Winter Cycling - studded tires

are studded tires the same as those knobby tires on mtb bikes?

They have a similar tread for traction in snow.

The actual studs are small metal 'spikes' for grabbing on ice.

Was that the question?

What bcbcbc said. The "studs" are short, metal spikes that stick out somewhat (not much, but just enough) from the tread. Here's a link to one of the best brands of studded tire:

http://www.suomityres.fi/winter.html

If you look at the different tire models on the above site, you'll see a wide variety in tread design. The hardcore, Freddies Revenze tires, for example, have large, rubber knobs, and each knob contains a metal stud. But for pavement riding, you can get something more towards the other end of the scale, like the Mount & Ground W160.

Schwalbe also makes some studded tires: Schwalbe Ice Spiker (knobby) an Schwalbe Marathon (more road-oriented). I've heard good things about Schwalbes.

Where are you located? What sort of surface to you plan to ride on?

I run Schwalbe Marathon Plus in the spring, summer,& early fall. Late fall and all winter I run Nokian Mount & Ground 160's.
So far I am happy with the results.

No, as other people have mentioned, studded tires are tires with metal (preferably carbide) studs in them. They often have a knobby tire pattern, but not always. The studs are there to dig into ice, which never can never do no matter what the tread pattern. The studs themselves give no benefits in pure snow (like snow over grass) - that's where the tread is handy. However, tread causing more rolling resistance, so it's a tradeoff.

I'll add to this knobby tire have less floating(Over Snow) capability compared to lets say the Endomorph’s tire found on a Surley Pugsley. It has no knobs at all just some paddle like grooves.

Not to hijack the thread, but I've been looking for a 20"/406 studded tire for my bent. Anyone seen one this small before? Or am I gonna be out of luck?

bent on the ice? coool

bent on the ice? coool

It will only be cool if I can find a studded tire for the front. :D Otherwise It'll be my junker bad-weather bike.

I have more issues riding the DF than the bent with my shoulder and neck. Slow and steady is always better than fast and hurting.

This for pavé or for real ice riding? You can always make an ice racer tire.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/116/attachmentrg1.jpg

It will only be cool if I can find a studded tire for the front. :D Otherwise It'll be my junker bad-weather bike.

I have more issues riding the DF than the bent with my shoulder and neck. Slow and steady is always better than fast and hurting.

Can you get a Mr. Tuffy (StopFlats) liner in that size? If so, you can make your own studded tire relatively cheaply. Take a normal, cheap, basic tire and then head up to your local hardware store. Buy a box of small sharp screws (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=227441-1278-MT8121&lpage=none) On the inside of your tire, mark off a centerline with some white chalk. Just off center, start inserting screws in as evenly spaced of a pattern as you can. The more you put in, the better traction (but also the higher rotating weight, big trade off). After you've filled your tire with screws, insert the Mr. Tuffy Liner to prevent tube puncture from the screw heads, and mount your tire as normal.

The more you put in, the better traction (but also the higher rotating weight, big trade off).

The added weight will be marginal. But the increased rolling resistance will be substantial. Really, really substantial.

j

Can you get a Mr. Tuffy (StopFlats) liner in that size? If so, you can make your own studded tire relatively cheaply. Take a normal, cheap, basic tire and then head up to your local hardware store. Buy a box of small sharp screws (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=227441-1278-MT8121&lpage=none) On the inside of your tire, mark off a centerline with some white chalk. Just off center, start inserting screws in as evenly spaced of a pattern as you can. The more you put in, the better traction (but also the higher rotating weight, big trade off). After you've filled your tire with screws, insert the Mr. Tuffy Liner to prevent tube puncture from the screw heads, and mount your tire as normal.
For road tires we used to do something similar, but with thumbtacks instead of screws. Stick the tacks through from the inside, then clip off the points so they just barely stick out. Use with either a liner or thicker tubes to avoid flats

how do the tacks work? I wanted to try that for the ice racing because I found the friction generated by all the screw threads going in and out of the ice REALLY put a hurt on. I've been wanting to prototype a set using a tack of some sort.

Not to hijack the thread, but I've been looking for a 20"/406 studded tire for my bent. Anyone seen one this small before? Or am I gonna be out of luck?

Schwalbe Marathon Winter is manufactured in size 406. It works pretty well in simple conditions like frozen roads, but is not too great in a lot of wet slush. I have no clue how one would proceed in getting one on any other continent than Europe, though.

Schwalbe Marathon Winter is manufactured in size 406. It works pretty well in simple conditions like frozen roads, but is not too great in a lot of wet slush. I have no clue how one would proceed in getting one on any other continent than Europe, though.

Thanks for the info. I found them :)

I can vouch for the Nokian W106 on a hybrid...on pavement. 106 carbide studs add substantial rolling resistance, but well worth it for the piece of mind. Can't imagine how the 300-studders must roll.

Can't imagine how the 300-studders must roll.

They are a safety measure: they keep you from riding dangerously fast.

Can't imagine how the 300-studders must roll.

It depends upon what you are rolling on. If on pavement, then the studs do slow you down. But when I move from bare pavement to pavement covered by maybe 1/2" of hardpack, I can actually feel the pedaling getting easier as I transition to the snow-covered surface.