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General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: Spokes on October 30, 2014, 01:51:17 pm

Title: Winter tyre vote
Post by: Spokes on October 30, 2014, 01:51:17 pm
With the weather changing for the worst here in UK, I'm at the same point I reach every year. Trying to decide which is the best winter tyre?  There are lots out there but I usually end up with either Velocerapters or Panaracer Fire pro. Although I'm feel I'm never completely happy with them.
What favourites do you guys have for wet, muddy and slippery?

Chris
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: k24000 on October 31, 2014, 10:25:37 am
I m afraid its the panaracer xc pro all the way for me gives me all the confidence I need and sheds the mud quick too
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: beeeerock on November 01, 2014, 10:05:00 pm
I think I'll be investing in a pair of Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro's this year...  once I get past the price being about equal to a Z rated tire for my car...  :o

http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/off-road_tires/ice_spiker_pro (http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/off-road_tires/ice_spiker_pro)
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: Tel on November 02, 2014, 01:27:28 am
bontrager mud xcr they shed mud quickly and are great on most things, if a little poor off camber.
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: purple gerbil on November 02, 2014, 01:54:11 am
Not done alot of winter riding lately to be honest, but bitd I rode uma gummers (the soft grey one's) not seen any around for years.
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: orange on November 02, 2014, 09:27:39 am
Michelin XC AT all year round for me.
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: kiwi on November 02, 2014, 07:14:26 pm
ii didn t know you could still get velociraptors!
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: Colin on November 03, 2014, 05:43:48 am
I'm with you on the Fire XC's, but used to love the Velociraptors, which you can still get in the UK:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/s?q=velociraptor (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/s?q=velociraptor)

Col.
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: BikerTrash on November 10, 2014, 05:11:21 pm
The first time I rode Dart/Smokes through sand and mud, I was amazed. So my vote goes to Velociraptors.

For snow, I use Bridgestone Blizzaks.  ;D 

Not mine, but this jersey is me:
(http://www.mischel.com/diary/2003/07/fatguy.jpg)
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: beeeerock on November 12, 2014, 09:29:05 am
Not mine, but this jersey is me:
([url]http://www.mischel.com/diary/2003/07/fatguy.jpg[/url])

Me too, unfortunately... which is why I've got the Ice Spiker's this year.  It's no fun getting back INTO shape, easier to STAY in shape!!!  ::)
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: beeeerock on November 17, 2014, 02:00:04 pm
Reading some of the replies, it's apparent that much depends on how you define 'winter'.  I rode at -10 C the other night on frozen ground, without any snow or recent precipitation.  So it was ground that contained some moisture content before freezing like concrete.  The Nobby Nic's were OK... but just 'OK'.  I didn't get a sense of confidence from them where the ground was smooth and frozen, even though it was completely clear of snow and ice.  The rubber rode like it had hardened quite significantly as well.

But if you're defining 'winter' as 'wet, muddy, and above freezing', they would obviously perform quite differently. It's so dry around here, mud riding is not a common occurrence at any time of the year, so my experience in those conditions is limited!
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: Spokes on November 17, 2014, 03:25:35 pm
Yes I'm aiming at the typical UK winter which is like I say wet, muddy and slippery. It always rains in UK and is quite often wet more than it is dry.  :(
Has anyone tried any of the other Maxxis tyres in their range or others from Scwable? (Is that how you spell it?!)

Chris
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: beeeerock on November 17, 2014, 04:47:57 pm
Yes I'm aiming at the typical UK winter which is like I say wet, muddy and slippery. It always rains in UK and is quite often wet more than it is dry.  :(

Oh, I know I'll get boxed about the ears... but too tempting... how is this different from 'summer' riding conditions over there???  8) ;D
Quote
Has anyone tried any of the other Maxxis tyres in their range or others from Scwable? (Is that how you spell it?!)
  'Schwalbe'...  ;)  I'm thinking that it's going to be all about tread design more than rubber compound - or at least, not so much about rubber compound and how it changes with temperature.  'Above zero' is probably going to result in similar results within the temperature range we'd expect from "almost frozen" to "it's flippin' hot"...!  So it won't really be about a 'winter tire' as much as a 'mud tire'.  Ooops... 'tyre'...  ;)
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: BikerTrash on November 17, 2014, 06:43:42 pm
When I think winter, unfortunately I don't think wet, I think FREEZING COLD. 5°F (-15°C) for a low tonight, and 18°F (-8°C) for a high tomorrow. I wish I lived in Arizona.  :'(
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: Colin on November 18, 2014, 07:17:58 am
Yes I'm aiming at the typical UK winter which is like I say wet, muddy and slippery. It always rains in UK and is quite often wet more than it is dry.................

I feel I must point out that Chris (Spokes) lives in Wales; this is a small Principality within England that is infamous for the fact that it rains nearly all of the time.........and when it's not raining, the sea spray comes in horizontally.......................oh yeah, and it's also famous for sheep and wellies..................I will now get even more of a boxing around the ears <GRIN> :P

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Wales_in_the_UK_and_Europe.svg/713px-Wales_in_the_UK_and_Europe.svg.png)

Col.
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: beeeerock on November 18, 2014, 11:15:38 am
When I think winter, unfortunately I don't think wet, I think FREEZING COLD. 5°F (-15°C) for a low tonight, and 18°F (-8°C) for a high tomorrow. I wish I lived in Arizona.  :'(
Yes, that's what we expect as well in central British Columbia.  It's been hanging between -8 and -12 C for the last week or so.  Combined with a 'semi-arid' climate, the only time we really see 'mud' of any significance is in the spring when the snow melts and the frost comes out of the ground.  Then we have a few inches of goo for a week or two.  The few summer rains we get dry up quickly.

The population in my neighbourhood declines over the winter as the retired demographic migrates to Arizona for a few months.  I admit to feeling some envy.  But we generally save our vacation days and try to get a few weeks on Maui to break up the winter!

You must be stateside if you're working in Fahrenheit?
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: beeeerock on November 18, 2014, 11:19:17 am
Yes I'm aiming at the typical UK winter which is like I say wet, muddy and slippery. It always rains in UK and is quite often wet more than it is dry.................
I feel I must point out that Chris (Spokes) lives in Wales; this is a small Principality within England that is infamous for the fact that it rains nearly all of the time.........and when it's not raining, the sea spray comes in horizontally.......................oh yeah, and it's also famous for sheep and wellies..................I will now get even more of a boxing around the ears <GRIN> :P
Probably better that I don't speculate how the sheep got into this discussion...  8)
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: Spokes on November 18, 2014, 02:09:15 pm
Yes I'm aiming at the typical UK winter which is like I say wet, muddy and slippery. It always rains in UK and is quite often wet more than it is dry.................

I feel I must point out that Chris (Spokes) lives in Wales; this is a small Principality within England that is infamous for the fact that it rains nearly all of the time.........and when it's not raining, the sea spray comes in horizontally.......................oh yeah, and it's also famous for sheep and wellies..................I will now get even more of a boxing around the ears <GRIN> :P

([url]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Wales_in_the_UK_and_Europe.svg/713px-Wales_in_the_UK_and_Europe.svg.png[/url])

Col.


Ok ok time to set the records straight. Ehem..
It's a little known fact that long ago when Cymru was an independent country it was sunny all the time. Welsh people rode through the hills happily on their medieval mountain bikes. Tyres were never a problem. Then the English invaded and dark clouds hunge over re-named Wales. Global warming started due to the huge amount of hot air the average English man blows out of his arse. The sunshine soon turned to rain and the mud began to flow. Since then Welsh mountain bikers have searched for the perfect winter mud tyre. Something that will hold fast in the wet and cut through the English poo that sticks to the green green grass of the Welsh countryside. I still continue to search....
As for the sheep. English people love to eat lamb so the Welsh though it only fair that they should season it first...

Chris  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: BikerTrash on November 18, 2014, 05:56:45 pm
When I think winter, unfortunately I don't think wet, I think FREEZING COLD. 5°F (-15°C) for a low tonight, and 18°F (-8°C) for a high tomorrow. I wish I lived in Arizona.  :'(
Yes, that's what we expect as well in central British Columbia.  It's been hanging between -8 and -12 C for the last week or so.  Combined with a 'semi-arid' climate, the only time we really see 'mud' of any significance is in the spring when the snow melts and the frost comes out of the ground.  Then we have a few inches of goo for a week or two.  The few summer rains we get dry up quickly.

The population in my neighbourhood declines over the winter as the retired demographic migrates to Arizona for a few months.  I admit to feeling some envy.  But we generally save our vacation days and try to get a few weeks on Maui to break up the winter!

You must be stateside if you're working in Fahrenheit?
Yup, right in the middle of the USA, in Iowa. Last winter we had an unusually cold winter with numerous -15°F days.
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: beeeerock on November 19, 2014, 09:54:51 am
Ok ok time to set the records straight. Ehem..
It's a little known fact that long ago when Cymru was an independent country it was sunny all the time. Welsh people rode through the hills happily on their medieval mountain bikes. Tyres were never a problem. Then the English invaded and dark clouds hunge over re-named Wales. Global warming started due to the huge amount of hot air the average English man blows out of his arse. The sunshine soon turned to rain and the mud began to flow. Since then Welsh mountain bikers have searched for the perfect winter mud tyre. Something that will hold fast in the wet and cut through the English poo that sticks to the green green grass of the Welsh countryside. I still continue to search....
As for the sheep. English people love to eat lamb so the Welsh though it only fair that they should season it first...

Chris  ;D ;D
Ah, Chris, that's an award-winning response!  Not sure what award, but worthy of something I'm sure...

Cymru is the country you get to through the back of the wardrobe, right?  With an ice queen or white witch, a talking lion etc?  I'm pretty sure I saw it on a documentary DVD my daughter was watching a few years ago.  I don't recall noting much mud... in fact, it seemed pretty cold, but likely that was due to the presence of that nasty witch.  She must be English?

Wait.... I might have my wires crossed... maybe I'm thinking of the land of Narnia... now I'm not sure...  8)
Title: Re: Winter tyre vote
Post by: Spokes on November 20, 2014, 02:20:19 pm
To be fair Narnia and Wales are pretty much the same! Lol  ;D

Chris