I'm building up a fixie from an old bike, and I'm nearly done with it. I'm going to buy some slick tires for the time being, but winter is coming. I will use the bike to commute to/from work and for general riding around town.

Does anyone have a recommendation for winter or snow tires? I mountain bike frequently, and this is my first road bike, so I don't know a whole lot about road tires.

The bike will get a lot of miles put on it, so I'd like some tires that last.

Thanks!

I'm new to the fixie/ss world but I've been in the roadbike world for awhile now... there are kinda two theories:

1) being that some tires with big nobby tread is best because the nobs grips better
2) thin road tires cut through the slush and in the end grip better becuase they don't get packed off like mountain style tires

I personally use the same road tires year round.

I'm in CT, and the roads get plowed. Same tires year-round (though they could stand to be replaced around now...)

If you have the clearence:
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...c%20Cyclocross

I've ridden fixed through two seasons of ice and snow.

If you only have clearance for 20 some cm tires, go with a Continental 4 Season Grand Prix in front and whatever you want in back.
The back tire doesn't matter.
If it gets so slippery you can't go, you can't go.
I ride an Armadillo in back because I don't like flats.

Gear down so you remain in control without using your front brake for anything anytime.
It the rear tire slips around, it gets exciting.
If the front tire slips around, it gets painful.
I used my brake once and the front tire went out from underneath me.
Four broken ribs, a punctured lung and a month without work.
Gear down.

I ride 53X18 and 53X17 in the summer, for 77 and 82 gear inches respectively.
In the winter I go down to 53X19 for 72 gear inches, and I can easily ride without a front brake, although I always have a front brake for the unexpected, like a chain coming off.

If you can fit 37cm tires, go with Nokian 106 studded tires.
They will last forever and forever and forever.

https://www.panaracer.com/eng/products/index_ur.html

t-serv is where it's at!

What are the roads like where you are? For Toronto (mostly plowed roads, slush, ice, and the occasional heavy snow day) I like to use a tire with inverted tread and a some small lugs on the outside of the tire for cornering. I used the Continental City ride tires last year and I liked them but you do have to be pretty careful anyways.

The roads vary. When it ices over, I'll ride about 1/4 of a mile on un-tended paved road (snow, ice, whatever happens to be there), then I'll have a 2 mile ride on a mostly plowed road. My only fear is a bridge in town. We have a major creek, and all the bridges that cross it go downhill. There is no way around it. I may just walk the hill.

Thanks!
cmh

panaracer tserv's or pasela tg's. really nice traction. if it gets really snowy, ride your mtb.

If you can find Conti tires with the inverted tread like the Town and Country or the old Top Touring you should be set. If the going is really rough, look for Nokian 106 studded tires. (I use the Nokian tires on a geared bike in the winter.)

I use a MTB with GEAX Blades for winter. They are an agressive widely spaced knobby pattern which works well for the snow because it doesn't load up. It can still get pretty floaty on ice, but nothing short of studs will help you on ice. For all kinds of snow the GEAX Blades tire works great.

The other thing about winter riding is that slush and salt are murder on a bike. It's much better to have a dedicated winter bike so you don't trash a good bike. An old MTB is the perfect choice since they are inexpensive, and lots of cheap knobbies are available. My winter bike has been through 2 winters so far in this capacity, and I'm about to get it ready for a third.

get a cheap road slick for the front to make a studded snow/ice tire out of

1 - get tire
2 - get a box of 1/4 inch sheet rock screws
3 - put the screws in the tire heads on the inside of the tire with the tips pointing out
- do this at the edge of the tread at a 45 degree angle
4 - line the tire with duck tape
5 - install your studed tire on your bike

only use this ont eh front the rear is unnecessary

Studding tires tends to work best on knobby tires where you can poke the screws through the lugs of the tire. Make for a more solid and durable studded tire. I can't imagine riding a slick tire with studs would be a great experience.

yeah. since for riding onthe road, you want some rubber and the studs contacting at the same time, self-studded road slicks would be a bad thing.

I think the best setup would be a set of slick road tires for cold only commuting, with a spare wheelset, or just a front wheel with studded tires. That way you're not hauling around the studs when it's just cold and dry, but can quickly switch.
Also, a second front wheel is cheap to free, if you look around a bit.

I'm a huge fan of the nokian studded tires, and ride their commuter tire for most of the winter. They're expensive & heavy, but they've kept my body off the ice/asphalt more times than i can count. They also last forever, and are basically puncture proof. I have not tried the various other studded tires, but anything with carbide studs, a smooth center section, and inverted tread on the margins should make a good commuter tire.

i rode the clement blue cyclcross (tubulars) tires all last winter in indiana and the winter before in ohio. they are the BEST winter tires i have ever used. tubulars let you get way low with the pressure without the risk of pinch flats for some additional traction when the going gets tough and you have to ride through a foot of snow early in the am before the streets get plowed. on those days i ride 50 psi, though you can go as little as around 20/25psi if you wanted to. it'd be slow going though. anyway, they also have a relatively narrow width so they cut through slush easily. the only downside is if it's just smooth pavement you're riding on the "dot" tread gets worn to **** in about 3 days.

so for snow and a little ice, definitely those. but for mild slush, etc, i never have a problem. i love fixed in the wintertime, keeps those legs warm!