unexpected benefit of studded tire
 

bought a Nokian on CL last summer from a guy moving to CA. given how many cars were sliding around yesterday morning in Boston, I decided to install it last night.

This morning it was rather warm, so there wasn't really an oppty to test the studs on ice. but I found another, surprising-to-me benefit: no more sliding on painted lines in the rain!

also, I found no slowdown on my commute in this morning. on my hybrid it's usually 56-58 minutes, and this morning was 57:02.

I think I'll leave my studded tire on until spring!

Go fer it!! I noticed the traction on painted lines my self also, nice place to have, everytime I personally ride over them i seem to be turning and have eatin it over them before.

Yeah the teeth dig into that thermoplastic overlay like nothing else

Yep, they are great. But I hate to use mine when they aren't necessary due to the expense. I hate to wear them down unless I have to.

It's hard to know when to put them on and when to take them off, plus it is a hassle, so I am building a winter bike and expect to keep them on that all the time. Then it will just be a matter of deciding which bike to ride.

Not only that, they serve as an audible pedestrian-warning device :D

On the other hand, there's an annoying sort of "nibble" feeling when riding over metal grates with them. I wouldn't worry about wear, though. My Nokian W106 are ready for their 6th season, which begins next Saturday.

Paul

Completely agree. The handling of the bike definitely changes with studded tires, but like you I noticed basically no difference in ride time. I think we as cyclists get so used to certain speeds and cadences that once we change the tires out for studs, we maintain that speed/cadence even though the legwork might be a little more intensive.

here in Montreal, I saw some studded tires the other day, they were $75 each. dont know the brand. pretty certain I saw some others that were more too.
good to hear that they can last a bunch of years.

What studs are you running? The carbide studs on Nokians will outlast the sidewall, even if you ride them on pavement.

mine are Nokians (carbide studs) which is why i'm thinking of leaving them on ...

My studs pick up leaves. I would switch back to normal tyres if I could be bothered but we are having another freeze-up at the end of the week so they stay on.

I put mine on around Thanksgiving (this is the 3rd year that I have used the same set), they stay on until spring. BTW, they still look almost new. I could see them lasting another three or four years, no problem. I generally ride at least 4 days a week approx 12 miles a day.

:D Indeed. Once I had somebody yell as I passed, "Your tire is flat!" :rolleyes:

Mine are Schwalbe Marathon Winter. Maybe they will last longer than I figured. I hope you are right.

Yeah, that's my 2nd favorite thing about them...

If someone sold a "bell" that constantly made that sound for summer riding, I'd totally buy one...

^^^
Did you learn nothing from kindergarten? Put a playing card in your spokes. :D