Talk to me about ice tyres

[Dadam]

So, cold snap coming next week, I'm wondering about spiked or studded tyres for commuting. And, the very next thought... on which bike? The 29er e-MTB seems to be favourite, currently wearing 2.6" knobblies. Not considering the road bikes, so the other alternative would be the manual hybrid, currently on 700c x 35 G-ones.

The usage would be a few miles on cleared and gritted roads, some snowy/slushy back roads plus some uncleared paths with snow and patches of black ice. I'm not going trekking in the arctic.

Brief searching online looks like full on MTB tyres with spikes, like the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro are very spendy and possibly overkill. Mid range the Marathon Winters seem popular and available in both 700c and 29 x 2". At the moment I'm leaning toward the Schwalbe Winter Kevlar-Guard Active Line in 700x35 for the hybrid.

Lastly, how good, or otherwise, would normal knobbly MTB tyres be on ice and snow? I presume they're better than normal bike tyres but possibly not by much.

 

[fossyant]

On fresh snow, a knobbly tyre is fine. On ice, nope, only studs work. I've got Ice Spiker Pro's for the full suspension bike - these are yet to be fitted to the spare wheels for this winter (note spare wheels !) and I use this for a laugh if we get snow - got them in a sale a few years back. They are incredible.

For commuting I have a pair of Schwalbe Snow Studs - no longer made, but a bit like the Marathon Winters. I initially used to fit them to my old MTB in winter so I'd commute on the road bike, then switch over to the MTB in ice. Since I no longer have the commuter road bike, I commute on the old MTB as my route is road/off road, and most of it isn't gritted, so I've got spare wheels set up with the studs on. It's a 3 minute job to switch over if it's frosty.

I don't take any chances with ICE, many people won't ride, but as I'm commuting, these tyres are incredible. OK you can't defeat physics, but it's close. These tyres are now 14 years old, no signs of cracking. They are stored in a dark garage.

Is this for commuting. You may want the tyres on a spare bike or spare wheels (my earlier comment). You'll curse if you ride the whole winter on studded tyres. They are noisy and draggy usually. The Ice Spikers do roll quite well, but the noise is incredible due to the 402 spikes per tyre. They are for doing crazy stuff off road.

My Snow Studs have 100 spikes on the shoulder knobbles and are sufficient - you just run with 30 PSI so the studs contact the ground better.

 

[Dadam]

Is this for commuting. You may want the tyres on a spare bike or spare wheels (my earlier comment).

Yes, will be on a spare bike. Well if it's the MTB it's not spare per se but I don't ride it too often in winter. Not keen on mud!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Marathon winters work great on icy roads. You’ll get the noise of the studs when not on ice, but it’s not too loud.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I've used Marathon Winters for a few years of commuting and general riding; they work very well on ice and snow, in fact the biggest danger is that you'll put your foot down and only then realise you're on sheet ice. Guess how I know this.

They are noisy and heavy though, as others have said; they're hard work after the first few miles.

 

[Arjimlad]

I have Marathon Winters on a spare wheelset which is deployed when it is icy. Would not be without them now, after friends have broken bones slipping on the icy roads. They are slow & heavy but give me a lot of confidence. 700 x 35c in my case on a Giant Contend AR.

 

[fossyant]

Last winter wasn't particularly cold, but I went through one of those cycle chicane barriers (latterly known as the hip breaker). My rear wheel did a quick shimmy on the ice (ice tyres), enough that the guy behind me really slowed down. Unfortunately, someone who came along later, slipped off his bike and broke his hip - a friend of mine stopped - it was two hours before an ambulance could get to him (it's about 2 miles from a big hospital).

On a lighter note, it's great riding over big frozen sections !

 

[Dadam]

Thanks for the input everybody. I've gone for a pair of these:
https://fawkes-cycles.co.uk/schwalbe-winter-studded-tyre-kevlar-guard-in-black-p25184

They appear to be a cheaper version of the Marathon Winters, with half the number of spikes. They should be enough for my usage (4.5 mile commute on roads and cycle paths). If I think it's really bad I have the option to WFH.
Schwalbe say this:

With half the amount of spikes, the Winter provides excellent control on glassy ice. Only in extreme cornering is its big brother Marathon Winter superior. With 50 EPI carcass, reflective lines and K-Guard it offers great benefits at an entry-level price.

Extreme cornering is the last thing I'll be contemplating if the surface looks sketchy!

 

[Arjimlad]

Thanks for the input everybody. I've gone for a pair of these:
https://fawkes-cycles.co.uk/schwalbe-winter-studded-tyre-kevlar-guard-in-black-p25184

They appear to be a cheaper version of the Marathon Winters, with half the number of spikes. They should be enough for my usage (4.5 mile commute on roads and cycle paths). If I think it's really bad I have the option to WFH.
Schwalbe say this:

Extreme cornering is the last thing I'll be contemplating if the surface looks sketchy!

These are what I have. I ride confidently although slowly with them when the roads are like this, or when there's just a bit of ice in the shady bits.

 

[Drago]

If you're riding in snow or compacted ice, great.

In anything else, which covers 99% of the British winter, theye a draggy, unpredictable liability.

 

[matticus]

Marathon winters work great on icy roads. You’ll get the noise of the studs when not on ice, but it’s not too loud.

Many modern freehubs are much louder!