reTyre

Hello biking enthusiasts!

We are a startup from Norway who really wants to see even more people on the bike, all year around. We have developed reTyre, a concept where you can customize your tires using zippers. We know it sounds weird, but check out our initial instruction video to see how the concept works! The first solution is a spiked winter surface which is easy to mount on top of your regular summer tire.

What do you think? Is it useful to someone? Who? Why?

Really appreciate your honest comments and thoughts.

You may also reach us at el@retyre.no in case you wish direct contact.

FBinNY 

I'm not big on gadgets, but I do ride when snow and ice are problems some, but not all the time. My solution was to have a complete pair of wheels with studded tires as a back up pair for when I needed them.

But your idea could make that simpler, and allow for portability of the studded cover in the event of unexpected conditions. So, if the pricing were right (and it worked) I'd consider i an option for my commuter/utility bike.

I'm somewhat curious about the sizing and fit, and how you accommodate different widths?

Possibly you can end up with a better product if you approached it a bit differently, making a zipper-ready dry tire, with the zipper built in, to make fitting simpler and eliminate any risks related to improperly mounted zipper strips, but that's your call.

Good luck with it. I look forward to more info and specs.

CliffordK

Interesting concept.

How is the rolling resistance? Is there an issue with "progression"?

Clearance might be an issue on my favorite bikes, so adding 1/4" or so could be bad. But, there are many bikes that have adequate tire clearance.

I assume you use some kind of minimal elastic stretch material for the sides, and maybe rubberized on both sides to keep the tire treads from slipping. Any slippage could feel awkward, and is potentially dangerous.

I can't say if I'd use it. I run road slicks most of the time. I did run knobbies a few years ago when I did a lot of winter adverse weather commuting. Now, I do ride in the rain a lot, but I'll generally organize my schedule to wait out ice and snow storms.

If I was in a place with more snow, I'd probably go with a fat tire MTB with studs... and leave the road bike at home.

Viich

I like it, but it's going to come down to cost and effectiveness as well - it looks like it's probably a little more aggressive than the alternative (something like schwalbe marathon winter).

I can get a set of spiked tires for ~$130 CAD, that can hide the studs at high pressure, and all I need to do is let out some air if I need studs (say on the way home). I'm not sure how cheap it would have to be to make me buy it, but it would have to be before you'll be ready, I think - I'll need them by Nov/Dec, and I'm not sure I'd buy a set if I already had studded tires.

Unless it was cheap enough, then I might give it a try on another bike!

corrado33

Interesting concept. I'd be very interested to try it honestly. Not sure how well it'd work compared to my studded tires. I'd be afraid of the fabric on the sides ripping. That would, of course, lead to a locked front wheel and the rider on the ground, over the handlebars.

They would have to be cheap to be worth it. You can buy a pair of mountain studded tires for ~$90 at REI right now, and that's not even the cheapest!

I wonder how heavy it is. Long zippers aren't light. Studs are already heavy.

Overall, very cool concept.

EDIT: Also, I'd imagine putting these things on in winter when the tires are covered in snow would be... for lack of a better word, miserable. It may also affect how well the tire seats in the channels on the rim. I've seen much thinner things (rubber rim strips) cause problems, and they weren't even completely covering the channels.

Also, zippers don't like dirt. They really don't. The company here used the best zipper for the job, but still, I'd imagine getting these on/off when they're frozen/dirty would not be fun.

So answer me this. What's the advantage over a normal studded tire that doesn't really have much more rolling resistance than a normal tire? It's never the ice that you expect that gets you, it's the ice you don't realize is coming that most often makes you fall.

digibud

I hope you're successful but I would not change out my studded tires. Maybe for folks that live in an area that just gets ice once in a while it would be pretty good. Come to think of it there may be a lot of such folks. Here in Alaska once it gets icy it stays icy so dedicated ice tires are more practical but in many places where ice happens only occasionally it would be good. Intriguing approach. Have you tested it at speeds? Down hills? I'd think the liability would be huge if it ripped open on a piece of steel on the road.

noglider 

I like this. Good luck with it.

I don't suppose it would work with rim brakes unless the rim is sufficiently tall to allow the zipper overhang plus the brake pads.

Leebo

I run bikes with 4 different sized tires. Not an option. I leave my studded tires on 4 bikes during the winter.

Bat56

Interesting. I'd use them to have as an emergency for when it snows while I'm at work but I rode the wrong bike. But then I imagine trying to install these things on the sidewalk in a snow storm. Show me that video.

Rollfast

I run the same tires all year and I learned how to bike on winter roads.