winter tires
 

I know it's a ways off, but I'm setting some goals for myself to ride more through the winter this year and was wondering if anyone has suggestions for good winter tires. I've been thinking of putting some cyclocross tires on, since I have the clearance, but I'm open to other suggestions too. Also, do you guys switch out wheels for the winter, or just ride the same pair year-round?

700c wheels i presume. i rode the same set of wheels year round last year in connecticut and ran cyclocross tires when it was crappy out. got a new wheelset over the summer though and this year i will have a set of studded snow tires on one set of wheels and then just regulars on the other set of wheels. icebike.com liked the nashbar studded tires (http://icebike.com/Equipment/nashbar700c.htm) and i got a set on sale for real cheap this summer, looks like they are out now, but i am sure they will have more. they were easy to install and felt good on a test ride, give that a try.

depends where you're riding.. city, trails, snow, mud?

i throw cross tires on for the winter weather (ritchey speedmax's) and they work great. obviously they aren't going to grip as well on ice as studded tires, but they are a good balance if you live somewhere like me where sometimes it's snow and sometimes it's just asphalt. i'm too lazy to have 2 wheelsets that i swap out. by this winter i'll just have 2 bikes, a weather beater and a nice one.

I wonder how Continental GP4Seasons work out.... I found some in the dumpster today, they look almost new to me but apparently weren't up to some roadies standards so he trashed them :) Anyone have experience with them in the rain?

In the snow, zipties work in a pinch. Like chains for your tires.

My Vittoria Randonneur 700x28s are just about dead. I'll probably just replace them with the 700x32 version with reflective sidewalls and call it good.

I ran Vittoria Cross EVO XG 700x34c, cyclocross Tubulars last year in New England. Not to bad in snow. I rode to work every day accept one. It was an ice storm that day so I stayed home. This year I'll have studs on one of my MTB's for icy days and off road/ lake riding.

I gave away my car and ride year around.

I ride in blizzards that stop everything except me and the sanding trucks.

Two bikes.

My winter bike, which I ride only with visible ice and snow on the road, has studded Nokian tires and fenders.

Otherwise, I ride my summer bike with an Aramdillo in back and a Conti 4 Seasons in front.
It doesn't matter if the back tire slips, but it means everything if the front tire goes out from underneath me.

Riding with Nokians is safer than walking. Thing is, I run Extremes on a mtn bike-- fixed gear takes a breather in the winter.