winter tyres..

ChickyChick

Hi guys, Just looking for a bit of advice. I know im asking about winter tyres and we're in the middle of summer, but I want to get my friend sorted out before winter hits so he doesnt lose the cycling bug he seems to have got!!!

He is riding a Specialized Allez, so thats 700c wheels right? He is doing a circuit of about 14 miles daily on roads that are a mix of good town tarmac and twisty country roads with slightly more patchy/broken tarmac, building up slowly as he seems to be concentrating more on getting the time down on that circuit before upping the distance. When the road is damp or wet he is nervous on the stock Spesh tyres and is specifically looking for something for winter with a bit more grip so he can still get out 2 or 3 times a week. I was looking at the Michelin Tracker tyre on CRC, but my bag is bmx race or XC trails so im a bit out of my depth here! All suggestions welcome!

Cheers
Helen

merak

Continental Grand Prix 4 Seasons are tough, have good grip and roll well. Leave them on the bike all year. A little pricey but worth it.

PeeDee

You don't see many specialist winter tyres for road bikes. 'Winter' training tyres tend to focus more on additional puncture protection and resistance to wear than on extra grip.

In fact, your friend may get the best grip from a lightweight summer racing tyre, even in winter. The downside is they are expensive and wear out quickly.

John.T

Continental Grand Prix 4 Seasons or Michelin Krylium Carbons are both good winter tyres. Good price here.
http://www.probikekit.com/uk/tyres-tubes/clincher-bicycle-tyres/michelin-krylion-carbon-road-tyre.html

unixnerd

Schwalbe Marathons are on my winter bike, just the job for the Cairngorms in bad weather.

nferrar

As PeeDee said, the best winter tyre is a soft grippy one (same as a summer tyre) although you can probably put up with more tyre weight when just grinding out miles over winter so worth looking at options with additional puncture protection. My favourite winter tyre is the Schwalbe Ultremo DD (double defence as has additional protection) but they stay on until they wear out so still actually riding them now. Only other tyres I've used over winter and liked are the Conti GP 4 seasons and 4000 (both with black chilli compound).

ChickyChick

Thanks for the tips guys, i knew i was out of my depth trying to help him on this one, he decided to ask me for advice "cos you like bikes". I was looking at things like that michelin as it has the "look" of a grippy tyre with all its tread patterns etc as i think he possibly needs a bit more visual reassurance that the tyre will grip well. On the one or two damp days we've had so far he's complained of the tyre skipping and slipping and making him nervous. I will try and explain about there not being any winter tyres as such and see where we go from there. What sort of profile (is that the right word?) is about the max he'd be able to get away with on a specialized allez? no idea what the clearance is like on one and I;ve just sold my sirrus so i cant go and look in the shed for an idea either!

PeeDee

Paradoxically, unlike car tyres, for racing bikes smooth tyres have just as good grip in the wet as tyres with tread patterns.

Tread comes into its own over loose road surfaces, which you see more of in winter.

You are spot on about the psychology though,if your friend thinks a tyre going to grip bettter then it probably will, just because he relaxes more.

Get him to forget the tyres and practice looking for lines through the smooth tarmac on the corners, avoiding the gravel, stones and bumps.

graeme_s-2

I can't comment on the Allez specifically, but most road bikes won't take more than a 25C tyre, and some only a 23C. It should be relatively obvious to your friend if he looks at the clearance he has around the tyres on his bike.

The grippiest tyre on a dry road will be the grippiest on a wet road too. Tread just means you have less rubber in contact with the road and therefore less grip. The reason road tyres on a car have a tread is to stop aquaplaning (where a layer of water lifts the tyre off the tarmac), but that won't happen to a bicycle tyre. There's more info on this here:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tyres.html

ChickyChick

you lot are legends,thank you for the help and advice, He's bringing it over on thursday as he also has a knocking sound he wants to know what it is, sounds to me like its a bottom bracket, but if its not im sure i'll be back on here bugging you all for more advice! Will be able to show him the tyres you've recommended and explain the tread thing to him also.

Thanks again!

Helen

tx14

better price for krylions here
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20460