Studded tires: Nokian W296 vs WXC300...

[SS_MB-7]

'Tis the season for winter studded tires.

I have a pair of 5-6 yr old homemade studded tires (Velociraptors with 150+ studs per tire) that have served me well, but the screws are way too long and flexy. I'm either looking at buying a set of pre-made tires: Nokian Extreme 296s or Hakka WXC300s or making another set of tires...either with a set of IRC Mythos or Panaracer Fire XC Pros, both of which I have in my basement stash, and #8-1/2" self-tapping shet metal screws.

296:
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/296(1).jpg

WXC300:
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/wxc300.jpg

I was immediately drawn to the WXC300s because of their weight (695g/tire vs 895g/tire for the 296s).

I will be doing very little road riding and the majority of my winter riding will be on packed snow trails. There will also be a local winter snow/ice race series.

Any long term riding experiences on either tire? Pros/cons?

Also, any source for cheap(ish) Nokians?

Ride Hard,
Mike B.
http://www.one-speed.com

[Gojohnnygo.]

I have no problems with my set of Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106 for commuting and riding hard packed snowmobile trails.If your going to ride mostly trails.I would go buy the Nokian WXC 300.Judging from your pics,The WXC 300 looks like it would shed the snow a bit better with it's spread out tire pattern.
I hope this helps. :)

[90210]

Yea go with the 300's I'v got a pair and thwy work beautifully!!! I do a lot of trail riding in the snow and these things just rip it up! are the 296 sharpened? cuz the 300's are. if you know the prices of both can u pass on the info? I got my 300's in Finland when I was there for 110 ea.

[SS_MB-7]

Yea go with the 300's I'v got a pair and thwy work beautifully!!! I do a lot of trail riding in the snow and these things just rip it up! are the 296 sharpened? cuz the 300's are. if you know the prices of both can u pass on the info? I got my 300's in Finland when I was there for 110 ea.

Well, I ended-up going with the 300s and have been very happy with them. I got them a couple days before Christmas (nice gift to myself) and was lucky enough to have mild-ish weather on Christmas to log my mandatory 50km road ride. Nothing like cruising around the city with a set of 300s on a singlespeed MTB on Christmas Day....I got more than my fair share of odd looks. Although the tires weighed in at just over 700g each (which is amazing considering there are 300 studs per tire), they are still fairly sluggish on pavement.

For the following 4 days, I was riding them on our very, very icy trails and they were phenomenal!

Weather conditions in the days leading-up to Christmas saw mild temps, lots of rain and then a freeze on Boxing Day and beyond. The rain and mild temps quickly melted the snow on the trails with the exception of where other riders, hikers, etc., had compacted the snow on the trail. This created rock-hard icy trails...perfect testing grounds for the 300s.

After logging 12+ hrs, I've only lost 2 studs...one in the front and one in the rear. Unfortunately, my teammate has not been so lucky. He's lost 20+ per tire!! And, not only has he lost studs, the knobs are being torn-off, too!

Now, I haven't ridden with him since he got his tires, so I'm not entirely sure what he's been riding on, etc. but we generally ride the same trails. He is pissed! Apparently, he did follow the mandatory 50km breakin period, but is still loosing studs each ride. In fact, he's removed the tires and has replaced his homemade studded tires. He's going to be following-up with Nokian on Monday.

Ride Hard,
Mike B.
http://www.one-speed.com

[90210]

yea i havent had any problems whith my 300's i havent even lost a stud and iv ridden about 100k! your friend should check with Nokia and ask about this stuff. the tire might have just been a defect and I think Nokia would be more than happy to replace it