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

Studded tires are cheap for what you get.

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.

It really depends on how many ice patches you encounter on the plowed roads. Where I am in Michigan we have 8' of snow annually. The roads are well plowed and maintained, but the run off from daily thaws and road treatment will freeze at night making dangerous ice puddles and black ice. I like the Nokian W106 tires for the nastier roads, they are about 45mm and roll fairly fast for studs.

Marc

It depends if there's ever ice on the road. If there's rarely ice, the 45nrth Xerces tires roll with no studs in contact with the ground at high pressure, whereas the studs contact the ground at low pressure.

If you don't ride when there's ice you can skip studded tires. I personally won't ride in anything that might have ice without them (I live in Minnesota).

Look into Conti's Winter Contact.