WINTER TIRE

james1978

Hi all, I currently ride with Bonterage Race Lite B 700 x 28 tyres but with the change in the weather I find them rather slippery and on occasion I have nearly lost the front end.

What would be the best tire to change to for over the winter period, it would be good to know what you chaps use?
Many thanks

James

whyamihere

Conventional wisdom would suggest that you'd want a tyre with grooves for the wet weather. This doesn't actually apply on road though, as the tyres are narrow and rounded enough to disperse the water anyway, so you want something as slick as possible to maximise the size of the contact patch.

graeme_s-2

whyamihere is right, the slickest, softest grippiest dry tyre will give you the best grip on wet tarmac. You'd normally go for something a bit tougher and less grippy to give you a bit of puncture resistance as well, so it's a bit of a trade off.

More information on why slick bike tyres don't aquaplane:

http://sheldonbrown.com/tyres.html#hydroplaning

dondare

I use Schwalbe Marathon Plus. I also ride carefully in the wet. Any bran new tyre can be shiney and have less grip when cornering than one that's been round the block a few times, so whatever tyres you put on take it easy on the corners for the first few rides.
Schwalbe Marathon XR is also a very tough tyre with an excellent tread and probably an ideal choice for winter.

Special K

I've just been to cyclesurgery in the City and checked out some Specialized Armadillos - they were going for £20 each. Seems a ittle steep - not exactly a light tyre of any refinement.

The Continental City tyre was also £20 and looked and felt rubbish. I hven't ridden on it obviously, but if you order unseen via the internet, dont be surprised if you first impressions aren't good.

redddraggon

I've got 700x25 GP4000s on my bike, grip seems fine in the wet, rolling resistance seems good, no "broken tubes" yet.

Everyone seems to like different tyres, most tyres seem to be like marmite you either like them or you don't.

ash68

agree with dondare about the marathon plus being a good winter tyre, excellent puncture protection and long life of tyre.Use them myself, but don't think they would be as fast as the gp4000s mentioned by Reddraggon. Suppose it depends what you are looking for from the tyre.

Gambatte

I can kinda see the argument with MTBs, wet/muddy as opposed to dry compacted ground

but....

With a road/racer type bike, is there really that much difference between a 'summer' and a 'winter' tyre?

Not being facetious, serious question

graeme_s-2

In winter I tend to pick tyres that have more puncture protection, and I'm prepared to trade a bit of weight and feel to get it.

ash68

Graeme_S wrote:

In winter I tend to pick tyres that have more puncture protection, and I'm prepared to trade a bit of weight and feel to get it.

Agree, on winter commutes and weekend rides I don't want punctures when it's cold,wet dark and possibly snowing. Hard to change tubes with freezing cold hands,,.

fair question though Gambatte

Clever Pun

The wall in my armadillos started to rupture last night... I got home ok but have no spare tyres and didn't want a blow out... had to ride the hybrid in my lord it's heavy, slow unweildy probably doesn't fit me right etc

so replacement tyres... what are the differences between Armadillos and the schwabe marathon plus??

graeme_s-2

I ran 28C marathon plus's on my hybrid last winter. They feel squirmy, and they're very heavy. I wouldn't want to use them on a road bike. They are absolutely bomb proof as far punctures are concerned.

I know what you mean about going back to your hybrid after riding a nice road bike, the first time I did that (due to a split tyre) I decided to get a fixed gear road bike for the winter and to sell my hybrid!

Clever Pun

Graeme_S wrote:

I ran 28C marathon plus's on my hybrid last winter. They feel squirmy, and they're very heavy. I wouldn't want to use them on a road bike. They are absolutely bomb proof as far punctures are concerned.

I know what you mean about going back to your hybrid after riding a nice road bike, the first time I did that (due to a split tyre) I decided to get a fixed gear road bike for the winter and to sell my hybrid!

I'm same boat as you were, yes I had to use my old hybrid today, it was awful... I'm waiting for my company to implement the cycle to work scheme so I can get a fixie

Having had so many issues with punctures in the past, I want bomb proof for the roady so it's a toss up between armadillos, scwabe and continentals. I've been running armadillos 700X23's

graeme_s-2

Clever Pun wrote:

I'm same boat as you were, yes I had to use my old hybrid today, it was awful... I'm waiting for my company to implement the cycle to work scheme so I can get a fixie

Having had so many issues with punctures in the past, I want bomb proof for the roady so it's a toss up between armadillos, scwabe and continentals. I've been running armadillos 700X23's

Yep - I got my fixie on cycle to work!

I have 23C continental 4 seasons (these replaced the cheap michelin's which split along the bead) on my road bike, which have been excellent so far. I've just fitted 25C gatorskins to my fixie, which I've only been using for two days so I can't really comment on. They feel pretty good, and have given pretty good grip in the wet weather over the last couple of days.

Clever Pun

I'm looking at these

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=14458
or
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=13292
or
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360023380&N=Specialized%20All%20Condition%20Armadillo%20Tyre%20Set
or even
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=10068

I'm tempted by the Roubaix at present

alfablue

I use the Specialized All Conditions Pro tyre, which has been completely puncture-free in 3500 miles of commuting. It is fast, light and grippy, and can take up to 125 psi (I use about 110). I don't know how it compares with the Elite version you have linked to, the Pro is £17.99.

I have read many posts on this and other forums from people with numerous punctures from the Gatorskins. I haven't used these, but did use Conti Sport Contacts for a while and they wore fast, were very soft rubber, collected grit, and punctured often (despite the no puncture guarantee!). I wouldn't touch conti's again.

graeme_s-2

alfablue wrote:

I have read many posts on this and other forums from people with numerous punctures from the Gatorskins. I haven't used these, but did use Conti Sport Contacts for a while and they wore fast, were very soft rubber, collected grit, and punctured often (despite the no puncture guarantee!). I wouldn't touch conti's again.

Gatorskins do seem to get two different write ups. Some from people who say they use them for thousands of miles without a puncture, and an equal number from people who say they can't cycle round the corner without getting a puncture. They were the only suitable tyre my LBS had in 25C, and I needed them fast, so I thought I'd try them myself. Time will tell!

buddha

I posted last week re. how badly my Michelin Krylions were getting cut and punctured.
And the Schwalbe Stelvio Plus was recommended. Almost as good as the Marathon Plus, but with a slick tread and lighter.

No complaints so far. Despite riding over broken glass and numerous thorns.
Although they are only available to a maximum of 25mm. And are over £20 each. Though cheaper from the Continent

muthas

I've had Conti Sports Contacts on my MTB for about 6 months (about 600 miles) and have had no punctures. I did have 23c Gatorskins on my fixed road bike, they were fine at first but after 1000 miles or so are like puncture magnets (the rubber is so soft its like a harbour for any piece of flint or glass). Also running Conti 4 Seasons on my other road bike and after about 1000 miles have had 1 puncture (caused by a blow out)l.

One think to consider is how easy you can get them on and off - I found the gatorskins to be a complete nightmare. The 4 seasons slip on like a dream. The Conti Sport Contacts I dont know because I didnt put them on and have never had them off.

I sometimes think though a lot of this is down to luck - I used to run mega cheap tyres and dont remember having massive problems.

Gambatte

muthas wrote:

I sometimes think though a lot of this is down to luck - I used to run mega cheap tyres and dont remember having massive problems.

Wondering the same here, the bikes got the same nondescript tyres it came with originally and I've had no major problems wi......

(Oh, sh1t!! *backspace**backspace*backspace*backspace*backspace*)

Belv

buddha wrote:

I posted last week re. how badly my Michelin Krylions were getting cut and punctured.
And the Schwalbe Stelvio Plus was recommended. Almost as good as the Marathon Plus, but with a slick tread and lighter.

After ANOTHER puncture this morning, i was looking at those two Schwalbe tyres in 25c. The Marathon plus is significanltly heavier, but slightly thicker. When thinking about riding, i want the lightest ones possible, but when standing by the side of the road this morning, i'd have given anything for solid steel tyres - damn the weight or comfort.

I have the worst luck with punctures, so probably go for the marathon plus.

Clever Pun

Belv wrote:

buddha wrote:

I posted last week re. how badly my Michelin Krylions were getting cut and punctured.
And the Schwalbe Stelvio Plus was recommended. Almost as good as the Marathon Plus, but with a slick tread and lighter.

After ANOTHER puncture this morning, i was looking at those two Schwalbe tyres in 25c. The Marathon plus is significanltly heavier, but slightly thicker. When thinking about riding, i want the lightest ones possible, but when standing by the side of the road this morning, i'd have given anything for solid steel tyres - damn the weight or comfort.

I have the worst luck with punctures, so probably go for the marathon plus.

when they first relaid the river lea navigation path with a gravel layer (read as knives) I had 10 in a week.... only rubber tires could have survived...

that little passage of pain forced me onto the roads... for that I'm grateful

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe

alfablue wrote:

but did use Conti Sport Contacts for a while and they wore fast, were very soft rubber, collected grit, and punctured often (despite the no puncture guarantee!). I wouldn't touch conti's again.

I use the continetal sports contacts on both my mtb and road bike and for me they have been excellent. 1 P*ncture in 5 years and 19,000 miles.
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