Ice Tyres

[downhillingdemon]

Anyone here use studded ice tyres?

Which ones do you use? (especially seeing Schwable and Continental are not vegan manufacturers)

If you made them yourself, what was the best technique you found?

[Big Good Wolf]

I've got a pair of these.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nokian-Gazza- ... 3cbe543f10
The price has gone up a bit since I bought mine for about £120 a pair including postage in November 2011.
It seems a bit odd buying a Finnish tyre from the USA and getting it posted to the UK.
They are ridiculously hard work to ride, very heavy and very draggy.
They are brilliant on ice, they really do work. Sometimes I don't even realise I'm riding on ice until I stop and put a foot down.

[downhillingdemon]

HOLY SMOOOOKE I am not paying £120 no matter how awesomes

Home brew ice tyres it will be then.

Thanks anyway BGW

[Big Good Wolf]

I paid about £120 a pair.
That's the same ebay seller and the same tyres. They are now £106 each plus postage.

There's slightly more choice for 26", but still not much if you want to avoid Schwalbe.

Two more from the UK, both about £60 each.
http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/45n ... 1976-p.asp
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=29404
Or fewer spikes on a skinnier tyre for £33
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/a59066 ... =GBP&cn=gb

[fredrikw]

Nokian/Suomi Tyres sets the standard in studded tyres. I have used a variety of different ones for many years now, but for MTBing during the winter they're usually only needed when very specific conditions arise (a mix of thaw and sub zero temperatures leading to lot of ice), otherwise a wide tyre with good traction and low pressure is better when riding on snowy trails.

My recommendation is these ones http://www.suomityres.fi/h300.html relatively light with a folding bead.

[downhillingdemon]

Nokian/Suomi Tyres sets the standard in studded tyres. I have used a variety of different ones for many years now, but for MTBing during the winter they're usually only needed when very specific conditions arise (a mix of thaw and sub zero temperatures leading to lot of ice), otherwise a wide tyre with good traction and low pressure is better when riding on snowy trails.

My recommendation is these ones http://www.suomityres.fi/h300.html relatively light with a folding bead.

Yeah, I am happy to ride/float/skid/surf on the snow, but here in Malvern we tend to have snow for a few days and then just ice which can take ages to go.

A million walkers trample the trails and that, with the daytime melt followed by night freeze, just leaves everything sheet-ice.

I'll look into these. Thanks for the link.

[downhillingdemon]

I paid about £120 a pair.
That's the same ebay seller and the same tyres. They are now £106 each plus postage.

There's slightly more choice for 26", but still not much if you want to avoid Schwalbe.

Two more from the UK, both about £60 each.
http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/45n ... 1976-p.asp
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=29404
Or fewer spikes on a skinnier tyre for £33
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/a59066 ... =GBP&cn=gb

Thanks for all these links BGW. Will look into all these too and make a decision

I suspect it'll still involve some screws and a knackard old minion though

[fredrikw]

Before starting making your own calculate the weight of all the screws. Few things makes cycling more boring than crazy heavy tyres.

[downhillingdemon]

Before starting making your own calculate the weight of all the screws. Few things makes cycling more boring than crazy heavy tyres.

This is true, but just being able to ride is better than not....and very unfortunately my wallet is not in a healthy state at the moment. In fact, I am skinter than a skint thing and I just can't find that sort of money after looking at the bank account this morning.

Really wish I could - I suspect I'll loose weeks of riding this year if the forecast is anything to go by

[loveliberate]

Everything else aside - Yay for D.I.Y.!!

[wannalift]

I just use wide tires with low air pressure. The singletrack is mostly ice right now, but I ride the downhills very slowly and it's actually a lot of fun. If I wanted to ride faster then I would definitely look at studded tires.