Tyre pressures for slush/ice

[JediGoat]

My "let's slowly build up to a commute to work" has been scuppered by the snow and I'm going to have to ride to work tomorrow (there may well be as much walking as riding).

I'm taking the slick tyres of my commuting MTB, and putting the knobblies back on, and common sense tells me that inflating to the lower end of the range (40) is more sensible for the compressed snow than the upper end (65).

However, as I'm going to walk over the really slippy areas, will it really make much difference if I pump them up to 65? I know it'll make the 'dry' parts of the route easier, but am I sacrificing a lot of grip on the skiddier stuff, or will it not really be that noticeable?

 

[lukesdad]

This weather it wont make much difference its just dangerous conditions are you sure you want to chance it.

 

[JediGoat]

Well, a large part of the route I'm going are main roads, so shouldn't be too bad. On the icy bits (which I'm hoping coincide with the hilly bits ) I'll be walking.

Have pumped them up to 40, and I'll see how that goes

 

[lukesdad]

Watch the bottom of hills came down last week on some ice on the club run still sore.

 

[palinurus]

On ice tyre pressure won't have much effect, walk or get some studded tyres. Most of my route is covered with a sort of loose fudge-like stuff made of partly refrozen snow mixed with grit. A wide tyre (32 mm on my 'cross bike) with a lowish pressure has given me sufficient grip on that stuff.

 

[cadseen]

let them down a little, better be safe even if you have to work a little harder.
I have been using off-road routes for fun riding, but probably not practical just to get to work.

 

[gaz]

Depends on how much snow falls tonight to what you should do..

If nothing falls tonight on the roads then i will take the road bike with 23mm slicks. because i know the roads i take are clear.

 

[JediGoat]

I ran the knobblies at 40, and it was fine. Well, it was hard work, but I'm sure the tyres weren't the key factor for that

Have just driven back from work in the car, and even the side roads near me (north west London) are clearing, so I think I'll be popping the skinny tyres back on this week (new snowfall depending).

 

[fossyant]

I ran at about 20 PSI in mine to work in deep snow (only cos I hadn't pumped the MTB tyres up in months)..... and with conventional MTB tyres

Currently running 30 PSI with studs though.........