Changing from StarGrip to Gravdal
#1
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Changing from StarGrip to Gravdal
Today I changed out the Michelin StarGrip winter tires for a set of 45NRTH Gravdals. Slushy conditions today provided some motivation, because the Gravdals just barely sneak under my fenders. Today was fender weather for sure.
Got in a 13 mile ride. Rode through a mix of conditions from pavement to slush to mixed slush and ice.
The Gravdals are surprisingly decent on pavement. For a studded tire, they rolled well. They are more rounded than the StarGrips. See the second photo below.
The Gravdals did brilliantly in the packed-down slush that you see in the first photo. In fact, that photo shows my favorite surface conditions today. I enjoyed maybe three miles of those conditions.
Nearer home, the streets are a mix of loose slush a couple inches deep with occasional bits that are still sort of frozen. I got knocked around a lot in that. Not sure any other tire would have done better.
Today was 39 F. Temps will freeze overnight, and tomorrow I'll try and motivate myself to get up early and find some smooth ice. Today was really more about tread, but tomorrow the studs should come into play.
20180120_151828 (Medium).jpg
20180120_123422 (Medium).jpg
Got in a 13 mile ride. Rode through a mix of conditions from pavement to slush to mixed slush and ice.
The Gravdals are surprisingly decent on pavement. For a studded tire, they rolled well. They are more rounded than the StarGrips. See the second photo below.
The Gravdals did brilliantly in the packed-down slush that you see in the first photo. In fact, that photo shows my favorite surface conditions today. I enjoyed maybe three miles of those conditions.
Nearer home, the streets are a mix of loose slush a couple inches deep with occasional bits that are still sort of frozen. I got knocked around a lot in that. Not sure any other tire would have done better.
Today was 39 F. Temps will freeze overnight, and tomorrow I'll try and motivate myself to get up early and find some smooth ice. Today was really more about tread, but tomorrow the studs should come into play.
20180120_151828 (Medium).jpg
20180120_123422 (Medium).jpg
Last edited by JonathanGennick; 01-20-18 at 09:34 PM.
#2
Senior Member
Very nice bike !
...what was this thread about?
How deep is the tread on the Gravdals? Do they collect a lot of snow?
...what was this thread about?
How deep is the tread on the Gravdals? Do they collect a lot of snow?
#3
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The StarGrips though, do collect snow in the tread. Despite that, they work pretty well. I bought them on a whim because I was curious, and they are ok.
#4
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Got in another 10 miles today. Went through the back alleys, parking lots, and one of roads into the Lakeshore looking for ice. Rode all the iciest lines I could fine. The car wash parking lot was helpful, and the road in the Lakeshore had a modest downhill section with ice that let me kick it into high gear.
Complete confidence in the tires. I say that modulo the idea of still being watchful for ruts and careful about loose slush on top of packed snow. The tires inspire confidence.
I weigh 190, and I'm running the tires at 25/30 psi front/back. That's with tubes. I believe I can get away with 20/30, and might try 25/35 as well. The 5 psi spread that I'm currently running didn't seem enough to even out the tire sag.
Here a couple shots of the parking lot ice....
IMG_20180121_152434_727 (Small).jpg IMG_20180121_152204_887 (Small).jpg
Complete confidence in the tires. I say that modulo the idea of still being watchful for ruts and careful about loose slush on top of packed snow. The tires inspire confidence.
I weigh 190, and I'm running the tires at 25/30 psi front/back. That's with tubes. I believe I can get away with 20/30, and might try 25/35 as well. The 5 psi spread that I'm currently running didn't seem enough to even out the tire sag.
Here a couple shots of the parking lot ice....
IMG_20180121_152434_727 (Small).jpg IMG_20180121_152204_887 (Small).jpg
#5
Senior Member
Nice & thanks!
You might want to try some ice rinks, just for fun
You might want to try some ice rinks, just for fun
#6
Hack
Join Date: Sep 2015
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How do you find that belt drive? A guy at work bought a bike with one and found it would very reliably come off as soon as ant snow got on the cogs.
#8
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It's Gates, I think the original design. He's going to either convert to chain or sell the bike, it was going to cost more than he spent on the bike to put the new Gates on it.
#9
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There's a CDN Urban line that is less expensive than Gates's CDX line. I can't find CDN parts for sale anywhere, but maybe Gates would make them available if asked.