Winter tires for a bicycle: their features and selection criteria

Experienced riders and beginners alike, who decide to ride on a snowy slush or icy road for the first time, need to choose winter tires for a bicycle. All-season operation of two-wheeled vehicles has gained particular popularity with the advent of fat bikes, which allow you to adjust tire pressure to increase cross-country ability. But the choice of bicycle tires for winter is still a serious problem, because the practice of using such a bicycle rubber is not very large. What qualities should the tires possess, allowing them to move freely on snow, sand-salt mixture, mud and roads covered with snowdrifts?

Studded tires of 20-26 and 28-29 inches, as well as other types of winter tires are produced by many well-known brands. Who can you trust the safety of your bike, what should you pay attention to when choosing it? To understand the issue, it is worth considering all the available options in more detail.

Winter bicycle tires are noticeably different from their summer counterparts, and this is not only a matter of seasonality. Among the important features possessed by studded tires are the following:

• soft rubber - it will be much less severe than the summer one, which is associated with the use of rubber compounds capable of retaining their properties at low atmospheric temperatures;
• the presence of thorns - additional hooks help to increase traction with the road even in icy conditions, ensure a high level of safety when driving on tracks with different characteristics and off-road;
• special tread pattern - it will definitely be deeper, clearer and sharper; winter tires need to cling to the ground as best as possible, rough sipes do this really effectively;
• increased resistance to wear - in many respects it is also due to the use of special additives that reduce surface abrasion;
• puncture resistance - even when driving on semi-flat tires, you do not have to worry that they will get a hole;
• considerable weight - this can be a problem, especially on fatbikes, the weight of which is already large, and most of it falls on the wheels;
• increased cost - a set of winter tires for an MTB bike of any level will be quite expensive; especially if you do not save money and buy quality tires.

In budget models, it is steel, in expensive shells it is often made of stainless materials or aluminum alloys, and the spike itself is formed from tungsten carbide or other metals with increased wear resistance.

The features of winter bicycle tires include need for running-in. Before the start of the season, their 50-80 km are operated at the minimum allowable pressure - during this period, sharp braking is especially dangerous, since the spikes may simply not withstand the effort and will be torn out. Manufacturers' recommendations are also worth considering. They advise use winter tires only when the atmospheric temperature drops to +5 degrees. In addition, the tire pressure must be low, otherwise the contact patch with the road will be too narrow.

Like any other bicycle tire, winter bicycle tires are divided according to their size. Depending on the bike, the most popular are the following:

• 20 inches;
• 26 inches;
• 28 inches (or 27.5 on mountain);
• 29 inches.

Rubber in the first two versions belongs to the category of bicycle tires for special - trial, extreme models with reduced wheel diameter. The rest of the tires are most often installed on mountain bikes - MTB or fat bikes. The fatbike is also characterized by the increased width of the discs, making them a full-fledged SUV for any season. The 28 ″ diameter is typical for road speed bikes with narrow tires - they are the most difficult winter riding on them.

In addition, all winter studded tires are subdivided into the following types:

• cross slicks - options for light frost and well-cleaned streets; the lightest and with the minimum studding;
• mud - designed for the conquest of snow-covered spaces, they are distinguished by the deepest tread pattern;
• double row tires - they have a rather weak stud, but it is good for the city;
• four-row tires for winter - the most protected option that can withstand extreme skiing; The 4-row stud provides optimal traction in all riding conditions.

Among the manufacturers that have earned the highest praise from amateurs and professionals in winter cycling, there are many brands that everyone knows about. They are recommended on forums on the network, and in stores, indicate on the websites of manufacturers of all-season bicycles. By trusting a well-known name, you can get much more than just a quality product.... As a rule, in the lineup of such companies there are several winter tires at once for any climate and weather.

It comes as a big surprise to many cyclists that the Finnish brand Nokian is not only producing excellent tires. For bicycles, the company offers anti-freeze tire options. They are characterized by high-quality studding with a large number of hooks, carbide tips of the studs, deep and clear tread pattern. The Nokian product line has tires for a variety of operating conditions. Among the most popular winter models, you can pay attention to several options (the number index in the name indicates the number of studs).

• Hakkapeliitta W 240. Tires suitable for winter weather. The average number of studs makes them a good choice for traveling on a wide variety of winter surfaces.
• Hakkapeliitta W 106. A versatile tire for snow riding in and out of town. The 26 ″ double row model weighs less than 1 kg per tire. Studded steel, rubber confidently creates a good grip.
• Freddies Reven's 336 SW. This tire model is characterized by a pattern with an increased width of the distance between the tread elements. In addition, carbide studs are used here, and the tire itself is rubber, with reinforcing carbon fibers. An all-weather, grippy and reliable tire for the tireless traveler.

The budget tires of this brand are highly valued in European countries. Studded winter tires are designed for use in cold climates, the average cost of a set of tires does not exceed 50 USD. In terms of weight, each tire will add about 1.3 kg to the wheels, which is worth considering when mounting them on light bikes. A distinctive feature of the brand is that the tread has elements that prevent snow from sticking. Among the presented winter models of Kenda tires, the following can be distinguished:

• double row Klondike Standard;
• four-row Klondike Wide;
• equipped, groovedDeep cut with Klondike Skinny tread.

One of the most renowned manufacturers of winter bicycle tires. The company specializes in the premium segment - a set of tires will cost 100-200 USD. Its products are unlikely to be of interest to owners of budget bicycles, but with a service life of 5 years, such tires pay off. Among the demanded models, several can be noted.

• Ice Spiker Pro. The older model in the winter range with a four-shot stud and special anti-slip carbon fiber tips. The rubber has 361 studs that provide confident grip even on ice. At the same time, the tire weight is minimal - no more than 700 g of added load on the wheel.
• Ice Spiker. A model of winter tires with a material that is resistant to punctures and other external damage. The construction is very strong, the studs are arranged in 4 rows - their total number is 304. The whole tire weighs about 1 kg and is designed in such a way that the user feels confident both when moving on ice and on a snow-covered track.

The German brand not only produces high-quality automotive rubber, but is also doing a pretty good job of making bicycle tires. It is worth noting that this particular product was included in the first line of products produced by the brand since 1871. True, then the tires were cast. Modern winter bicycle tires from Continental are available in 2 main lines.

• Nordic Spike. These are cross-country tires in two-row or four-row studding design. They are available in 28 "size and 1.6" width. The number of studs is 120 or 240, depending on the number of rows, the tire weight is 850-900 g, the cost is higher than the market average. The tires have a deep and well-cut tread that allows you to confidently hold the road on ice and snow.
• Spike Claw. 26 "off-road tire for 2.1" width. This is a solid mountain bike option that costs more than budget brands but is worth the money. The number of studs depends on the version of the tire: there are 120 of them in a two-row, 240 in a four-row, the total weight of the product is 840 or 900 g.

The rules for choosing tires for a bicycle for winter begins with determining: where, how and how much they will be used. For example, if you are planning a few trips in the off-season and on the first snow, it will be enough to install the studded wheel just back. This will give the bike sufficient stability but it will keep rolling and maneuverability, and the load on the legs will be less.

When choosing a tire for winter cycling, you should rely on several parameters and criteria.

• The choice of places for skiing. If these are bike paths and sidewalks, then it is better to choose winter semi-slickers for cross-country - lighter and more comfortable to use. For forest and off-road applications, heavy tires with the deepest tread are suitable.
• Temperature conditions. If the average winter temperature drops below -15 degrees, it is worth choosing tires with a W marking, made from a compound. Rubber stiffens in the cold, behaves unpredictably.
• Snow depth. On loose surfaces, it is best to use narrow tires that cut quickly through the surface to a hard and stable base. On knurled surfaces, it is recommended to use wider tires with an increased contact patch. They are suitable for moving along winter roads, trampled paths and ice crust, they will help to get out of the mud and snow porridge.
• Projector design. Off-road driving requires tires with high lugs and a smaller footprint compared to furrows. A positive tread, where these indicators are almost equal, is suitable only for a rolled highway.

For information on how to choose winter tires, see the video.