Winter Cycling - where do you buy your tires?

Well, the subject says it all. What's a good source for studded bike tires? Specifically, I'm looking for a 26 X 1.9. I was on Amazon and ready to buy the Nokian Mount and Ground 106s (I believe) and it went down to 1 in stock.. so I started wondering what the least expensive (and reliable) place was to buy studded bike tires. My LBS doesn't stock them.

Peter White (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp)

Peter White (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp)

I was browsing that site and contemplating calling, but I wanted some feedback from here first. Very encouraging first response. I'm looking at the Nokian Mount & Ground W160, both from a price and functionality standpoint. Any reason *not* to get this tire?

It is worth reading all of what Peter has to say about studded tires. The short of it is that some designs are good for some conditions and others for different conditions and you're likely to see all of it during an average winter. My advice is to think about what common winter riding conditions most annoy or intimidate you and buy a tire most suited for that. I use the Nokian A10's because I commute on mostly plowed streets that have frequent icy patches. The A10's are good for that. However, I wouldn't want to ride through slush and snow with them.

I got my M&Gs at REI last year (free shipping if you ship to store). It looks like they still have them for $49, $10 less than Amazon.

Paul

they're out of stock right now, but CRC uk offers schwalabe snow stud and ice spiker for a very good price.

previously, I bought my hakkapellitta W106 from peter white.

Before specific tires reach Peter White, I get them from
Komponentix (http://www.komponentix.de/onlineshop/index.html?reifen_winterreifen.htm):)

local shops; rei online with in-store delivery and also bike tires direct online

I was browsing that site and contemplating calling, but I wanted some feedback from here first. Very encouraging first response. I'm looking at the Nokian Mount & Ground W160, both from a price and functionality standpoint. Any reason *not* to get this tire?
From what I've gleaned both from this and the Commuting sub-forum (and from Peter White's site, for that matter) is that the top two choices for studded tires are the Schwalbe Marathon Winters and the Nokian Hakkapeliitta W240s. The former is great for mostly clean, plowed roads, whereas the latter is best suited for deeper snow or unplowed roads/paths. Anything less is too little and anything more is too much. I use the Schwalbes and they are a great compromise of low rolling resistance vs. grip on icy surfaces. Of course, YMMV.

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll order from Peter White since I don't have a local REI, and it seems like a good site to support. I think the M&G W160 seems to fit my riding conditions the best, as well as my budget.

Before specific tires reach Peter White, I get them from
Komponentix (http://www.komponentix.de/onlineshop/index.html?reifen_winterreifen.htm):)

pretty good website there.

OK, so I got them and they look directional, but there's no arrow on the sidewall indicating that. Do you mount them with the point of the V forward or backwards?

OK, so I got them and they look directional, but there's no arrow on the sidewall indicating that. Do you mount them with the point of the V forward or backwards?

On the ground, V should open up to the rear on the back wheel and to the front on the front wheel.

not sure about those tires but sometimes the arrows for direction of travel are really really hard to see

$84 for a pair at Tree Fort Bikes: http://www.treefortbikes.com/product/333222349285/544/Nokian-Mount--and--Ground--W160.html

Free shipping if you find an extra $40 worth of junk to buy.

OK, so I got them and they look directional, but there's no arrow on the sidewall indicating that. Do you mount them with the point of the V forward or backwards?
"V" forward; a picture is worth a thousand words:

http://imgur.com/toOBgl.jpg

The "V" should bite into the snow point first, as pictured. As the tire rotates (in this view from the rear it will rotate upward) the centrifugal force will ideally force snow/slush from the sipes. If the tire was mounted incorrectly the "V" would trap the snow/slush, effectively reducing traction on the next rotation. Both tires should be mounted the same way:

http://imgur.com/qLCsbl.jpg

"V" forward; a picture is worth a thousand words:

Not quite. V opening forward is for braking. V opening backward is for accelerating. Obviously you only accelerate with the rear wheel and in braking the front wheel is much more effective than the rear. Obviously, you can choose the direction of both tires according to the braking but for most the choice of tires pointing in the opposite directions is going to be more effective.

Craigslist

Not quite. V opening forward is for braking. V opening backward is for accelerating. Obviously you only accelerate with the rear wheel and in braking the front wheel is much more effective than the rear. Obviously, you can choose the direction of both tires according to the braking but for most the choice of tires pointing in the opposite directions is going to be more effective.

There is a whole article of debunking here...http://yarchive.net/bike/tire_directional_tread.html

From the venerable Sheldon Brown:

"Tread Directionality


Some tires have an asymmetrical tread, for instance "V" shaped tread (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#tread) blocks that could be oriented with the point of the "V" facing forward > or backward <. The question then arises, which way should they face?


Road Applications

With tires for road use, it really doesn't matter, since tire tread patterns serve no function on hard surfaces.
Tires with "V" patterns are common for motorcycles, and are generally installed so that the point of the "V" hits the road first. This is to help "squirt" the water out ahead of and to the side of the tire contact patch, as a protection against hydroplaning (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#hydroplaning) . Since hydroplaning is impossible on a bicycle, there's no need to observe this custom.

Off-road Applications

For off-road use in soft surfaces, there may be some merit in paying attention to the tread orientation, though this is far from certain. Ideally, you would like the front tire to offer maximum traction in the braking direction, while the rear tire would normally be oriented to produce maximum traction for drive forces. Thus, if a particular tread pattern is perceived to have better traction in one direction than the other, it should be facing one way if used on the front wheel, and the opposite way if used on the rear wheel."


I stand corrected. In any case, even Mr. Brown admits only to the possibility of merit. I mounted mine as per the manufacturer's stamp on the sidewall showing the direction of rotation. I will be mounting the tires again soon due to the fact that there are freezing temps in the forecast and, since I remained upright all last winter, I will likely mount them the same way.

From the venerable Sheldon Brown:

"Tread Directionality


Some tires have an asymmetrical tread, for instance "V" shaped tread (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#tread) blocks that could be oriented with the point of the "V" facing forward > or backward <. The question then arises, which way should they face?


Road Applications

With tires for road use, it really doesn't matter, since tire tread patterns serve no function on hard surfaces.
Tires with "V" patterns are common for motorcycles, and are generally installed so that the point of the "V" hits the road first. This is to help "squirt" the water out ahead of and to the side of the tire contact patch, as a protection against hydroplaning (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#hydroplaning) . Since hydroplaning is impossible on a bicycle, there's no need to observe this custom.

Off-road Applications

For off-road use in soft surfaces, there may be some merit in paying attention to the tread orientation, though this is far from certain. Ideally, you would like the front tire to offer maximum traction in the braking direction, while the rear tire would normally be oriented to produce maximum traction for drive forces. Thus, if a particular tread pattern is perceived to have better traction in one direction than the other, it should be facing one way if used on the front wheel, and the opposite way if used on the rear wheel."


I stand corrected. In any case, even Mr. Brown admits only to the possibility of merit. I mounted mine as per the manufacturer's stamp on the sidewall showing the direction of rotation. I will be mounting the tires again soon due to the fact that there are freezing temps in the forecast and, since I remained upright all last winter, I will likely mount them the same way.

Some nicer tires will have ramped knobs, you definitely want to mount those the right way.

I will be mounting the tires again soon due to the fact that there are freezing temps in the forecast and, since I remained upright all last winter, I will likely mount them the same way.

The reversal for the rear is to reduce the likelihood of slipping when accelerating. With this it has only a secondary effect on the balance.

I've looked at various mud and all mountain MTB tires, and the rear is designed like a paddle boat, while the front is some sort of chevron tread.

IMO, for snow applications, the front is better with the tip of the V cutting into the snow, but the rear is a complete toss up.

I say that, because if you ride on the road and encounter slush or some discourteous powder snow dumping onto the street, the front will cut through no problem.
The traction of the rear doesn't seem to matter too much as long as the tire was designed for the weather at hand.

Basically, tire selection has a more tangible effect on your snow bike capabilities, rather than the tread direction.

Like, you wouldn't use marathon winter for unplowed and rutted trails. You'd use ice spikers or some other 300+ stud tire. Just as much as not using home made studded tires for well ploughed roads.

I got them on.. they were a stupid tight fit on my rim. I hope I never have to change a flat. It's like riding in sand, but I'm all set for winter. I switched to the winter bike for a bit to get accustomed to it and shake out any cobwebs before the snow files.