Fast winter tyre - does such a thing exist?

[Foghat]

Thanks for pointing out yet another marketing exercise to appease a market that doesn't understand physics.

...........

Since Continental doesn't claim that this tyre "copes with general ice very well", but you did. I'd like you to explain what general ice is and how you've found these tyres to cope better with general ice than other tyres. Feel free to quote figures.

General ice: ice as I typically find it on the southern UK road/lane/path network (including countless miles on ungritted lanes) - thick hoar frost, rime, frozen rain, frozen run-off etc. The term was used to distinguish from extensive sheet ('black') ice, which I rarely encounter, and where I may choose a different (studded) tyre.

These Continental Top Contact Winter Premium tyres cope better with general ice than 'other' tyres (except studded ones) as follows:

1. Have never suffered rear tyre breaking away or sliding on corners slippery with frozen rain or hoar frost - which happens frequently in the same conditions with 'other' tyres unless exercising extreme caution. (Incidentally, ditto for surfaces that are just wet rather than icy).
2. Rarely (if ever - no incidents spring to mind) slide the rear on icy metal road hardware - which happens frequently with 'other' tyres unless exercising extreme caution. (Ditto for surfaces that are just wet rather than icy).
3. Rarely lock up the rear when braking on roads slippery with frozen rain or hoar frost - which happens frequently in the same conditions with 'other' tyres unless exercising extreme caution. (Ditto for surfaces that are just wet rather than icy).
4. Maintain traction much better on steeper slippery climbs - where 'other' tyres give up, causing wheelspin or enforcing dismounting, the Continentals will keep gripping, and only really lose traction on steep bad sheet ice. (Ditto for surfaces that are just wet and/or muddy rather than icy).

That said, the Continental Winters can be ridden on sheet ice, including braking, without too much concern, and certainly without having to exercise the same extreme caution as with 'other' tyres - I can quite happily ride through sections which I wouldn't even contemplate with 'other' tyres, based on previous difficulties with them in such conditions. Yes, caution is required - the Winters are not as sure-footed as studded tyres here, which may be a more optimal choice if the sheet ice is extensive and not limited to occasional patches of run-off and puddles (e.g. when there's been rapid freezing after heavy rain/flooding), but their speed/weight and general cornering advantage over studded tyres mean they are usually selected in preference when (generally) icy.

The Continentals also work much better in snow than 'other' tyres - I'm sure it's not necessary to spell out how. They are a bit limited in deep snow, but not as badly as 'other' tyres - studded tyres with knobs, or proper knobbly tyres are better here.

Yes, I know you need data, and demand nothing less than a fully peer-reviewed paper in Nature proving you've got out of bed in the morning before you'll believe it yourself, but I don't have anything beyond my observations, and have no need or inclination to research any, given that I've plenty of my own extensive riding experience instead. A world does exist where component manufacturers design and sell products (which cyclists use in well-reasoned circumstances), that pass you by, let alone acquire the Yellow Saddle validation certificate or seal of approval.........so when making unnecessarily blunt and casually unhelpful dismissals of another poster's entirely reasonable enquiry (as was the OP's), maybe you should think about caveating with a qualification that you haven't actually evidenced your rather forthright shoot-from-the-hip claim, or indeed even attempted researching whether or not it is even true......and in this case making clear that you prefer answering with pointless misinformation when some tyre suggestions addressing the OP's actual query would have been more sensible.

 

[John the Monkey]

FWIW, I went from 32s to 42s (on my Surly Long Haul Trucker) with no noticeable difference in my average speeds.

I liked Continental Comfort Contacts a lot, didn't think much of the Continental Touring Plus.

 

[dim]

FWIW, I went from 32s to 42s (on my Surly Long Haul Trucker) with no noticeable difference in my average speeds.

I liked Continental Comfort Contacts a lot, didn't think much of the Continental Touring Plus.

Try some Schwalbe Marathon Supreme .... I've had 2 inch Supremes on a Bridgestone MB-2 with drop bars and they are very nice fast tyres .... I'm thinking of getting a pair on my LHT (my LHT is my winter commuting bike)... at the moment, I have the Continental Contact (my bike was bought brand new and had these fitted from new .... )

 

[Yellow Saddle]

not speculation .... it's fact based on my own experience. You are now just arguing for the sake of arguing .... Why don't you try it yourself? .... Install a pair of Marathon+ (they are cheap, heavy and slow), and go for a ride and give it your best. Then once you have rested, put your other tyres on and do the same, then come here and post your findings

If tyres don't make much of a difference in speed, all the pro's would be riding on Durano Plus on their races, as they are cheap and are very puncture resistant

and BTW, the difference between 26km/hr and 30km/hr is 15%.

Ask your mother what that "whooosh" sound above your head is.

 

[andrew_s]

Over say a 25 mile ride how much quicker will a fast tyre be over a slightly slower tyre?

According to this test, the calculated time based on measured CRR and wind drag is about 40s less for GP4000SII than for Gatorskins, at 30 mph, I think.

 

[dim]

According to this test, the calculated time based on measured CRR and wind drag is about 40s less for GP4000SII than for Gatorskins, at 30 mph, I think.

thats what they all do .... 'think'

on that link nowhere did I see any reference saying that John Bloggs actually rode a bike with the tyre and tested them and that the numbers quoted are from someone sitting on a bike, defying gravity, wind, body weight and actually riding a bike to test the tyres?

.... it's all pen and paper... but sadly, in reality it's a bit different

 

[Dogtrousers]

I ride D+ or sometime M+ I can probably tell the difference when I start out, but I soon forget about it. I imagine the effective speed difference is irrelevant, but it might be enough to lose me a race. Fortunately I've never been in one.

I've got a pair of spiked Marathon Winters (not fitted to anything at the moment). Now I suspect that even I would be able to tell the difference with those.