Tires For Ice/Snow Conditions
11-09-12, 03:10 PM
#26
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11-09-12, 05:52 PM
#28
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Assuming your conditions are similar to those in the Washington, DC area, I recommend 700x35 Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106s. Because this is a land of freeze and thaw conditions, I see no point in unstudded tires. Knobby tires will help in snow, but, around here, there's always an ice layer beneath the snow. However, most of the time, there is little or no snow or ice cover, so non-carbide studs will wear rapidly. Nokians are the gold standard on both counts. Schwalbe may perform better, but they shed studs like crazy.
Paul
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11-12-12, 07:24 AM
#29
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Why aren't non-studded winter tires being considered such as Continental Top Contact Winter II Premium?
ETRTO dimension
37-622 28 x 1.5
42-622 28 x 1.6
11-12-12, 07:50 AM
#30
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11-12-12, 08:03 AM
#31
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i live in the DC area and this will be my first winter commuting and I am also concerned about ice on the commute. Does anyone ever just run one studded tire in the front/back?
nevermind, just read up on it and it doesn't seem like a great idea
nevermind, just read up on it and it doesn't seem like a great idea
Last edited by aquateen; 11-12-12 at 08:23 AM.
11-12-12, 08:06 AM
#32
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The Conti TCW2s should definitely be considered; I didn't know about them before now, but I take Conti tire tech seriously.
For me, one potential downside is weight. A set would weigh a full pound more than the Kenda Kwicks I run. Is the pound worth the extra grip and security? Then, as mentioned upstream, there's the fast wear on dry roads, too, which are the dominant feature of my winter rides.
If I still had my second wheelset-- the front was wrecked in a vehicular assault two years ago-- I'd be more inclined to give 'em a go, but as it is, I look to my "winter wheels" to be basically 2 season tires, because I don't really like changing tires often!
For me, one potential downside is weight. A set would weigh a full pound more than the Kenda Kwicks I run. Is the pound worth the extra grip and security? Then, as mentioned upstream, there's the fast wear on dry roads, too, which are the dominant feature of my winter rides.
If I still had my second wheelset-- the front was wrecked in a vehicular assault two years ago-- I'd be more inclined to give 'em a go, but as it is, I look to my "winter wheels" to be basically 2 season tires, because I don't really like changing tires often!
11-12-12, 10:47 AM
#33
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I've been happy for years with Nokian, first a W104 then lately the W240. I wasn't so happy with the Marathon Winter, but it actually did fine on moderate amounts of snow and ice - it only really failed on heavily crowned roads (gravel) covered with 4+ inches of wet sloppy snow.
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11-20-12, 05:51 PM
#34
Why aren't non-studded winter tires being considered such as Continental Top Contact Winter II Premium?
