OK ive had a look through some of the other threads regarding winter tyres and most talk about what are best for puncture resistance. My question is regarding grip.
I have a CUBE SL Cross Pro which although technically a hybrid, its as close as your going to get to a flat bar road bike.
I use it mainly to commute which takes in both roads and cycle paths including one section thats covered by trees and as such is covered with wet leaves at this time of year.
The bike came with Schwalbe Kojaks (slick) as standard (25's I believe) and that is what's on the bike at present. These tyres are great for my fittness rides but not so clever for commuting when the weather turns.
I commuted through last winter using the same tyres including heavy snow and although I got through it, I don't believe that complete slicks are the way to go. I had one big off but that was in the wet where I forgot to slow down for a turn across those deadly blind mans cobble stones !
Now I understand that on frost covered cycle paths some caution will be required regardless of tyre used but does anybody have any recommendations on tyres that would be better suited for winter commuting than my current set ?
Would I for example be better off with a treaded type of tyre such as a cyclocross spec ?
Are there any tyres that offer more grip than slicks in frosty conditions other than the studded tyres ive seen advertised ?
I don't have any choice but to cycle to work so I really need something on the bike during the winter that offers the maximum grip both in frost and potentially snow, although I live in the South West so we don't usually get a lot of the white stuff !
I will be purchasing a road bike shortly (probably a CAAD8) and plan to use this for dry commuting and fittness rides. The CUBE will then be fitted with mud guards and kept for wet weather and winter commuting only.
Any advice appreciated.
I have a CUBE SL Cross Pro which although technically a hybrid, its as close as your going to get to a flat bar road bike.
I use it mainly to commute which takes in both roads and cycle paths including one section thats covered by trees and as such is covered with wet leaves at this time of year.
The bike came with Schwalbe Kojaks (slick) as standard (25's I believe) and that is what's on the bike at present. These tyres are great for my fittness rides but not so clever for commuting when the weather turns.
I commuted through last winter using the same tyres including heavy snow and although I got through it, I don't believe that complete slicks are the way to go. I had one big off but that was in the wet where I forgot to slow down for a turn across those deadly blind mans cobble stones !
Now I understand that on frost covered cycle paths some caution will be required regardless of tyre used but does anybody have any recommendations on tyres that would be better suited for winter commuting than my current set ?
Would I for example be better off with a treaded type of tyre such as a cyclocross spec ?
Are there any tyres that offer more grip than slicks in frosty conditions other than the studded tyres ive seen advertised ?
I don't have any choice but to cycle to work so I really need something on the bike during the winter that offers the maximum grip both in frost and potentially snow, although I live in the South West so we don't usually get a lot of the white stuff !
I will be purchasing a road bike shortly (probably a CAAD8) and plan to use this for dry commuting and fittness rides. The CUBE will then be fitted with mud guards and kept for wet weather and winter commuting only.
Any advice appreciated.
