Winter Tires - road-bike
Discussion
Just wondering what people are using over the winter, this is the first winter for me on the road bike , currently use Pro 4's and read bar cutting up a bit they should be fine unless Ice/snow around.
Ive been looking at these -
Schwalbe Durano Plus
Schwalbe’s Marathon Winter
The new Pro4 Grip - can't see for sale yet tho
Schwalbe Marathon Winter Compound (Spike) - bit wide..
Conti Ultra Gatorskin
Pro4 for sheer grip seems to be the best option if you don't mind spending the cash ( as they will cut-up )
Thanks
S
Ive been looking at these -
Schwalbe Durano Plus
Schwalbe’s Marathon Winter
The new Pro4 Grip - can't see for sale yet tho
Schwalbe Marathon Winter Compound (Spike) - bit wide..
Conti Ultra Gatorskin
Pro4 for sheer grip seems to be the best option if you don't mind spending the cash ( as they will cut-up )
Thanks
S
Vittoria Pave for me, Michelins soon get cut and grubby looking and I prefer a little tread to displace the mud/grit/leaves etc I often find washing across the road just as I'm exiting a fast corner on the Lake District roads where I usually ride.
Decent article here, the GP 4 Seasons sound good:
http://biketart.cc/2011/10/winter-treads/
Decent article here, the GP 4 Seasons sound good:
http://biketart.cc/2011/10/winter-treads/
Edited by Roman on Friday 19th October 15:10
Personally, I'd avoid Gatorskins. Not grippy enough, nor are they as 'bulletproof' as the name suggests. For my money, I'd stick with Continental, but go with the Grand Prix 4Seasons for a better compromise between puncture resistance and grip. Also from Conti, and fitted to my wife's commuter, Tour Ride. Not sure what sizes are available, but hers are 700c x 35, and as a bonus they have a reflective band around the sidewall. They may be a little heavy, but she's only had one puncture all year, and that turned out to be a faulty tube that had burst open - nothing penetrated the tyre. I swear by Schwalbe Ultremos on my road bike in the summer, but for winter, and for all the family 'commuter' bikes the answer is Continental. Quite often you can find some on offer online.
just put conti 4 seasons on mine the other day.. 25's for a bit more comfort and to run at lower pressures, even if they don't make a difference they look like they should and give you that sense of security you need.. right up to the point you skim off into the ditch.. lol
Its a bit like the Rangie, the 20" pimp wheels go in the shed shortly and the 19" with Verdstiens go on.. like wearing an old pair of comfy slippers.
Its a bit like the Rangie, the 20" pimp wheels go in the shed shortly and the 19" with Verdstiens go on.. like wearing an old pair of comfy slippers.
superkartracer said:
Like the look of these, what they like in depths of winter? cheers
Nice, if a bit on the needlessly luxurious/pricey side. Bit o' volume which means you can run 'em nice and low. Which means good grip and a smooth ride. Roll nicely too, and plenty tough enough. If they're good enough for the pros on Paris-Roubaix, then they're good enough for me around Oxford!
How much worse are slicks than typical winter tyres for wet grip (i.e. wet sealed roads without lots of mud/leaves etc; in London so not often icy)?
My new bike came with Vittoria Zaffiro Pro slicks (700x25, around 110psi) and I'm wondering whether it's sensible to continue into winter with them.
My new bike came with Vittoria Zaffiro Pro slicks (700x25, around 110psi) and I'm wondering whether it's sensible to continue into winter with them.
Depends on the roads you use. Normal smooth, urban or well drained roads aren't a problem but when it rains on decaying poorly drained small undulating rural roads (such as in the Lake District) pine needles, grit, cow muck, leaf mulch and soil can wash across the road or simply spread from the road edge or rise to the surface (particularly in puddles which tend to retain dirt).
Obviously it's these particles which which make these roads dirty and slippery not aquaplaning on water. That's why I've found a little tread to displace mud and dirt helps whereas I've come a cropper a couple of times on slick tyres on these roads whereas they'd be fine on most other wet roads.
Obviously it's these particles which which make these roads dirty and slippery not aquaplaning on water. That's why I've found a little tread to displace mud and dirt helps whereas I've come a cropper a couple of times on slick tyres on these roads whereas they'd be fine on most other wet roads.
Another thumbs up for the Conti 4 Seasons. Recently switched to these for the winter from Conti GP 4000 s. Though I would be disappointed after the change as I do like the 4000 s, but the 4 Seasons are doing well and don't really have a noticeably higher rolling resistance,or not so much that I have been able to see any kind of drop off in performance / average speed having switched.
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