Studded Tires Arrive & are Great
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
Studded Tires Arrive & are Great
The new Nokian Hakkapeliitta A10 studded tires (700 X 35) arrived on Monday. Got them mounted last night (without tools, I might add) and gave them their first test runs last night and on this morning's commute. Given we had 24 inches of snow over the weekend, it was a good test.
The 72 carbide studs really do a nice job on hard packed snow and ice. Not once did I feel that I didn't have adequate control of the bike, even climbing the short 17% grade back to the house last night. Of course you can't hot dog on them and ride carelessly, but if one is moderately attentive and careful, they really make riding much better. Took the bike through an unplowed parking lot (unfortunately the store for which the lot was built went out of business), and they weren't great in 20+ inches of snow, but that's not how I'll be using them.
I also wasn't sure how I was going to like the ride given their weight, sidewall stiffness, and tread depth. There is no doubt that you're not on a typical road tire, and you do take longer to accelerate. However, the ride feel is more comfortable than I thought. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that the recommended tire pressure is only 58 psi. Finally, I was thrilled that there was more than enough clearance under my SKS ESGE mudguards. All in all these are going to make the commute for the rest of this winter much more enjoyable.
The 72 carbide studs really do a nice job on hard packed snow and ice. Not once did I feel that I didn't have adequate control of the bike, even climbing the short 17% grade back to the house last night. Of course you can't hot dog on them and ride carelessly, but if one is moderately attentive and careful, they really make riding much better. Took the bike through an unplowed parking lot (unfortunately the store for which the lot was built went out of business), and they weren't great in 20+ inches of snow, but that's not how I'll be using them.
I also wasn't sure how I was going to like the ride given their weight, sidewall stiffness, and tread depth. There is no doubt that you're not on a typical road tire, and you do take longer to accelerate. However, the ride feel is more comfortable than I thought. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that the recommended tire pressure is only 58 psi. Finally, I was thrilled that there was more than enough clearance under my SKS ESGE mudguards. All in all these are going to make the commute for the rest of this winter much more enjoyable.
__________________
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
#2
Plays in traffic
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,971
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
9 Posts
I'm entering my fourth winter on my Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106 tires in 700x35, and feel about the same as you.
#3
Muscle bike design spec
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sterling VA
Posts: 3,688
Bikes: 70 Atala Record Proffesional, 00 Lemond, 08 Kestrel Evoke, 96 Colnago Master Olympic, 01 Colnago Ovalmaster, 76 Raleigh Gran Sport, 03 Fuji World, 86 Paramount, 90 Miyata CF, 09 Ritchey Breakaway CX, Bianchi Trofeo, 12 OutRiderUSA HyperLite
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Those are the tires I mounted for a commute Monday. Unfortunately the road surface was a mixture of wet pavement and very uneven 1 - 3" ice pack and 2 - 5" loose slush. That grabs the front wheel and tries to wrestle control of the steering making the ride very strenuous. I did not adjust my brake pads and one jammed into the rear tire, sapping my energy until I noticed after a couple miles later. I thought I had become quite weak.
On smooth snow, snowpack, or glaze / black ice these tires are incredible. The bike will leave cars spinning out and sliding sideways as I pedal slowly away
On smooth snow, snowpack, or glaze / black ice these tires are incredible. The bike will leave cars spinning out and sliding sideways as I pedal slowly away
__________________
Korval is Ships
See my Hyperlite 411 it's the photo model on OutRiderUSA web page
See my Hyperlite 411 it's the photo model on OutRiderUSA web page
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central Louisiana
Posts: 3,055
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
3 Posts
We don't get enough snow to justify the funds for studded tires. Just out of curiosity, is braking with them a lot different than with regular tires?
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
Braking on ice or packed snow is different than on a dry road surface regardless of the tire. If anything the studs make braking a bit more controlled and/or predictable.
__________________
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
#7
Plays in traffic
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,971
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
9 Posts
It takes patience and finesse to manage this surface. If you try to brute force it, it doesn't work quite as well.
When I encounter it, first I slow way down, shifting to my granny. Spinning like crazy helps maintain, and regain balance. Then I shift my weight back on the bike, so the front is as unweighted as possible. This lets it shift side-to-side without throwing me around. Finally, I keep my grip and upper body loose to go with the flow.
This seems to work remarkably well. The hardest part is that it runs counter to my first and natural reaction, which is to strongarm it and tough it out. That never ends well for me.