Jantaras

Hello,

I am building an older MTB bike just for occasional trips through forest roads that have packed snow/ploughed snow surface. No ice, no gravel, no hurry, no traffic, flat terrain. For temperatures, lets say, 14-30F
The frame I have can accomodate up to at least 2.2-2.3" wide 26'' tire.

I would like a well rolling lightweight tire that would have somewhat sufficient grip. No need for sturdy heavy tire, puncture protection is not necessary, maybe just basic protection.

What to look for? I looked at European webshops. Almost all winter tyres have studs, other MTB tyres has graphic presentations about how good they are on gravel, mud etc, but nothing about performance on snow.
I think I dont need a studded tire (I haves studded Schwalbe 700c 32mm tyres for slippery roads, I find them sluggish and heavy, don't like them although they keep me on the road surface...).

Should I look for the widest tire the frame could accomodate? Wide slick tires like Schwalbe marathon supreme?? Narrower like 1,75'' Panaracer Paselas? Semi slick with knobs at the sides like Continental Speed King? Or big knobby tyres like Continental mountain king and Maxxis Ikon?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Leebo

How do you have snow without ice? Hmmm. Slick tire for snow? Ahh good luck with that. Go for your biggest, chunkiest, knobby tire that will fit.

jrickards

My Opinions:

Snow is slippery and although studs and knobbies have their benefits, even they too have their limits (a layer of soft snow on top of hard packed snow, even if your studs or knobbies grip the top surface of snow, that snow will slip on the lower packed snow). That being said, I still recommend knobby tires over slicks or semi-slicks (as I would describe the Panaracercs). The Mountain King might be too much but the Ikon seems to be more reasonable.

Locally, the temperatures were quite cold this winter, -20 to -30C/-4 to -22F, and at those temperatures, hard-packed snow (by cars or after the plows have "cleaned" the roads) is very slippery and so hard, not even knobbies will find grip in the surface, you'd need studs to penetrate hard packed snow. I say this because you describe your conditions as packed and ploughed snow, this is what I encountered this winter so maybe you might want to reconsider your tire choices.

I'm of the opinion that, unless you're in temperate or milder climates during the winter, you aren't going to be able to use summer tires and therefore speed is going to be reduced and effort is going to be increased. You say that you're in no hurry, then I say, just play it safe and get the tires that will enable you to get where you want to go and not worry about weight or other "summer tire" factors. No one measures fuel economy of cars in the winter with studded tires, don't apply a summer cycling perspective to cycling in the snow.

rumrunn6

conditions are so changeable so can't imagine setting up a bike for such a limited situation. I'd suggest 26"x1.75" studded Marathon Winter tires

https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Mara...ODG?th=1&psc=1

that's 44.45mm wide. so, wider than my 40mm tires on my 700 hybrid bike. I would not call them fast but they would be faster that bigger knobbier tires. so far they've been great in lots of winter conditions


















I had these 26" others (Continental Spike Claw Studded Mountain Bike Tire (240 studs) on a mountain bike. very knarly but doesn't sound like you need them. I didn't really need them, but I didn't realize it until my 1st ride with them

kingston 

You could try the Continental Top Contact Winter.

I use studs in the winter like everyone else with a lot of experience riding in the conditions you describe.

fietsbob

Suomi Nokian Mount and Ground W... stud.. but they're not needed every winter, here, so mine have lasted decades.. on a bike parked other wise.

rest of the time just Schwalbe marathon + 559-47.. Bike came with Continental Travel Contact.. slick with knobby edges








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alias5000

I have cycled on hard-packed trails with an MTB using Schwalbe Hurricane / Land cruiser tires before (slicks; backup bike when winter bike was down). The only thing that keeps you up is aligning your center of gravity perfectly = stressful+risky. Braking is extremely difficult and you can't go fast, unless you want to hurt yourself in case go down.

John Nolan 

I agree: get studded tires. Sooner or later snow turns to ice.

Jantaras

Ok, thank you all for input. I'll think about studded tyres again. Probably will try some old heavy knobby tyres I have in my shed first. They are old and cheap no names though...

fixedweasel

Wow, like those folks above, I would never use a slick or even lightly knobbed ti(y)re. I have a SS drop bar MTN bike with Kenda Nevegals on them. I was actually looking for something that wasn't going to break the bank albeit would have enough grip for the same situation(s) you describe above. I love these buggers. Not sluggish at all and roll very well for being 2.35's. Been really happy with them.

PaulH

I find the Schwalbe Marathon Winter to be the best all round winter tire. It lacks the long-term durability of the Nokian W106 or the "get through anything" traction of the W240, but it has an outstandingly low rolling resistance for a winter tire and deals with ruts well.

alias5000

That's not quite slicks. Kenda has some very good tread patterns for snow.

55murray

Yea, if you are specifically choosing for snow pack, go with the studded tires. They don't help as much when the snow is loose, but they don't hurt, and in ice or hard pack they are a miracle.

fixedweasel

Quite so. If you read the whole post, I said I would NEVER recommend slick or even lightly knobbed ti(y)res for that/his application. I ride through the singletrack here on the same type of snow he described and that is why I recommended those Kenda's. I use them and they work brilliantly in those conditions.

alias5000

Sorry, my bad!