jtaylor996

So, I'm still mostly riding my Synapse, but as winter gets suckier, I'm thinking I could use some more appropriate tires for all of this wet and mud.

So what are good winter tires for a hybrid?

How big can I go on the Quick 4?

It's currently wearing schwalbe marathon supremes (32C), and I have the stock kenda quick-trax, too.

lost_in_endicot

You're limited to whatever you can squeeze between your brake calipers. You might be able to get 35's on, but I would measure the spacing between the calipers before going any further.

jtaylor996

Shimano mini v brakes. Just measured width of those at just over 2.25". The front fork clearance is 2.15". There's miles of room around these 32C tires right now.

But it doesn't the rim itself start being a factor here?

Shimagnolo

That *is* what I run on my winter bike.

canklecat

If this winter is like most in the DFW area we'll get two or three winter storms between now and April. I don't need to cycle commute and plan to avoid riding if there's any hint of ice, but I do plan to try riding in snow on some nearby open fields. Mostly I'm curious to see how these 700x40 Michelin Protek Cross Max tires handle snow. So far they're fine all around all-terrain tires, including in the wet during our recent heavy rains.

Looking at the tread patterns and specs for your two sets of tires, I'd probably lean toward the Kenda Kwik Trax for the winter. The all-terrain pattern suits me better. The Schwalbes are probably better for pavement but my riding is about 75% smooth city pavement and 25% rough pavement with lots of sharp debris, rutted dirt, gravel and grass. I'm more comfortable with an all-terrain tread pattern. But flat resistance is a big factor for me as well.

When in doubt, test 'em out. Before settling on the Michelins I rode the original Specialized Hemispheres on as many different surfaces as I could manage, considering the weather hadn't turned bad yet. The Hemispheres cornered a little better, including on patches of loose sand/gravel and wet patches, while the Michelins feel a bit squirmy - probably due to the sharper shoulder - but still secure enough for my riding. The Hemispheres roll better on smooth pavement and feel lighter on uphills. The Michelins are considerably heavier. But the Michelins seem puncture-proof, while I had four flats in September with the Hemispheres. And while both ride well in grass and bare ground, wet and dry, the Michelins handle gravel better and feel more secure on rough gravel and smooth beach stones, and stop exceptionally well in wet grass and on wet pavement.

Another factor is the ride feel at various inflations. The Hemispheres felt pretty much that same from 70-90 psi. The Michelins offer a more versatile feeling ride from 50-80 psi depending on the riding surface.

And a major factor for me is the tire/rim grip. When flat, the Hemispheres roll right off the rims, taking along the tube and rim strip. The tires have very thin, flexible sidewalls. So the bike can't be rolled on a flat, not even a short distance. Very annoying, especially a couple of months ago when I was a few miles from home and had forgotten my pump. The Michelins have a tighter tire/rim fit and I need levers to pop the bead over the last bit of the rim. The sidewalls are much stiffer. While it makes for a heavier feeling ride I can roll the bike home on a flat if absolutely necessary - although I do carry a patch kit and sometimes a spare tube. Since the Hemispheres are so flexible they can be folded over into three or four loops, I can pack it on the rear rack as a spare tire without damaging the wire bead.

So, long story short, after testing both in similar conditions, I'm sticking with the Michelins for the winter. But if I rode mostly on smooth pavement, dry or wet (but not icy), I'd probably prefer the Hemispheres and even considered some smoother tread tires like the Maxxis Hookworms, or Schwalbe Marathon Supremes like yours.

Wanderer

My winter tires are the same as my summer tires - they just hang upside down in the garage for 4 months.......... Schwalbe Marathon Supremes, really, really, really, hate ice and snow!

avidone1

I run Marathon supremes all year long.
But then again, I live in Florida

lost_in_endicot

Sheldon Brown's website explains tire- rim sizing pretty well.

Tire Sizing Systems

2702

I run Gatorskins 32mm all around. A firm ride for sure compared to the 28mm Spec Turbo Pros I have on in summer, the Turbos just have no resistance at all compared to the Skins. A lot of people say no traction or wet traction in winter with Gatorskins but I found them to be decent, they corner at fast speeds great!

jtaylor996

I guess sheldon is saying I won't be able to go any wider than 32C with those rims, anyways

fietsbob

It's Dallas/FtWorth, not Duluth, after all .. Mudguards are good, because in the City , not everything that puddles is Water..