When do you put the studded tires on?
 

So I've been trying to wait until the last minute, but it's likely to be freezing temps for most of this week and there may be a couple patches of ice out there. I've got Carbide studded tires, but I'm pretty sure that my riding is going to be on pavement that's mostly bone dry.

If you come home in the dark, and nighttime temps are below freezing put the studded tires on now. Re-freeze, or roads with wet patches or puddles that freeze with the late day drop in temp is nearly impossible to see at night, or what may be a puddle in one place will be a sheet of ice in another (the North side of my warehouse is a full climate zone colder than anywhere else because of the building's shadow).

Ice isn't super hard to negotiate where you expect it, but surprise ice is usually a quick trip to the pavement.

Leave everything as is until you get tired of driving around ice patches.
Then, install the front tire.
When it gets so icy that you're spinning your rear tire, replace that one.

I used the N+1 solution.. an old MTB got wheels with the Studs on It.

Ice on the ground, I grab that one..

Studded tires go on before the end of October.

How good is your health insurance? How long can you afford to be out of work?

Me? I have no health insurance (Waiting for Obamacare to kick in at the first of the year. Signing up in NYS isn't that bad, BTW.) and I can't afford to be out of work while broken bones heal. So I put 'em on as soon as I think I'll need them.

Carbide studs wear forever. Mine are beginning their eighth season and still going strong. Even if I had to get new ones every year, they're much cheaper than broken bones.

As I write this, here on the shore of Lake Ontario, we're getting our first real cold and snow of the season. Snow and below freezing temps are forecast for the week. The studs will go on tomorrow to be ready for Monday morning.

I am insured thankfully lol. But I also have to ride home in the dark if I'm going to be riding to work - as you guys already know, that was the time that was bothering me the most.

I think I will put them on tonight. It is going to "warm up" later this week, but I'll be home for Thanksgiving then. Looks like it's going to go back to being really cold after that.

My marker is black ice.

Once that is in the picture out comes the winter bike with the studs. Granted I may pull out the regular commuter if a warm dry stretch should happen along but for the most part black ice is the signal to go with the studs.

I have a spare wheel set with studded tires. If there is any chance of ice and snow I just switch my wheels.

Old time sailors say that the time to reef sails (reduce sail area) is when you first think about it. A similar statement can apply to tire studs.

Assuming you have a real finger on the weather's pulse and can get it down to the very day that the odds of hitting ice are 50/50. So you have a choice of studs or no studs, and whatever you decide have a 50/50 chance that's the right decision. That's the bright side, but you also have a 50/50 chance of being wrong, which is where things get interesting.

If you mount the studs when you didn't need them, all that happens is you have a bit slower ride, and some stud wear. Probably you won't even think about it much.

OTOH- what if you should have mounted the studs but didn't. So you hit a sheet of ice and the bike slide out from under you. At the least you bruise your arm and shoulder, at the worst.....

So if you're going to be wrong, which error is preferable?

The time to mount the studded tires is when you first think you might need them.

Just got done installing the studded tires. My lovely wife didn't even complain about me bringing that nasty bike in to do it.

I suppose if I wanted, I could cannibalize the wheels from my LHT and put them on the hybrid if I get sick of studs. On the other hand, it was a lot less trouble to put the tires on than I counted on.

And as FB says, worst case scenario I get a better workout and get to drink another beer :D

I'm going with that. I'm putting studs on one bike early and using it whenever I think I need it.

Marc

I've been putting mine on about thanksgiving, in Chicago. Two years ago, that was a month early. This year, I may do it tomorrow. It's going to be cold for the next week, and there's ice about. Enjoy the looks you get from pedestrians when they here studs on bare pavement, though.

Tires are on my wheels, but the wheels don't go on the bike until needed. Sometimes I'll even wait until the morning. Takes all of 5 minutes to switch wheels.

I debated on Thursday morning since the temp was supposed to drop and snow was predicted for the afternoon. Figured it would be slush at worse but I was wrong. So the touch of road rash on the side of my face will serve as a reminder that skinny road tires and ice don't mix.

Note to self: Avoid landing on your face.

It would have been more embarrassing if the guy 30 feet behind me hadn't fallen too.

Studded Tires go on when temps average below 40 degrees. Even if there is a chance of a single small patch of ice on a half hour ride I want to have the studs on.

For some it's not so much for regular trekking through deep snow as it is preventing the front wheel or entire bike flying out from beneath you in less then a seconds time due to ice. It happens fast. I've only had a couple days with ice so far and have had my new Nokian 296's on for about a month now. Humming along.. sounding like sizzling bacon on dry pavement. Confusing to pedestrians.. that's for sure.

Better safe then sorry.. and stop whining about the rolling resistance. The girls down at the Gym in spin class are probably working harder then you are.

I ride in the flat lands, low lands. :) No hills, no sudden snow. With lots of bicycle lanes, that have heating pipes going beneath them. So if there's no snow forecast, I ride the regular bike. If there is snow forecast, I use the ancient MTB that has studded snow tyres mounted - the winter hack. When I check forecast in the morning, it is 99,9% right about snow - never have they NOT predicted snow and snow fell. So I gues for me it couldn't be easier - having 2 bikes makes it a piece of cake.

I have been commuting since May 16 so this is my first winter of commuting. I got my Nokian w240 700x40 studded tires last week and put them on this week. Good thing because it snowed while at work tonight so I had about a skif to an inch to ride home in. I just got home, they worked great, not one slip!

I read somewhere you should put them on before you will need them so you can get used to the slower ride and more exertion that will be created due to the higher rolling resistance. Mine are a little slower than the summer tires but not that much. The piece of mind having them on and being ready is worth it!

I generally put mine on around Thanksgiving.

I'm wrestling with mine now. It means taking off the fenders and trying to get that *%@!?@@! Alfine non-turn washer into the dropouts. I don't remember it being this hard the last time. And does anyone else have trouble inserting the brake disk into the calipers without them binding and catching?

I'm a sucker for pragmatism - putting mine on today

like FBinNY said, I was thinking the same thing ... now. and don't feel bad about riding on dry pavement, you're not alone.

I waited until I almost had an accident before I even bought mine. and because I waited so long I had to hunt hard and wait to get them so I missed over a week of riding.

the ultimate solution ...

This is my plan too. I have a main commuter and a backup commuter. I put studded tires on my backup bike last weekend. Until the roads are icy consistently I'll choose the bike based on the weather. Then I'll eventually put studs on my main bike too.

I mounted the studded tires last night and rode to lab to break them in a little. A balmy 15F outside right now! Didn't see any ice, but better safe than sorry if I'm going to ride after dark. You guys who say the studded tires are only a little slower, I call BS! I have the Nokian A10's, which are supposed to be "fast", but I feel like I'm pedaling through mud. But, as I said earlier, I guess it's okay, I needed the exercise.