SmoothieXL

i live in an eastern city which gets as much rain as it does snow in the winter, are studded tyres really worth it? i rode vittoria rubino's (23c) all last winter, and found the high psi was very helpful, i felt much more confident on those then a lower psi tire. i have never tried studded tho, do you think they would be a good choice given the conditions of where i cycle? slush is the most common enemy, with occasion days of snow to deal with, and mostly clear or slightly wet roads. i use a fg with a low gear ratio in the winter, if that helps with answering the question. there is a solid amount of clearance for a larger tire size if necessary.

hairytoes

If you don't get ice or compacted snow on the roads, there is no reason to use studded tyres.

I've ridden in similar conditions to the ones you describe, using a road bike. Continental GP4seasons tyres are good for grip in the cold and wet.

Juha

This. The narrow high PSI tyre helps by not compacting the slush but cutting through it.

If however slush and snow stick on ground long enough for everyone else to compact the stuff for you, you'd be better off with studded tyres.

--J

Sixty Fiver

If you are not dealing with ice then a decent road tyre will work fine and does have the advantage of cutting through slush where in other climates a person might want more float and cushion to roll over harder packed snow and slush and have studs to deal with ice.

If there is the chance of icy conditions running studded tyres will make a world of difference and many people just run a studded front to keep the front wheel stable as this is more than half the battle.

chriskmurray

I am guessing not but if you have a bike with large tire clearance I have been very interested in this tire, their theories make a lot of sense. https://www.conti-online.com/generato...Winter_en.html

If that is too big you can check out these guys, it comes in a 28 and is very puncture proof which is nice because flats are especially no fun in winter. https://www.conti-online.com/generato...urride_en.html

If you can not fit a 28 you are kind of stuck with what you have but like others have said, you will likely be OK as long as there is no real ice or compacted snow, just take it easy in the slush.

chaadster

Obviously a studded tire would be pointless, and quite literally, a huge drag. Look more to a cyclocross type tire, something with a wider spaced knob to keep slush from packing up.

More specifically, I can recommend the Kenda Kwicker. They used to make a 28c width, which is what I run here in Ann Arbor, which seems to have similar weather, although we get more and lasting snow, but they list only a 32c now. It has a low center knob with a knurled pattern underneath, so it rolls fast on dry, yet offers a fair amount of traction when the going's loose. Bigger blocks on the shoulder give cornering confidence. Sub 350gm/tire, which is nice. They'll probably only last a couple of seasons, but a great tire for dealing with wet/slushy roads.

Sixty Fiver

One could always go the other way...

MichaelW

I used to ride slushy snow with Schwalbe Marathon 28mm and had no particular problem except for having to ride with extreme care.
My snow tyre is now a 26x1.8 MTB knobbly with DIY studs and I'm not sure I would like to revert to my old ways.

mwbirren

what about a good studded tire for the occasional "black ice" or frost? In the Portland, OR area we get black ice (looks like the road is just wet, black asphalt) and it can send you on your butt pretty quick.

Please advise.

Thanks!

nelson249

I was thinking of these guys still I saw the price of them in my LBS

https://www.conti-online.com/generato...Winter_en.html

gopromiller

yeah,My snow tyre is now a 26x1.8 MTB knobbly with DIY studs and I'm not sure I would like to revert to my old ways.

droy45

If your always on slush or loose snow then you will not need the studs. If that slush is frozen in the morning, and or black ice forms, then studs are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

LarDasse74

When I lived in a big city with slush and infrequent ice or packed snow I tried multiple styles of tires between 23 and ~50 mm wide during the winter, and I found fat tires tend to float around on the slush while narrower tires got down to the pavement underneath. I spent a lot of time on 700X35 or so treaded tires but often felt that narrower would be more stable.