We've been getting one good snow per week for the last few weeks. The area I'm in doesn't normally get much snow. This is only my second winter riding a bike, and last winter we had an ice storm.

I keep putting off buying studded tires, because I figure I won't need them most years.

Today, even though the snow has stopped, the snow has been blowing across fields making horribly slick spots on the roads.

I've had enough. I placed my order for two Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires. I ordered direct earlier this morning, and they've already shipped. Let's see how long before I get them.

I'll report back once I've tried them out.

Oooh, I would have sold you mine at a discount. I prefer the Nokians I had before, which are also cheaper.

I considered the Nokians. Oh well. Once these wear out...

Good job on ordering the studs. You are guaranteed beautiful weather from now on. Enjoy!


(kidding... they're a good thing to have if there are icy patches. you may save yourself from a bad fall)

I couldn't wait to put studs on last November. My first ride on packed snow was so much fun. Man, that honeymoon is OVER. I took the studs off last weekend (for the 2nd time this winter) because the roads were clear again. I hope I don't have to put them back on. I keep telling myself, "March is coming". It still snows in March, of course, but it doesn't stick around like it does in Dec-Feb.

dcrowell,
This may reassure you.
I'm in SW Indiana and have gotten similar weather to you. Last year's ice storm was the only thing that kept me from my cycle commute. This year I got Marathon Winters and nothing has stopped me. Nokians might be better somehow, IDK. Mine don't handle deep snow well, but have been great on ice.

Good luck.

For your situation I think the Marathon Winters were a better choice than the Nokians. It sounds like you don't see much snow in a typical winter and the Marathon Winters are plenty good on ice. They're also good on bare pavement, - for a studded tire.

I should have mentioned that the Marathon Winters are good on packed snow too.

i would think that regular tires from target would work, the regular offroad ones. but i have not ridden in snow. do you need those massive offroad tires?

https://www.schwalbetires.com/node/1788
are those metal studs on them?

Rubber is rubber, and does not stick to ice, whether it's knobbies or slicks. If you've ever been walking along and suddenly slipped on ice and ended up on your butt you know what I'm talking about. Knobbies will help in deeper snow, but if there's ice underneath you need studs.

Yes, those are metal studs. Steel, with hardended carbide pins, to be exact. They will bite into ice but will not be damaged by bare pavement - they will be pushed back into the tire and pop out again, ready for the next patch of ice.

I have ridden in snow with regular road tires. It's ice that I'm worried about. Yes, the winter tires have carbide steel studs. I've heard good things about them, but have yet to receive them.

..and they are mighty effective. This is my 3rd winter with Nokians and I am stable and confident as can be under most conditions. I really enjoy riding with them.

I'd qualify that: They're mighty effective as long as they're in contact with the ice and have pressure on them. Lean into a turn too much and your tires can still slide out from under you.

I hear you. I'm ready to rip off someone's head and crap down their neck since I haven't been able to ride my bike to work. Commuting is my outlet for all the day to day stress I encounter. In the past few winters, I usually only missed a few days due to snow and ice, so I never pulled the trigger on studded tires. This winter has been brutal. I'm ready for it to be over.

Yo Dcrowell! Sorry I couldn't make the Sunday ride but stuff came up. I'll be very interested in seeing how you like the Marathon Winters. I ordered a set of Kenda Klondikes with Carbide Studs through the LBS on Frankfort near the tracks. So far they've been great. They're great on top of packed snow and in slush and on ice but not so great in the layered stuff. I actually paid as much for these tires as I would have if I ordered 32mm Nokians through Peter White. If I had to do it again I'd probaby go with the Nokians just based on their rep but so far the Klondikes haven't disappointed. They're 40mm and have very little clearance in the rear chainstays so I guess I should have got the 32mms but I couldn't resist the option to go fat. Now I guess I need an LHT. And a heated garage.

I like my Marathon Winter tires - from December until March. I still carry a tire repair kit, but I don't have to use it anymore. I can ride fast at night, if I don't spot some ice I'll just ride on it, no problem. As for the weight (nearly 1kg per tire...), I'll integrate it as additional training. If I can follow the slowest of the weight weenies at the end of March on a fully loaded commuting bike, I'll know I'm fit.

I have studded Marathon Winter tires 700 x 53c. I got the version with the most studs. I love them and they've been getting lots of use. You can crank them up to their MAX pressure or soften them a little when there is more than 2" of snow. on dry roads, even at MAX pressure they will feel sluggish compared to 700 x 28c high pressure slicks but your overall time won't suffer much and you can still go fast on them.

Just permanantly broke my Cannondale mountain bike winter commuter so it looks like I need to hunt down a cheap bike with 26 inch rims for snow commuting. Just not worth getting fixed. Any suggestions? Ill use it about 20 days out of the year so not looking to spend over $500 new or over $300 used.

(Have studded tires, and plenty of parts that can be swapped off the old bike)


Ride distance is 15-20 miles each way - temperatures run 5 F to 40 F - 80% in daylight, would be happy to switch to cheap igh with 26 inch wheels if there is such a creature.

I picked up an old GT for $30.

Jealousy -- gonna hit craigslist now!

I haven't gone down yet with studs, I take it you have.

go for it.

sizing is the key, everything else you can fix or add. though it helps if it's not a POS

it's possible to turn steeply enough to take the studs out of contact with the road... but you really gotta be putting in some effort to do it! just ride with a bit of caution and avoid deep snow as much as you can and you should be fine.

Don't worry Dom, we're planning another ride this Sunday. You going to be there? It's supposed to snow.

Thanks for the advice but I'm not worried. Been doing it for a while now.