougG]

I don't ride much in the winter, but I do know that the Metropark system closes.

Well, Stoney Creek doesn't close, or I wouldn't be able to get in much X-C skiing. And I've seen a number of hard-core mountain bikers riding the same trails that we use for skiing in several inches of snow. They also do clear the paved pathway around the park, and I've seen walkers and runners on there in the dead of winter. You'd have to watch for the icy patches, but other than that you have full access to the park.