I've started researching a basic upgrade to my Campy Khamsins (to fulcrum racing 5 (or maybe 3) - or something of that quality - so not a massive upgrade).

Anyway, my question, in doing the research, I've seen references to 'suitable for winter wheels' or having heavier winter tyres. What characteristics do people look for in winter wheels? Is it worth keeping the Khamsins on until spring?

As for winter tyres, I can appreciate a bit grippier tyre is good for winter, but heavier? Should I hold off fitting my folding conti gatorskins and look for a heavier tyre?

Cheers,

Don't be a weight weenie when it's counterproductive. You're riding for exercise and fitness anyway--you could even look at a heavier wheel and tire as a plus.
I ride year-round, and I'm not at all concerned about weight (I weigh 240, and my 64cm steel Atlantis, with fenders in winter and a rack year-round, probably comes close to 30 pounds--I've never been tempted to put it on a scale). I don't think tire tread matters much on dry pavement or even in rain (the contact patch of the tires is too small to hydroplane), but it can in snow or slush. A slightly knobby tire is going to have more rubber on it than a smooth one, and that adds weight. I'd rather spin the rotating mass than skid and fall down, so I tolerate that. I keep my winter tires on wider (and thus heavier) rims, but I'm not sure that's really a help--I got them at a great price. But they ARE stronger, to deal with potholes and the occasional ice chunk in the gutter.
Sometimes weight is your friend. I almost never break anything, and when I'm picking my way over winter roads, I'm not concerned about speed anyway.

Aksiums, Ultegra OP 32 2x, etc.

Gatorskins, Vittoria Open Pave, Conti 4 Seasons, etc.; if your frame/brakes can handle 28's even better.

Unless you live in CA, then ride whatever you normally ride.

people refer to "winter wheels" in areas where it gets cold, and the reasons you want "winter wheels" are:

-salt on the roads, bad for your expensive wheels
-cracks in the road from freezing - bad for your low spoke count, lightweight wheels

so you want your winter wheels to be built stronger and cheaper than your other wheels, if the conditions above apply to you, at the expense of weight and aero-goodness.

These are my winter/training wheels:
Velocity A23 rims
DT Competition spokes 32 cross-3
Shimano 105 hubs

I like the wide rims so much I may use them all the time. They are also good if you want to use wider tires.
https://s975.photobucket.com/albums/a...eiss/A23_5700/

Wet winters can increase wear on the braking surface. Thicker material is more durable but heavier. You can get ceramic braking surfaces but Im not sure how they survive being bashed and taking potholes.
For training and winter use, a standard 32 spoke wheelset is perfectly adaquate and easier to maintain in the long run than one with low spoke count and hard to find special spokes.

i just put on my wirebead Gatorskins and rode about 50 miles or so. Man they felt heavy, but they are more durable than the Conti 4000s that I was running.

You want cheap winter wheels? Bonktown has Fulcrum Racing 7 on sale for 174.99 right now at the time of this posting you have 9 minutes.

Nice.

thanks for feedback... I'm uk based, so if it snows then the world stops (so won't be cycling). Will however stick with the Khamsins until spring, and then upgrade.
Will put the gatorskins on tho' - rangerdavid - i think the foldings are about 100g lighter than the wired...

I think that in most places "Winter Wheels" are a bit of a waste of time, I take the same view with regard to "Winter Bikes". Yes where there is snow and slush I can understand wanting a stronger rim, more spokes and heavy duty tyres. I want to get the most out of my carbon bike and my carbon wheels so use them all year round, the cold weather and rain has yet to make any part of my bike wear out or fall apart. Why would I want to put heavier sluggish wheels on my bike just because the temperature has dropped a bit and it might rain. Same goes for tyres, Michelin Pro 3 Race or Continental GP4000s work for me, just as well in December as they do in August.
I think we sometimes get hung up about our precious equipment, it can take a lot more than we give it credit for.
Obviously if you live in Alaska or Norway or some other very snowy country it's a different story.