BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I've used the Nokian W106, Nokian Extreme 294, and Schwalbe Winter Marathon.

The W106s were 26" on a mountain bike. I rode them through last winter, and they were excellent. There was a day in particular that I remember where the cobblestone street near the house froze over, and I was still able to ride it despite that fact that 4X4s could not drive the hill. They were also reasonable during the majority of the time when the roads were dry, though you have to expect them to be noisy and much slower than slicks. They are available in 700X35 (and 700X45, if you have that much clearance).

The Extremes are off-road specific mountain bike tires, and will not fit most road bikes (I think the smallest they come is 700X52).

The Winter Marathons are on my bike now, and I think they are OK. I got the 700X42 size, but they also come in a 700X35. I don't like them as much as the W106, but that could be because they are on a different bike that may just not be as cut out for wintery conditions (I am currently riding a Kona Ute instead of a Fisher Supercaliber. It's a tough comparison.) I find them a little more squirrelly in the snow, though most of your riding will be on dry streets, and the point of the studs is to save you from the occasional patch of ice.

Nokian also makes the A106, which is more road-friendly, with less aggressive tread but still some studs. They come in sizes as small as 700X32, which may be better for clearance. I have never ridden them.

+1 for the Marathon Winters, 35mm models. They roll pretty well on bare pavement, too. The A106 might be a better, more economical choice if you just want insurance on snowy days, though.

I also agree about the skinny tires in the snow. If the skinny tires can cut through the snow/slush/whatever and get to hard pack or pavement (or even ice) beneath, they work well. If you're just dealing with lots of snow, though, they will be a bit sketchy, like any skinny tire (especially rounding the bends on the Hot Metal Bridge ramp, for instance).

Thanks, gentlemen, kinda leaning from what I've read, on the Nokian W106, I'm not an aggressive trail rider, I just don't wanna bust another wrist slipping on some damn ice. Do any local shops sell these?

Iron City Bikes could order you a set. Over the summer I was checking around town for information and comparison shopping. Nobody was carrying studded tires in stock, but trek and iron city could order from basically the same suppliers.

I went cheap and purchased a set of Innovas (700/35). Aggressive tread and a moderate amount of studs (110 per tire). So far they work very well in ice and densely packed snow, but a little squirrely in loosely packed snow over pavement - not enough weight to cut through the chunks and grip the pavement. So I guess in slick conditions they're ideal.

found a place on line, so I guess if no one stocks them, I'll do the internet.

Peter White Cycles is one of the best online resources for studded tires. I'm guessing his stock might be a little low right now, though.

I know REI has, at various times, had a set or two floating around.

Peter White, that's the site, very informative site, that plus the feedback here. i believe I've made my decision. the Nokian W106.

Post a review when you get them!

check, I will

I have a set of the 700x35 W106, work quite well on most everything but soft, deep snow.

They feel very, very slow to me on pavement.

This is my 3rd winter with them, little noticeable wear on the studs or rubber, a bit of rust on a few studs when I mounted them up this year, but a few rides later it was gone.

I rode 700x35 schwables two winters ago and liked them ok... not enough to put them on this year yet though. i like my skinnys, i'm much more careful riding on skinnys too, which is my fault, but i get a false since of security on studded tires.

I'm slow anyways, they're for a single speed winter cruiser, I just don't wanna fall, again.

They feel very, very slow to me on pavement.

My Marathon Winters don't feel much better. Last year, they didn't seem to bother me as much, but they are driving me nuts this year. Maybe I am slower and fatter this year.

But man, keep slogging and think about how that will feel when you change those tires out in the spring!

@timoto

why not just make them yourself? I have never done it personally, but I have seen people do it before.

Take old (bigger the better) tires and put small flathead screws through them, hitting the thick part of the rubber if possible. Take another old slick tire and cut the sidewalls off. Epoxy the sidewall-less tires inside the outer tire and shear off the tips of the screws.

I'm sure it would take an hour or so but why buy em if you don't have to right?

That said, I think people arent actually hitting ice as much as they think. There are a lot of conditions that can cause your bike to lose traction going through a turn and studs won't help with all of them.

Here are the W106 mounted on my cyclocross bike. 3rd season with them as well, and I have not lost a single stud. I do have spare studs and the tool, if you order a set and loose a few over the season. I cannot say enough about the Nokians.

I have some old tires I have put aside to make studded tires out of. I haven't decided what one of the two methods I found to use. The screw method that spakbros talked about or the pop rivet method seen here

http://www.instructables.com/id/Pop_Rivet_Ice_Tires_for_Your_Road_Bike/

I've now ordered three sets of studded tires from Peter White. Great service every time, and the web site was very informative.

@willie, that website rules, thanks!

I have a set of Schwalbe Marathon Winter 700x35c I just bought and used on 4 commutes. But I don't need them I am going to ride my mountain bike instead. I'll sell them for $70 for the set if anyone wants them .

lemme know joe at inotion d0t c0m

Thanks,

-Joe

18th street was gridlocked in the evening rush from the flats to mt. oliver. i must have passed 60 cars and 4 buses. Thanks to Joe for the Schwalbes!

I just saw those tires today pro bikes, going to get a pair next year for my strictly winter bike if I ever get it built.

I could have sworn that Thick Bikes had instructions for studded tires on their website also. I think it's here.