winter tyre

kev2b3

Now that the dreaded black ice is here again i wonder if anyone can recommend a tyre for these conditions. I am using my moutain bike to commute to and from work so many miles are by road.

roger_merriman

Studded tires nothing else can grip on ice

Northwind

Yeah, running regular tyres very soft can increase your footprint enough to make a difference, as long as you're not asking too much of them, but that's not much use on a long commute and it doesn't really make that much difference at the end of the day. Same rules apply as for motorbikes- watch the surface for reflections/bright spots, use car tracks and stay out from the guter unless there's snow (on snow, fresh is better but on ice, car tyres help clear it), avoid painted lines and manhole covers, remember white stuff is stickier than dark stuff, and dry stuff is stickier than wet stuff, and smooth everything out- higher gears can help keep traction on the power. And don't be ashamed to walk, some surfaces are basically unridable unless you're daft. Think that's about it... Oh, if you can avoid braking then do, braking on ice doesn't slow you down, it just maens you crash sooner.

I wear my pads when commuting in colder conditions just in case... As you might have found out, hitting the ground when you slide on ice isn't like most crashes, you land like you've been fired at the road from a cannon. That's how I broke my hip... Just Say No.