I am tired of slipping... Advice for winter tires

[Greg Miller]

Who has winter tires they are happy with? Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Greg

[Lister Farrar]

I have no problem with these cheapies: about $20 online:
http://shop.nicebiketires.com/main.sc I use the "ultraspeed". 23mm (where do they get these names?) There's a 25 mm tire though I'd buy next time; the bigger contact patch should stick better.
They wear well, most (I've had 6) have been straight. I asked the seller once about a crooked one and the guy wrote back right away and said to send it back for replacement, but I didn't get around to it. One tire I have to work to pop the beads into place; air pressure isn't enough; not sure why. Not too tight either; I can replace without levers easily.

The rubber is fairly tough though, so might not help a slipping problem. Rain and race tires are softer rubber so they stick, but they wear and cut more. I have some nicer Vittoria's for criteriums, but they have more cuts from less use.

Slipping might be other things too.

• Less pressure sticks better. I use no more than 100 lbs. Harder will slip more, and bounce more on uneven pavement in corners, leading to slipping.
  Changing your line in corners can lead to slipping; the largest, smoothest arc is safest.
  If your rear is slipping when you stand, keeping your weight back helps; mountain bikers do this on loose surface climbs.

Pressure article
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/11/ ... ent_149851


Tire article (actually about rolling resistence, but grip and cut resistence measured too)
http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2007/08 ... sults.html

[JohnT]

Michelin Pro3: Not what most would consider winter tires, but they're soft and that can help when the temp goes down. I usually run them at 100 lbs, but I check pressure only about once a week, so they're probably often at 90-95 lb. No tread and not much protection from glass. If $$ wasn't an issue, I'd get soft race tires with tread.

JohnT

[AlW]

The only slippage problems I've experienced is with wet painted lines and icy roads. I think these 2 conditions are problematic regardless of the type of tire you use, so I try and mitigate this problem thru avoidance rather than tire selection (would like to hear others opinion on this....)

I find cut/puncture flats a bigger problem, especially in the winter due to all the crap on the road. so I prefer something durable. I have continental ultra gatorskins ($47 at MEC) permanently affixed to my winter/fender bike and use them seasonally on my everti. 95-100psi rear, 90-95 front.

Al

[jj12]

I mentioned this at coffee tues morn, i think that you will slip regardless of what tire you have in the ice... i have been toying with the idea of purchasing a new set a better set than i have but is it worth it?...

[Greg Miller]

Thanks all for the input. I recently went from Specialized Armadillo to the Continental Gatorskin and found I was slipping all over the place in the wet, so I took it off. I had been running at 120 lbs but have changed to around 100 and it seems to help.

The other issue I have is all the cuts and nicks that occur and how quickly the tread wears. I was surprised how quickly this happened to the Armadillos which are very pricey, so I am thinking it might make sense to buy cheaper tires and change them more frequently. Lister's are looking good...