Winter road tyres
Discussion
My cycling buddy and I are both new to road cycling and today was our first experience of the wet. Following a few moments including my friend spectacularly dropping it we were wondering whether you guys change to tyres more suited wet/damp and colder conditions? If so reconditions would be most appreciated. Both our bikes are currently on standard for Schwalbe Lugano tyres.
One man's meat is another's poison and all, and I suspect that for every recommendation you'll find someone who decries it.
For what it's worth, I don't think many 'original fit' tyres are up to much at all. I swear by Continental GP 4Seasons on my road bike. Absolutely brilliant, to the point where I didn't bother to put 'summer' tyres on at all last year.
http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/CONTINENTAL...
Just choose the width you want. For proper winter riding go at least 25mm, but consider 28mm wide if your frame can cope with the width. Next Day Tyres are pretty good too, with an excellent reputation for supplying on time, and a very detailed set of info for all their (many) tyre choices.
For what it's worth, I don't think many 'original fit' tyres are up to much at all. I swear by Continental GP 4Seasons on my road bike. Absolutely brilliant, to the point where I didn't bother to put 'summer' tyres on at all last year.
http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/CONTINENTAL...
Just choose the width you want. For proper winter riding go at least 25mm, but consider 28mm wide if your frame can cope with the width. Next Day Tyres are pretty good too, with an excellent reputation for supplying on time, and a very detailed set of info for all their (many) tyre choices.
m444ttb said:
My cycling buddy and I are both new to road cycling and today was our first experience of the wet. Following a few moments including my friend spectacularly dropping it we were wondering whether you guys change to tyres more suited wet/damp and colder conditions? If so reconditions would be most appreciated. Both our bikes are currently on standard for Schwalbe Lugano tyres.
There aren't tyres more suited to wet/damp and colder conditions, as a bike doesn't really need them. There are tyres that are more durable, that are sold as "winter tyres" as they can resist some/most/all the crap that ends up on the roads over winter. This is handy as it means you're not freezing yer' nuts off fixing punctures every 5 minutes. With durability comes a slight increase in weight and rolling resistance, although there are tyres that don't suffer this as much, but you have to pay for them!IME, as long as you're not running silly lightweight race rubber and/or stuff that's been on since the previous spring, most things will cope. It's amusing the amount of people who bang on about tyres being "hopeless" in winter, but forget they're running the same 23mm lightweights they've had on for the past 3000 miles at 120psi...
FWIW I've usually run Vittoria Open Paves in 24 or 25mm. Lovely things but they cost a bloody fortune and wear fast. Run 'em at about 90psi at Flanders and they're fine. This year however I'm sticking with Michelin Pro 4 Service Course in 25mm, as they're at least £20/pair cheaper, last longer but ride every bit as nice. I've used them all summer and they've been great.
m444ttb said:
Somewhere in the next few replies will be 'Continental GP 4Seasons are godawful' won't there?! I did wonder whether this would be a bit like winter tyres for cars, I.e. a bit of a contentious issue.
That does happen quite often with tyre threads but the 4 Seasons are pretty much universally rated by all who've used them. You'll find very few negative reviews. They are very grippy in the wet and have decent protection. If you favour puncture protection above all else then look elsewhere but every tyre has it's pros and cons.Occasionally you find a tyre that really has naff all grip in the wet - I have some on mine at the moment, not sure what they are, but they were 20 quid for a pair 
Otherwise, 'slick' tyres are just fine in the cold / wet / etc. Given size, pressures etc, tread is pointless on a road tyre, falling off is most likely the result of doing something a bit daft (esp if you're new). Wider 25 (or maybe 28 tyres) will help, as will dropping pressures a bit (wider tyres generally run lower pressures). For an example on 23's I run 115 rear in the dry, 90 in the wet.
Otherwise, 'slick' tyres are just fine in the cold / wet / etc. Given size, pressures etc, tread is pointless on a road tyre, falling off is most likely the result of doing something a bit daft (esp if you're new). Wider 25 (or maybe 28 tyres) will help, as will dropping pressures a bit (wider tyres generally run lower pressures). For an example on 23's I run 115 rear in the dry, 90 in the wet.
ambuletz said:
I've had my decathalong triban 3 for two years now and I'm still on its original 23c tires.
Probably should change them at some point. They're completely slick now and the sidewalls are starting to show cracks/wear.
Another Triban owner here. I switched mine out whilst still fairly new and the difference between the stock tyres and the GP 4000 II 25s that I replaced them with was really noticeable. It's probably the rolling resistance that I noticed.Probably should change them at some point. They're completely slick now and the sidewalls are starting to show cracks/wear.
Since the switch and having learned to pump my tyres up for every ride, I've had no issues, despite whincing my way through plenty of debris over the subsequent 3,000km.
MadDad said:
A word of caution on running at really low pressures, check the tyre and wheels min rating - too low and you run the risk of them rolling off the rims!
I'd suggest 75-80 as an absolute minimum for a road tyre - which is about what you can get with a 'pocket' pump. Unless you're very light you're heading into pinch flat territory any lower, although still plenty to keep the tyre on the rim.I use conti 4 seasons , when I lived in London and Reading never needed them or "winter" tyres, commuting/rideing out in the sticks I find them a necessity . I end up spinning the rear wheel out the saddle on several easy climbs without them, I also find them much much more supple when the temp drops over poor slippery surfaces.
The trouble is the suppleness is also their downside, I had to do an emergency stop and locked the rear wheel and the top layer ripped off ruining a 3 month old tyre. Not the end of the world but when they are £40 ea it makes you a touch pissed
When it was really warm in the Summer I found them a bit sticky and wore down quickly, but not too bad
Horses for courses really
The trouble is the suppleness is also their downside, I had to do an emergency stop and locked the rear wheel and the top layer ripped off ruining a 3 month old tyre. Not the end of the world but when they are £40 ea it makes you a touch pissed
When it was really warm in the Summer I found them a bit sticky and wore down quickly, but not too bad
Horses for courses really
They are my choice of winter tyre and get a big thumbs up. Haven't bumped into anyone with anything bad to say about them - some prefer others, some have a usage case they aren't ideal for.
They aren't indestructible but what they do manage is lots of grip, low rolling resistance, lightweight and some puncture protection.
Nowhere near as much protection as gators for example, but gators feel horrible, roll poorly and have very little wet grip by comparison.
Enough that I wont use them again after a couple of incidents....
Downsides -
They come up a little small (the 28c version is apparently a 26c tyre, think the 23c measure as 22c)
They are expensive!
Upsides - The perfect mix (in my eyes) of adding some winter puncture protection to a fast road tyre.
They aren't indestructible but what they do manage is lots of grip, low rolling resistance, lightweight and some puncture protection.
Nowhere near as much protection as gators for example, but gators feel horrible, roll poorly and have very little wet grip by comparison.
Enough that I wont use them again after a couple of incidents....
Downsides -
They come up a little small (the 28c version is apparently a 26c tyre, think the 23c measure as 22c)
They are expensive!
Upsides - The perfect mix (in my eyes) of adding some winter puncture protection to a fast road tyre.
TheLemming said:
They are my choice of winter tyre and get a big thumbs up. Haven't bumped into anyone with anything bad to say about them - some prefer others, some have a usage case they aren't ideal for.
They aren't indestructible but what they do manage is lots of grip, low rolling resistance, lightweight and some puncture protection.
Nowhere near as much protection as gators for example, but gators feel horrible, roll poorly and have very little wet grip by comparison.
Enough that I wont use them again after a couple of incidents....
Downsides -
They come up a little small (the 28c version is apparently a 26c tyre, think the 23c measure as 22c)
They are expensive!
Upsides - The perfect mix (in my eyes) of adding some winter puncture protection to a fast road tyre.
Yeah, forgot to say they do come up small!They aren't indestructible but what they do manage is lots of grip, low rolling resistance, lightweight and some puncture protection.
Nowhere near as much protection as gators for example, but gators feel horrible, roll poorly and have very little wet grip by comparison.
Enough that I wont use them again after a couple of incidents....
Downsides -
They come up a little small (the 28c version is apparently a 26c tyre, think the 23c measure as 22c)
They are expensive!
Upsides - The perfect mix (in my eyes) of adding some winter puncture protection to a fast road tyre.
No punctures touch wood yet
TwistingMyMelon said:
TheLemming said:
They are my choice of winter tyre and get a big thumbs up. Haven't bumped into anyone with anything bad to say about them - some prefer others, some have a usage case they aren't ideal for.
They aren't indestructible but what they do manage is lots of grip, low rolling resistance, lightweight and some puncture protection.
Nowhere near as much protection as gators for example, but gators feel horrible, roll poorly and have very little wet grip by comparison.
Enough that I wont use them again after a couple of incidents....
Downsides -
They come up a little small (the 28c version is apparently a 26c tyre, think the 23c measure as 22c)
They are expensive!
Upsides - The perfect mix (in my eyes) of adding some winter puncture protection to a fast road tyre.
Yeah, forgot to say they do come up small!They aren't indestructible but what they do manage is lots of grip, low rolling resistance, lightweight and some puncture protection.
Nowhere near as much protection as gators for example, but gators feel horrible, roll poorly and have very little wet grip by comparison.
Enough that I wont use them again after a couple of incidents....
Downsides -
They come up a little small (the 28c version is apparently a 26c tyre, think the 23c measure as 22c)
They are expensive!
Upsides - The perfect mix (in my eyes) of adding some winter puncture protection to a fast road tyre.
No punctures touch wood yet
I've used open paves for a whole year, they roll well and grip quite nicely, only bought them as special offers though.
Bought some gatorskins in 25, thinking they'd be bulletproof and comfy, but roll horrible, pinched flat at 100psi and 75kg rider on a minor pothole, and don't grip like a pave, or the corsas that I bought for the summer,
The 23mm corsas seem to be 24mm measured and that's the same as I measured the old version paves.
I'm tempted to just run the paves until the canvas shows tbh.
TSCfree said:
First ride on vittoria randoneur(sp?) On a canal path with a good mix of gravel and tarmac. No problems with grip and the puncture protection should be good considering the weight and thickness of the tread. Cheap too, at 13 quid.
I use these on myu hybrid, great value tyre, but heavy (doesnt bother me) Got a nail in the tyre the other day, but it didnt go through the outer layer, so no punctureGassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff