Ben I.

So I've been riding on Conti GP 4000s II for several months now and love them but was thinking I'd switch to a really durable tire for the winter so I'll be less likely to change a flat when it's freezing cold. I've only had one flat on them but there are tires out there that are more durable (I think?). I'm only planning on riding down to about freezing and only if it's not wet/snowing, I don't want to have to worry about ice. I picked up a pair of Gatorskins for when it's consistently cold out, not just at night, but still on the fence about them. I've looked at Conti 4 Seasons and they seem like a good tire but are even more than the 4000s. I've seen that some people think Gatorskins don't handle good in the wet which is a little concerning. Other than that, they seem fairly similar.

My question is, of those of you that ride in the winter, in regions where you actually have a winter (haha) do you still ride the same tires or do you switch? And what tires do you ride when it's nicer out and which ones do you switch to once the temps drop?

Thanks for the info guys!

RPK79

I use cx tires in the winter.

79pmooney

I switch. To what depends on the bike, the riding I am doing and where I am living. When I lived in Boston and Ann Arbor and did not own a car, cyclocross tires went on for the winter. I still have them and now Mokia snow tires for those rare Portland ice/snow days, mounted on wheels I might not use all winter. My other bikes go up a size in tire and to either Panaracer Paselas or grippier quality tires.

Ben

Doctor Morbius

I switch because I'll be on a trainer.

DrIsotope

I live in the Land Of No Weather, so it's the same tires year round, on bikes, cars, everything. Seasons seem like... a hassle.

rpenmanparker 

What's Winter?

kingston 

Schwalbe Marathon Winter

Paralyticileus

Last year commuted all winter on Kenda Kaliente tires. No issues. No flats. No drama. I live in Chicago. The roads are kept in pretty good condition so I tend to bike all year even while it's snowing outside.

This year, I probably won't change my tires unless I get a really good deal on a pair and even then I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. Keep your upper body loose and only make deliberate movements. I think technique is more important than the tire.

Ben I.

Not sure how wide of cx tires I could fit with my frame/brakes but I'll look into it.

My main concern is minimizing the chances of a flat while doing cold weather rides. I'd like to still have a good handling and supple tire but you always have to sacrifice some features in order to get other features.

Montag311

In normal weather I ride Continental GP 4000 II's also. I love those tires. In winter I'll ride in temps down to the teens and I do not want to have to stop to fix a flat so I do change to Panaracer Race D Evo 2's. I keep them mounted on a separate set of wheels so it's easy to switch over.

DinoShepherd

Not only do I switch tires, I do a whole bike switch.

The Look and the Conti 25s come inside and the Niner with tubeless 28s and fenders goes out.

cale

Seattle winters are mild but it seems like many of the pathways and trails sprout glass that time of year. I switched my rear Vredestein Gran Fondo 25 (a durable tire in its own right) for a Gatorskin 25 to ward off rear punctures. A Gran Fondo rides on in the front. My GP4000s aren't part of the winter picture because my road bike is on a hook and won't be out till spring.

grolby

I've switched tires before, but these days I figure there's nothing wrong with having good grip and ride quality in the winter as well as the summer. So I keep riding my GP4000S IIs and let em' wear down. I haven't noticed any greater tendency to get flats in winter. If the weather is truly bad, I'm spending a lot of time on my cross bike anyway. Riding crappy tires in the winter doesn't seem worth it to me anymore. I won't install new ones during the winter, if I can help it, otherwise I don't worry about it.

Homebrew01

I ride the same bike year-round, same tires. If it's super cold, or roads are bad, I ride my mtn bike.

wphamilton

I don't have a winter as you know it, but I do switch tires when I happen to have some. There's enough difference that it makes sense to match the tire to general conditions. In fact if I had much snow and ice I'd switch entire wheel-sets, just for convenience.

rpenmanparker 

Sounds like you should either switch to tubeless with sealant or add sealant to your tubes. There is no reason that wanting to avoid flats should force you to switch tires seasonally. Another approach is to carry Vittoria Pit Stop to instantly reinflate a flat tire without having to change the tube. Done and done.

BoSoxYacht

If I lived in an area that salts/sands roads, I would use a tire liner. Sometimes sealant can be a little slow in cold temps.

kevmk81

I switch out tires *after* winter for me. New fresh tires for the start of racing season.

fietsbob

I have whole different Bikes ..

rmfnla

Carbonfiberboy 

We have winter rain and glass. I switched from Conti 4000s II to Rubino Pro-Tech III. The latter are now out of production, but on sale many places online. They handle well, roll OK, are very cut-resistant and stick well in the wet. IME most very long wearing tires like Marathon and Gatorskin don't stick in the wet. I've also used Conti 4 Seasons, which were OK.

dagray

I don't just switch tires, I switch my rear wheel too..... because it holds my trainer tire, and I don't want to ride tubeless tires on the trainer.

I do switch back if can get a ride in outside.

MikeyBoyAz

Another No Winter guy... so no change either.

Hypno Toad

I switch from my 23mm Vittoria Rubino Pro to my 3.8" Surly Nates

As somebody in the snowbelt that LOVES riding through the winter, I put the road bikes away for the winter and get out the MTBs: Marin Nail Trail with studded tires and Surly Pugsley.

I've had my Kona Dew Drop out on snow and ice with 28mm Panaracer T-Servs; not my favorite. This is one of the "good" rides (didn't hit the ground):



and here is a not so good ride, I hit the ground

Hypno Toad

"No winter"??? And miss out on all the fun??


(-15F ride to work in January, 2015)