Winter tire options
 

I'm looking for a pair of 26x2.0 winter tires for the hardtail I ride in the winter. Specifically, I'm considering the Continental Top Contact Winter II and the *Panaracer Fire XC Pro. Ideally, I'd run two of the same tires front and rear but if it gets really icy out, I'll put a Schwalbe Marathon Winter studded tire on the front. I'll be using the bike for commuting in NYC so nothing super fast or crazy.

Does anybody have any experience to either of these tires or insights as to why I should pick one over the other?

Are you sure that Fire XC Pro are from Schwalbe? Google shows Panaracer and the Panaracer site gives no indication of them being meant for winter. I would worry about them slipping on ice.

Yes, sorry. Should've been Panaracer. I will fix that, thanks.

I've been perusing the pictures of people's winter bikes both here and on other forums and the Panaracers have been mentioned several times. The Fire XC seem to be somewhat popular but I've also heard good things about the Conti's.

I predict that your enthusiasm for swapping front tires depending on the forecast won't last long. ;)

Not at all :D Once those studs go on, they aren't coming off . . . I'll hold out on swapping for as long as I can though. But I'm hoping for a cold, snowy winter!