The need to pick up the winter tires for the bike arises from experienced riders, and newbies, first deciding on the trips to the snowy caress or an icy road. All-season exploitation of two-wheeled technology has gained special popularity with the advent of fatbikes, allowing to adjust the tire pressure to increase passability. But the choice of cycling tires for winter is still a serious problem, because the practice of using such a velusin is not too large. What qualities should the tires be posted, allowing you to move freely in the snow, sand-salt mixture, dirt and roads listed by snowdrifts?
Woven tires 20-26 and 28-29 inches, as well as other winter rubber options are produced by many well-known brands. Who can you entrust the safety of your bike, to what you need to pay attention to the selection? To sort out the question, it is worth considering all available options in more detail.
Peculiarities
Winter tires for the bike are noticeably different from their summer analogs, and the matter here is not only in seasonality of use. Among the important features that have studded tires possess, the following can be distinguished:
- Soft tires - It will be much less rigid than summer, which is associated with the use of rubber blends capable of maintaining their properties at low atmospheric temperatures;
- Availability of spikes - Additional hooks help to strengthen the clutch with an expensive even under conditions of cloth icing, ensure the preservation of a high level of security when driving along the tracks with different characteristics and off-road;
- Special tread pattern - It will definitely be deeper, clearer and sharper; Winter tires need to be cling to soil as much as possible, rough lamellas do it truly effectively;
- Increased wear resistance - in many respects it is also due to the use of special additives that reduce the abrasion of the surface;
- Persibility for the formation of punctures - Even when driving on semi-covered tires, you can not worry about what they will get a hole;
- Significant weight - It can become a problem, especially on Fatbike, whose weight is already great, and most of it falls on the wheels;
- Increased value - a set of winter rubber for MTB bike of any level will cost quite expensive; Especially if you do not save and buy high-quality tires.
It is worth paying attention to the rubber missed.
In budget models, it is steel, in expensive shells is often manufactured from stainless materials or aluminum alloys, and the spike itself is formed from tungsten carbide or other metals with increased wear resistance.
The features of winter cycling tires can be attributed The need for running. Before the start of the season, their 50-80 km is exploited at the minimum allowable pressure - during this period sharp braking is particularly dangerous, since the spikes can simply not withstand efforts will be doried. Manufacturers recommendations should also be considered. They advise Use winter tires only with lowered atmospheric temperatures up to +5 degrees. In addition, the tire pressure should be low, otherwise the contact stain with the road will be too narrow.
What are there?
Like any other veloresin, winter cycling tires are divided according to their siper. Depending on the bike, the following are the following:
- 20 inches;
- 26 inches;
- 28 inches (or 27.5 on the mountain);
- 29 inches.
Rubber in the first two versions refers to the discharge of cycle coats for special - trial, extreme models with a reduced wheel diameter. The remaining tires are most often installed on mountain bikes - MTB or Fatable. For Fatbike, an enlarged width of the disks is also characteristic, which turns them into a full-fledged SUV for any time of the year. The diameter 28 "is characteristic of high-speed bicycles with narrow tires - on them to exercise winter ride more difficult.
In addition, all winter studded tires are divided into the following types:
- Cross slots - options for a small frost and well-cleaned streets; the lightest and with minimal misappropriation;
- mud - designed for the conquest of snow-covered spaces, differ in the most deep pattern of the tread;
- Two-row tires - They have a rather weak misfortune, but it is suitable for the city;
- four-row tires for winter - The most secure version capable of withstanding extreme riding; OshIpovka in 4 rows makes it possible to hold the optimal clutch in any riding conditions.
All these categories can be found on store shelves, but it is not enough to determine the view, you need to choose the right brand.
Review manufacturers
Among the manufacturers who earned the highest assessment of lovers and professionals in winter cycling, there are many brands that everyone knows about. They are recommended on the forums on the network, and in stores, indicate the sites of manufacturers of all-season bicycles. Trusting a famous name, you can get much more than just a quality product . As a rule, in the line of such firms there are several winter tires on any climate and weather.
Nokian.
For many cyclists, a big surprise is the fact that the Finnish brand Nokian produces not only excellent autoresin. For bicycles, the company offers versions of tires based on non-freezing base. It is characterized by high-quality misappropriate with a large number of hooks, carbide tips of spikes, deep and clear tread pattern. The Nokian product line has tires for different operating conditions. Among the most popular winter models, you can pay attention to several options (the number index in the title indicates the number of spikes).
- Hakkapeliitta W 240. Tires, well suitable for winter weather. The average number of spikes makes them a good option for movement along the most different types of winter coatings.
- Hakkapeliitta W 106. Universal tires for riding in the snow in the city and beyond. A two-row model with a diameter 26 "has a weight of less than 1 kg per tire. OshIpovka Steel, rubber confidently creates a good grip with an expensive.
- Freddies Reven's 336 SW. This tire model is characterized by a pattern with an increased distance width between the elements of the tread. In addition, carbide tips of spikes are used here, and rubber tire itself, with carbon reinforcing fibers. All-weather, chain and reliable tire for tireless travelers.
Kenda.
Budget tires of this brand are highly appreciated in Europe. Studded winter tires is focused on using in a cold climate, the average cost of the tire kit does not exceed 50 USD. By weight, each tire will add about 1.3 kg wheels, which is worth considering by installing them on light bikes. A distinctive feature of the brand is the presence of elements that do not give the snow to stick. Among the Kenda's winter tire models, the following can be allocated:
- double row Klondike Standard;
- four-rowed Klondike Wide;
- Equipped, rifle , deeply carved by Klondike Skinny protector.
Schwalbe
One of the most famous manufacturers of winter cycling rubber. The company specializes in the premium segment - the tire set will cost 100-200 USD. Its products are unlikely to interest the owners of budget bikes, but at the service life of 5 years, such tires fully pay for themselves. Among the demanded models can be mentioned somewhat.
- Ice Spiker Pro. Senior model in a winter line with a four-chain mistake and special carbon tips against slippage. In rubber, 361 spits are installed, providing confident clutch even on ice. Moreover, the weight of the tire is minimal - no more than 700 g of the added load on the wheel.
- Ice Spiker. Model of winter tires with material resistant to punctures, and other external damage. The design is very durable, the spikes are located in 4 rows - their total amount is 304. The entire tire weighs about 1 kg and is designed in such a way that the user can feel confidently and when moving on ice, and on a snow-covered track.
Continental
The German brand produces not only high-quality car rubber, but also copes with the tasks of creating cycling tires. It is worth noting that this particular product was included in the first line of produced by the brand since 1871 products. True, then the tires were lit. Modern winter tires for bicycles from Continental are presented in 2 main rules.
- Nordic Spike. These are cross tires in a double-row or four-row execution of obituami. They are produced in the amount of 28 "with a width of 1.6". The number of spikes 120 or 240 depends on the number of rows, the tire mass is 850-900 g, the cost is higher than the average market. The tires have a deep and clearly carved protector, allowing you to confidently keep the road on ice and in the snow.
- Spike Claw. Off-road bus under wheel 26 ", calculated on a width of 2.1". This is a reliable option for mountain bikes, which costs more than budgetary brands, but it is worthwhile. The number of spikes depends on the top of the tire: in the two-row them 120, in four-row - 240, the total weight of the product - 840 or 900 g.
How to choose?
The rules for selecting tires on a bicycle for winter begins with the definition of: where, how and how much they will be operated. For example, if you plan a little departure in the offseason and first snow, It will be enough to install a crowded wheel only back. So the bike will acquire sufficient stability, But it will save rolls and maneuverability, and the load on the legs will be less.
If you plan to ride the whole winter, you must install both studded tires, otherwise the loss of management on ice can turn into very serious consequences.
Choosing a tire for a winter cycling, it is worth relying on several parameters and criteria.
- Selection of space for skiing. If it is cycleheads and sidewalks, it is better to choose winter semifts for a cross - lighter and comfortable to use. Heavy tires with a deep tread will be suitable for forest and off-road.
- Temperature mode. If the average winter temperature drops below -15 degrees, it is worth choosing tires with W marking made from a compound. Rubber on the frost is treated, behaves unpredictable.
- Snow depth. On loose coating it is better to use narrow tires, quickly cutting the surface to a solid and sustainable base. At the rolled surfaces, it is recommended to use wider tires with an enlarged stain of the contact. They are suitable for moving along winterers, drowning paths and imaging, help get out of dirt and snow porridge.
- Projector design. For off-road ride, tires are needed with high primers, which occupy a smaller area, if compared with furrows. Positive protector, where these indicators are almost equal, it is suitable only for the rolled highway.
These recommendations will help to evaluate how realistic the idea of winter skating will be. They will save the rider-novice from errors in choosing suitable tires.
On how to choose winter tires, look in the video.