martslc

I know it's a bit early but in a winter tire what's a good choice, preferably cheap since miles are lowered.

Thoughts, choices??

Thanks,
Marty

Mr IGH

Kenda Klondikes when it's icy.

redlude97

if you are talking just rain and grit, then hard to beat Conti GP4seasons

Sy Reene

Pricey maybe, but I want someone to try the Michelin Power Protection tires and report back.

softreset

I'll second this. I run 28s in these on my commuter and I've started just using them year round.

PaulRivers

OP, where do you live? There's a HUGE difference in tire selection for "winter" between Florida, Portland, and Minnesota...

My opinion is a fully studded tire, either a Schwalbe Marathon Winter (35c) or a 45nrth Gravdal (38c). But you know...I live in Minnesota, those wouldn't really be what I chose for Florida...

RushFan2112

Continental Grand Prix 4 Season

dabac

If you're looking for studded tires, don't bother with "cheap".
Cheap studded tires tend to use studs in general construction steel, which wear AMAZINGLY fast on bare ground.


The moe expensiv tires use carbide-core studs, which are almost impossible to wear out.
They can get a little blunted, but uually the carcass of the tire goes before the studs.


Wha you need to consider next is thread depth and stud count.
Schwalbe Marathon Winter don't do that good in soft snow. They do fine on hardpack though. Suomityres tend to do better on soft snow, particularly the W240, but seem to roll poorer on firm surfaces.


Stud cont is a so-so thing. I spent a couple of seasons escalating.


100-count tires (or thereabouts) is enough to keep the bike from unexpectedly disappearing out from under you while JRA, but not enough to allow much manouvering. If you want to be able to really steer and brake on ice, you need to get well past the 200 range.

Mr IGH

Debunked many years ago. Even low cost Kendall studded tyres have carbide studs. And when it's 30*F tyres don't have much compliance, expensive compounds are just as stiff as cheaper compounds. And all the the tyres are heavy. So spendy studded tyres don't offer any advantages over lower cost versions except a lighter wallet....

AlexCyclistRoch

Problem with studded tires is that they ride like cr@p on anything short of heavy snow/ice. On days like that, I prefer to stay off the bike, and go skiing instead. You can get a good set of XC skis for about the same price that a GOOD set of studded bike tires costs.

dabac

Maybe where YOU live, but NOT where I live.


I can just about promise you that THESE: Dubbdδck cykel - Cykeldδck Dubbdδck cykel Vinterdδck cykel Dubbdδck - Biltema and THESE: Dubbdδck | KAYOBA | Jula
still use regular steel studs.

dabac

I have no problem commuting on SMWs or Suomityres W240 on bare ground, apart from the 10% drop in speed they cost me. Properly inflated, they handle just fine.

kingston 

While the Kenda ice tires have carbide studs, but I doubt every inexpensive ice tire does. I use marathon winters, and since they seem to last forever (7th season coming up on the same tires), I haven't had the chance to try anything else.

veloz

For ice, nothing beats studs. I own Nokian Mount & Grounds and Nokian W240s. They're heavy tires and roll slow but they're sure footed in icy snow conditions and last forever. I'm mostly on a mtn bike in winter. If we had less ice & snow in MI, I'd prefer my gravel bike and would try GP 4 seasons.

Mr IGH

What's cheaper than a Kenda? I'm on my 6th season with the cheapy Klondikes. It's so slow on studs what difference does it make? I have a set of Nokian 296 29 x 2.1", they're not any better than my Kendas.

Looking at Universalcycles.com it appears the prices have dropped on most of the 700C road studded tyres and the price issue is moot:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...p?category=584

Which of these tyres doesn't have carbide studs?

Bike Gremlin

Wrote a review of several popular models here, depending on riding conditions:

Bicycle winter tyres

Good tyre can last over 5 years, so buying cheap, lower quality is not always good economy.

Ajkollme

I live and commute daily in CT. I ride on the Conti top Contact Winter II. They are great for days where the roads may be slushy or clear in the morning but get small accumulation during the day. They provide enough traction to ride in up to 1-2" of snow, but are still pretty quick when the roads are clear. For ice, though, you'll need to go with one of the studded options.

kingston 

Someone else is going to have to answer these questions. I'm not interested in researching cheap tires.

martslc

Thanks for all the reply's. I live in Salt Lake City where as most know we held the winter Olympics back in 2002. Most days are clear but other's not and are slushy and slick.

Chandne

I'll read some of this. I use my cyclocross bike with cyclocross tires- Specialized Triggers. I'll probably do the same this year but will put some winter tires on the Roubaix. Good info here.

dim

here in the UK and in the area where I live, we seldom see snow, and my winter tyre choice is Schwalbe Durano Plus in 25 width ... grips good in wet and dry and has a very good puncture resistance ....

Airtorn

I stick to Gatorskins year-round.

Larry77

I am glad to see people like the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season's as this is what I'm going with this year. Will be going 28's on my disc gravel bike for the winter, which means mostly rain here in Portland. I won't be riding in snow or ice, those will be trainer days for me...

Carbonfiberboy 

I've been running Vittoria Rubino Pro Tech III in winter. They have been remarkably durable. I like them better than the 4 Seasons. They don't cut easily and they have a low rolling resistance for a winter tire: Vittoria Rubino Pro III Rolling Resistance Review
Much lower than the 4 Seasons, which feel logy to me.

martslc

This is what I've been using and I think I'm going to stick with it since others says it's a good option. Thanks!