When do you put the studded tires on?

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11-26-13 | 04:44 PM

#51

Jim from Boston

Senior Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 7,381

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Quote:

Originally Posted by alan s

I think the max is 70 psi on the 26x1.75 MWs, which keeps the outer rows of studs off the ground, except when cornering. I run them at around 65-70 if black ice is the concern, and at 40 when needed, which greatly increases traction, as all the studs are engaged and the tire conforms better to irregular surfaces. However, they are noticeably slower at 40 psi, but who's in a hurry?

Me; I'm commuting to work. Fortunately I travel well-tended roads, and hardpack snow is my most frequent hazard. I can go through unplowed though slowly, up to about 3-4 inches, but even then, the plows usually come by soon, because I'm on a major thoroughfare.

Note: I travel in the reverse, outbound commuter direction, so there is not much traffic on my side of the road, diminishing the skidding-car hazard. I also wear a rearview mirror to monitor upcoming traffic.

On one of my most hazardous winter commutes I accidentally knocked off my eyeglasss mirror, and spent about 45 minutes looking for it in the snow on the road, and couldn't find it. So with that delay, and the slow travel I got to work about an hour later than usual. What I had hoped would be a triumphal arrival though, was a tongue-lashing because the secretaries thought I was crazy and probably in an accident.

11-26-13 | 06:51 PM

#52

Greg M

Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 99

Likes: 0

From: long island, NY

Bikes: 13 salsa vaya, 90 klein pinnacle 01 lemond poprad, 98 klein quantum race, 91 trek 1100

So I was shopping for an old mtb to use as a winter commuter ,wound up with
a beautiful klein I cant bear to put fenders and studs on. So Im picking up studded
tires from my bro this weekend for the lemond, and I'll be riding the trek 1100 on the
warm dry days. Unfortunately theres no way to fit fenders on the trek. Clearances are
real tight as I swapped the 27's for 700's years ago.

11-27-13 | 09:17 AM

#53

droy45

tougher than a boiled owl

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 1,125

Likes: 1

From: Rocky Coast of Maine

Bikes: Fetish Cycles Fixation / Fuji S12S / Gary Fisher MTB / Raleigh Grand Prix / Ross Professional / Kent comfort cruiser

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluish Green

I put my studded tires on earlier this year than I did last year.

Last year I waited until late November, when it had gotten pretty ugly outside, to put them on. It was my first winter commuting, and the experience was not great. I developed tight hamstrings from fighting the studded tires too hard. I learned to stretch better, leave earlier, and spin in an easier gear on the studs.

This year, I put the studded tires on in late October. I intentionally did my first commute on them on a day when I wore shorts and winds were light and variable. And I left 10 minutes earlier than normal and took it EASY.

I'm glad I took that approach this year. Yes, they are a lot more work pedaling, but I got my body adjusted to the increased workload well before the slop hit the roads. I know some of the more experienced members of this Forum have a different approach, but I plan to tackle it this way every year now on. It works for me.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Exactly my approach and it's been the same ritual year after after year. You've got it down guy.

11-27-13 | 09:21 AM

#54

bikemig

Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 21,816

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From: Middle Earth (aka IA)

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

I've decided to go with Continental winter contact II tires instead of studded tires. So far so good; here is an online review, https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com...nter-tire.html. They roll better than studded tires on pavement and they do a pretty good job on ice and snow.