Originally Posted by
RFEngineer
I ordered a CX bike that comes (oddly) with 28mm slick tires, but says it can take up to 45 mm tires. I live in Denver where it snows off and on throughout winter, but the roads are clear more than half the time.
Should I order wide, slick commuter tires for clear winter days or wide knobby tires for the snow days? I don't know if I will need studded tires for when it actually snows, either. Please help!
Thanks!
Alan
1) Do you get a lot of ice.
2) Do they regularly plow the streets so there's not much deep snow.
If 1) is a yes, get studded tyres if you can by any chance. Good quality studs that don't wear out fast. Nokian winter tyres, or Schwalbe Marathon Winter ones.
If 2) is a yes, get tyres with larger deep profile, knobbies. 2) is in addition to one. So ice + plowed streets = studded tyres with smaller tread pattern, like Marathon Winters.
I ride in flat lands, the streets are plowed and there's not much ice. After some experimenting, I stuck to rear tyre with small knobs, and front studded, just in case, with small knobs as well. Works fine. Front wheel can easily be swapped for another with a slick tyre mounted on - that is also an option.