TomPalmer

Hi all,
Ice is here in west Michigan. Putting on the Nokian studs this morning and these tires are beefy. Do not want to change a tire in the snow and ice, so has anyone had a flat on a studded nokian under normal winter conditions? Considering some flat protection and not concerned about ride quality.
My goal is to do my 36 mile commute at least once a week all winter.
Tom Palmer
Twin Lake MI

cymro

I use Schwalbe ice spikers for three years. I have not had a flat. In the cold of winter I would use my cell phone and call to be picked up!

wolfchild

Even the best studded tires are not 100% immune from flats. I did get one flat on my Nokian Extremes, it was from a very sharp screw which went through the tire. I always carry spare tubes, pump and tires leavers. It can be a huge PITA to change a tube in freezing/snowy weather. Remember to always be prepared for an unexpected emergency.

modernjess

I'm on Nokian W106's , this will be year 5 or 6? Anyway if I tell you that I've never had a flat with them it will immediately jinx me and I'll flat on the next ride. So I'm not going tell you that I've never flatted on my Nokians even if it is true.

But, I'm always prepared to fix a flat on the road in the winter and I don't look forward to it. You have to take into consideration the conditions you could get caught out in, and that it could be very cold, dark, and or snowy and the process could take longer than usual. So along with the usual tools, tube, levers, and C02, I pack a back up pump, a thinner pair of gloves I can work tools in, a flashlight or headlamp, a rag or small towel, and depending on temps an xtra layer and a warm hat I can throw on in case I'm stranded for a while. And I make sure I have my phone. Winter can be deadly around here so you gotta go boy scout and always be prepared.

fotooutdoors

Three winters, 0 flats on studs. I think it partially because some of the road junk that might otherwise give you a flat is buried under a few inches of snow and ice, so it won't get into your tire. Plus the rubber is so thick on my nokian hakapulita's, and I run them decently low pressure.

Burton

Yeah - run Nokians myself and changing a flat in the winter would probably be the LAST thing I'd want to do. So far have been lucky but I'm always up to stack the odds in my favor - so ....

Michlin introduced a new inner-tube last year they call the Protek Max. Its a little different in that it uses a combination of a dimpled, square profiled shape and an internal coating to seal punctures. Rode with them on an enike this summer without issue and plan on putting them on the studded wheelset.
https://www.michelinbicycletire.com/m...protekmax.view
https://www.goinggoingbike.com/blog/t...ls-a-puncture/

These are only available in one 26" size and one 700 size. The 700 is perfect for Nokian 240 700 x 40's if the valve style works with your rims.

squegeeboo

I always run tire liners inside of my tires, never flatted with them in place.

Gojohnnygo.

Back when the Nokians first came out they had 296 studs and it was called a 296er LOL. I still have one that hasn’t seen a flat…….I’m now running the 294s for the past 5 years with zero flats tomorrow I will get a flat.

Bat56

I had a flat once. It sucked. Shwalbe marathon. I think it was my fault, I had a tiny spec of metal on the tube. Other than that, no flats, but I stay prepared.

Best part of that repair was that I was in such a hurry that I had remounted the tire with a new tube and I realized that I did not check the inside of the tire. So I removed the tire and tube and checked... found the sliver of metal. Did the whole thing over again.

During the repair I broke my bead jack. Changed the tire without the bead jack.

I suggest practicing. It's annoying, but you need to make sure that you can change the tire with the tools in your bag. When it's damn cold at that.

Bike Gremlin

Fat MTB tyres are easy to mount/dismount. Even the wired, Marathon Winter tyres. Can be done with thin gloves on. I've had two studs fall out during "breaking in" period. When a stud falls out it leaves a hole, gap. Gues that's where a piece of sharp glass, rock or thorn could more easily get stuck and slowly penetrate. That's why I put spare studs in to fill the holes.

shepherdsflock

My Extreme 294s were the biggest PITA to mount, I wouldn't even consider fixing a flat out in the cold. I would just push it to a bus stop and catch a bus. I don't know if all of the Extreme 294 tires are like this, but my tires have extremely tight bead fit. Even with tire levers I can barely get them on. The last couple of inches of bead nearly break my tire levers when prying the bead onto the rim.