Originally Posted by
maddog34
take a good look at a rally car set up to run on ICE some time... you'll be better educated afterward.
higher pressures, narrow tires... it boils down to contact patch PSI forces.on the ice surface.
siping works by the edges of the sipes slightly digging into the ice surface.... decreasing contact PSI reduces the ability of the edges to penetrate the ice surface.
going TOO high with tire pressures causes troubles too.
your mind jumped to an extreme instead of looking at a reality.
when the contact PSI gets too high, surface MELT begins during tire contact at speed... hydroplaning on top of ice is not a good thing.
tire Compounds also play into the equation...
You are looking at an extreme, and I am familiar with rally racing, but I am looking at the reality of bicycle tire sizes and tread design. You are trying to equate a tire with a flat tread design, one with siping, to that if a round profile tire with no sipes. An increase in pressure is not needed and is counterproductive. Do what works for you.