mcfc57

I posted this in winter riding but the topic overlaps...

I know this topic must come up a ton but I've not found answers to my specific questions on this board or elsewhere. I ride a cyclocross bike on a MUP to and from work. This is my first year commuting in KC and I'm pretty sure I felt my first bit of ice on the trail this morning. It wasn't much, but it got me thinking. Would snow tires be a good investment for me? We don't get a lot of snow but have our share of occassional ice. There are patches of standing water for days after rain and I'm guessing these will be ice soon as well. Here are some specific questions I have:

1) Are 700 x 35 the thinnest studded tires I can get for my Kona Jake the Snake? I was thinking about the Nokian Hakkapeliittas (I'm leaning towards these, any thoughts?) Would I want to go thinner even if I could?

2) I'm guessing there will be many days where I won't know if studded tires are needed. Will I hate riding on them when it turns out I probably didn't need them that day?

3) I've heard people getting a second wheel set for studded tires. If I were to go that route, is there anything specific I should look for? This relates to #2. Is it a viable option to put the studded tires on and leave them on for winter's duration knowing I'll be riding on mostly clean surfaces 80% of the time?

Thanks for the help!

tjspiel

Nokian makes an A10 that's listed as 700X32c though I think it's closer to 30.

Cheap studded tires wear out really fast. You want more expensive tires with carbide studs. If you've got those then I wouldn't worry too much about using them on dry pavement as long as you aren't slamming into curbs, potholes, etc.

Studded tires don't roll as well as non-studded tires, but I know people that out of laziness have left them on far past the last reasonable chance of snowfall without issue.

mcfc57

Do you have a suggestion for a better tire? The Nokian I referred to lists steel studs with Carbide pins. You think those will wear out fast?

ItsJustMe

I ran Nokian W106 35s for 3 years. They're about done (the studs are all ripping out) and I'm going with Marathon Winters. The reason is that the Marathons have 4 rows of studs, which should be better for getting out of icy ruts. Icy ruts are murder; the tire drops in and it won't come out, and they can dump you in a second.

Nokians are $50, the Marathons are $65.

nopinkbikes

Kenda Klondikes are a 700x35C too, but a little thinner than the Nokian's. They have Carbide studs too.

Then the Nokian A10's are 700x32C, but not as aggressive a tread
as the Hakka's.

AEO

hakka is more mud/snow/ice oriented
a10 is more tarmac/ice oriented

at least that's what the tread designs do.

rajman

It depends on your snow/slush/ice ratio. IMHO wider tires are better in really thick snow, thinner ones are better on relatively thin snow (cut through snow to get to pavement), and neither has an advantage on black ice - only stud count matters then.

I have Hakka 120's on the front and a Marathon Snow stud on the back (similar to M&G).

Don't waste money on cheap studded tires.

ken cummings

Dear Lord, I wish I could have had any kind of studded tires back when I lived in Denver. I had and still have enough bikes to have one for icy riding and another commuter for warmer conditions. My current commuter (Bruce Gordon BLT) can handle 700x43 tires with fenders.

Tude 

My commuter is a hardtail mtb - and I made the move this year to a pair of some nice 2.1 ice husky studs - pretty things - going to put them on when the snow/ice starts to start hanging on the roads. Will be interesting to see the difference this year. The past year's thinking was based on - hell if the weather and snow and ice is THAT bad - then good grief just ride the bus to work versus putting yourself in danger - but I discovered that if I had had some studs on my bike then I could have gone farther - plus having to take a bus to a freaking grocery store sucks. Still I only think I rode the bus about 15 days last winter, however I have a good or bad feeling that this winter will be far worse.

cooleric1234

Do you think it's necessary? My first winter here, I'd like to commute as much as possible but I can drive when necessary. I won't be going out in snow, just worried about ice as I'd like to commute in sub-freezing temps.

ban guzzi

Some locals use studs, some don't. I do. I'm usually out by 0400 on bad weather days and heading home about 1800+. While they haven't been over used, since I ride around Capital Hill and Downtown to hang out, etc, studs come in REALLY handy after the snow has been temp. cycled, compacted and frozen into good, deep ruts.

modernjess

Ice is the enemy, and that's what studs are designed to deal with. I cant' speak to all the models that are now available, but I run the Nokian W106 35mm on my Cross Check, hands down they make winter possible for me. They are amazing and it's truly fun to ride in the winter becuase of them.

They aren't super wide, but with the added drag of the tread and the studs and the lower pressure they suck to ride if it's all black top all the time, and therefore I have 2 sets of wheels (ultra gator skins on the other) its about a 90 second process to switch.

With that said, I really dont switch them all that often, This is Minnesota so winter can sneak up anytime, but there can also be long stretches of weather where everythign clears up and melts off and is dry for days. Sometimes I just leave the studs on and they really do see a lot of asphalt, but I cant see any deterioration of the carbide studs yet. (this will be my third season coming up)

Bottom line IMO if you have ice to deal with studs are a worth while investment. Going down on ice patches hurts like hell and of course is dangerous to your well being. If you can afford it get a set and a set of wheels to mount them on.

Edit: addition: There is also a lot to be said for making the investment in the winter tire set up as it gives you one less excuse to not ride. For me there is soemthign about needing to use the equipment you invested so much money in.

sumguy

Couldn't justify a spare wheelset for studded tires so rode my Hakka W106s all season last year. If you can afford a spare set then go for it otherwise just ride them all season. It won't kill you and may make you stronger Another reason for not going with the spare wheels is it adds that much more to your prep time if you decide the weather report is right and want to change them.

mcfc57

Sounds like good advice all around. I'd love to have an extra wheelset (or bike for that matter!) but that might not be possible this year. I'll probably go for the studs and ride them all year. One more (potentially stupid) question. Would it be possible to fit fenders and studded tires on my Kona? The weather changes a lot here and I'm likely to have as much cold rain as I am ice and snow.

Hot Potato

and the best online supplier of studded tires is......???

jpdesjar

i would like to know this also, i was interested in the A10s...

mcfc57

This was posted in the winter section. Lots of good info and you can order from this store or elsewhere.



https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp



Anybody ride with studs and fenders or does this justify me getting another bike?

BarracksSi

Always, ALWAYS take advantage of an excuse to get another bike.

Swapping wheelsets is fast, and I may set up some extra wheels of mine for studs. Then again, I'd probably prefer a singlespeed for fewer parts to clean and maintain, which would mean getting another bike...

MNBiker

The standard accompanying warning for anyone considering studded tires on a road type bike (i.e., one without a lot of space for bigger tires): make sure you have adequate clearance to handle bigger, studded tires before you spend money on them!

I believe the Peter White site has some info on determining if your bike can handle them.

BarracksSi

That's where a cyclocross or MTB comes in.

benda18

for the love of god, please reconsider.

mcfc57

And what would you suggest then?

AEO

the studded winter tyres use a softer tread compound and the studs wear out, usually 3 winters will do it for the carbide studs. They also don't stop as quick as regular low profile treaded or slick tyres do in any season except winter.

studs grip on ice, rubber grips on pavement.
studs skate on pavement and rubber slips on ice.

sumguy

I'm guessing he meant all winter instead of all year.

mcfc57

Oh wow. Just caught that. Thanks. Not all year, all winter.