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Thread: winter commuting tires

  1. #1
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    Default winter commuting tires

    I have a question for you regular winter commuters: I've been using 700x35's for the past couple of winters, and even though they're studded I'm really sick of getting pushed all over the pathway when I hit any snow that's even remotely packed down. My question is how fat do I need to go to cut most of that issue out? I'm looking at 26x1.75, 26.2 and then have been eyeballing 27.5+ bikes but really would rather keep the winter commuter less expensive. Thoughts on tire widths during winter riding around town?

    - - - Updated - - -

    I should add that I have a pretty long commute (about 25km each way) so the skinnier I can get away with the better. That being said, really really tired of battling packed snow!
    Several studies have investigated the relationship between intelligence and the degree of religious belief (excluding humanism), with most showing an inverse correlation between intelligence averages and the "importance of religion" to the testee.

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    I've run studded 29x1.75 and non-studded 29x2.2 and it's nowhere near wide enough to float on the snow. You get the same washout in deeper snow pack. I'd think you need at least a plus-sized tire to help stay on top of it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Penguin_Racecar View Post
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    I've run studded 29x1.75 and non-studded 29x2.2 and it's nowhere near wide enough to float on the snow. You get the same washout in deeper snow pack. I'd think you need at least a plus-sized tire to help stay on top of it.
    That just crushed my hopes and dreams!

    I just got studded 700X42' for my bike after getting thrown around all of last winter.

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    Ya I’m on studded 700 x 35 and can’t ride worth shit on snow
    Was debating a fat bike as well

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    I guess I'll go the 27.5+ route then. That's too bad, I was hoping something sort of regular size would handle the packed snow pathways a little better. Maybe I'll risk a cheap CCM bike.....

    On that note, does anyone have any preferred stud kits? I've always gone with studded winters, but given the cost I'll probably just stud my tires myself this year.
    Several studies have investigated the relationship between intelligence and the degree of religious belief (excluding humanism), with most showing an inverse correlation between intelligence averages and the "importance of religion" to the testee.

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    I had that same problem last year and ended up getting a fat bike Carrier blitz was selling his. Oh man, what a difference it makes on powdery snow. Now i go for a spin around the neighborhood for fun whenever there's a fresh dump of snow even if it's not a work day.

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    I have 21kms each way. On the bad days (heavy snow) you can't beat the fat bike - but even then, tire pressure (or lack there of) makes a big difference for how much float you get.
    My advice would be, go the widest you can fit on your commuter. On heavy snow days drive part way with the bike (ie: river pathway or similar), or get a fat bike.

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    Fat bike sounds amazing in the winter, but I'm really worried about loss of speed (we have a one year old at home and I want to get home as quick as I can so I don't miss him before bedtime). What kind of difference are you seeing when you make the switch to the fat bike? My commuter is pretty well maxed out with a 700x35 studded (I have a giant fastroad), but I'm looking at 27.5+ bikes right now thinking I can lower the pressure on the bad snow days and have just enough float to not get tossed all over the pathways after folks have walked on the snow. Then on decent days where the pathways are cleared I can pump them up a bit and get the rolling resistance down. Makes sense in my head....we'll see if I'm swearing on the first bad snow day haha.
    Several studies have investigated the relationship between intelligence and the degree of religious belief (excluding humanism), with most showing an inverse correlation between intelligence averages and the "importance of religion" to the testee.

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    Quote Originally Posted by calgarygts View Post
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    Fat bike sounds amazing in the winter, but I'm really worried about loss of speed (we have a one year old at home and I want to get home as quick as I can so I don't miss him before bedtime).
    .

    All you can really do is try it with the setup you have.

    The fat bike does add ~15 mins, but makes roads passable that otherwise wouldn't be on my CX bike.
    Completely understand as I have 2 kids at home also. I try to hide all / most of my training by commuting to maximize time with them.

    Normally I reserve the fat bike for bad days, but last winter I committed to commuting daily on it. I did see a noticeable increase in my FTP as a result.

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    Fatbike + ebike kit = win?
    For skinny tires my ice spiker pros are wicked traction. I have ridden on pure sheets of ice many times, and climbed up hills you can't walk up.
    Same with nokian freddies revenge, but good luck finding these ones.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boosted131 View Post
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    Fatbike + ebike kit = win?
    For skinny tires my ice spiker pros are wicked traction. I have ridden on pure sheets of ice many times, and climbed up hills you can't walk up.
    Same with nokian freddies revenge, but good luck finding these ones.
    I have the same issue as OP, pure ice is actually fine it’s the loose and deep snow that sucks big time.

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    Quote Originally Posted by J-hop View Post
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    I have the same issue as OP, pure ice is actually fine it’s the loose and deep snow that sucks big time.
    what model and width are you running?
    my skinnies are 2.35 which seem to do decent. I wanna go to a 26x2.8 studded, but they don't make them.

    I ran the dillinger 5's last winter on my fat-e-bike and they're amazing and 4.8" wide.
    Hittin' every hole


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    Quote Originally Posted by Boosted131 View Post
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    what model and width are you running?
    my skinnies are 2.35 which seem to do decent. I wanna go to a 26x2.8 studded, but they don't make them.

    I ran the dillinger 5's last winter on my fat-e-bike and they're amazing and 4.8" wide.
    My winters are 35mm, no way I want to haul a fatbike over 20kms, would take a couple hours lol

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    Quote Originally Posted by J-hop View Post
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    My winters are 35mm, no way I want to haul a fatbike over 20kms, would take a couple hours lol
    well there is why. My "skinnies" are 60mm with 361 studs each.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boosted131 View Post
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    well there is why. My "skinnies" are 60mm with 361 studs each.
    Haha yea my definition is a little different. But riding 40+km a day on something that wide would be miserable
    Last edited by J-hop; 08-30-2018 at 06:05 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by calgarygts View Post
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    I have a question for you regular winter commuters: I've been using 700x35's for the past couple of winters, and even though they're studded I'm really sick of getting pushed all over the pathway when I hit any snow that's even remotely packed down. My question is how fat do I need to go to cut most of that issue out? I'm looking at 26x1.75, 26.2 and then have been eyeballing 27.5+ bikes but really would rather keep the winter commuter less expensive. Thoughts on tire widths during winter riding around town?

    - - - Updated - - -

    I should add that I have a pretty long commute (about 25km each way) so the skinnier I can get away with the better. That being said, really really tired of battling packed snow!
    Did my first proper snow ride today on 700x35c studded winters. Started off at 65psi and couldn't keep a straight line over any ruts or tire tracks of packed slush/ice. I was about to call it quits after 1/2 a block, but before I did, I tried dropping the pressure until the tires were pretty squishy (didn't have a gauge with me) and it was immediately 10000x better. If you didn't already buy new tires, try playing with tire pressure to see if you can find a reasonable compromise first.
    Originally posted by max_boost
    Hey baller, any problem money can solve is no problem at all. Don't sweat it.

  17. #17
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    I had a horrid commute this morning - I'll drop the pressure for sure before going home....that was bad news this morning. I'm pretty well committed to something wide after this morning (looking at 4" right now). I have a big ol' mid-drive electric kit so speed will be fine, I think I'll be buying a fat bike and just never worrying about snow again. If it's five extra minutes a day I don't care, the confidence while riding through crap conditions around traffic will be worth it.
    Several studies have investigated the relationship between intelligence and the degree of religious belief (excluding humanism), with most showing an inverse correlation between intelligence averages and the "importance of religion" to the testee.

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    I ended up getting a GT Pantera from Sportchek for just a hair under $600, and that has 27.5x2.8 tires with fairly tame tread. I rode through the snow yesterday and had the best time I've had on a commute in a long time - I was actually laughing out loud while passing the cars that were backed up through Bowness haha. For anyone like me who was debating a fat bike vs. slow speeds for commuting, you may want to try a plus size bike. I went down a very steep trail the last two days (goat trail from Tuscany down to Nose Hill just east of the Home Depot) with no problem on the stock tires at 30psi, and I imagine once I get winter tires on there it'll be ever steadier. It was slower than my 700x35 fitness bike, but not by enough to really care. I'm a big fan of my new chubby bike, I recommend trying them out for winter commuting!
    Several studies have investigated the relationship between intelligence and the degree of religious belief (excluding humanism), with most showing an inverse correlation between intelligence averages and the "importance of religion" to the testee.

  19. #19
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    Are studded tires wider than regular tires?
    The dew is currently running 700x38c touring tires with fenders with max clearance for 700x35c, it fits although sometimes I hear the tire grazing on the fenders.
    Wondering if 700x38c studded tires will be too wide, ISO seems to be 40-622.

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    Anyone selling a fatbike with 100mm bottom bracket and 190mm rear spacing? I bought one to convert but ended up being 110mm after reading online it was 100.
    Hittin' every hole


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