Favorite MTB tires for snowy roads?

What are everyone's favorite MTB tires for snowy roads? I'm interested in "normal" ones -- not
special winter tires that are expensive and hard to find. I'm looking for new tires for my MTB --
ones that will do double-duty as winter road tires, and regular off-road tires. I like fast tires --
I usually ride semi-slicks, but I need knobbies sometimes too. Any ideas?

Matt O.

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> What are everyone's favorite MTB tires for snowy roads? I'm interested in "normal" ones -- not
> special winter tires that are expensive and hard to find. I'm looking for new tires for my MTB --
> ones that will do double-duty as winter road tires, and regular off-road tires. I like fast tires
> -- I usually ride semi-slicks, but I need knobbies sometimes too. Any ideas?

Having spent several years of experimenting with a few types of tyres, I find that cyclocross tyres
work as well as anything. I used knobby MTB tyres (Ritchey MegaBite and WCS types) years ago with no
satisfaction. I used smooth road tyres a few years back, again with no satisfaction.

I use two types of cyclocross tyres, depending on the snow conditions. Note that I haven't tried
every possible type, but these are the best ones I've found. For soft fresh snow, the Ritchey
Speedmax 700x30 (http://www.ritcheylogic.com/trcataloghome.htm). I think they run less than $20
each. They don't have much tread; they're more like a semislick. For hardpacked snow and ice, I use
my Nokian studded 700x35's (http://www.nokiantyres.com/bike/winter/index.html, Hakkapeliitta 106).
They cost me about $62/pair including tax at my LBS. They're not so great on soft fresh snow, but
they rock when you hit ice.

I think the skinny tyres might have an advantage, although I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the Model T
effect, where the narrow tyre pushes through the snow and finds firmer footing.

Summary: I suspect a skinnier higher pressure semislick MTB tyre might be best for snow riding. I
don't know if such a beast exists.

Dave dvt at psu dot edu

"Matt O'Toole" <matt@deltanet.com> wrote in message
news:9PURb.1180$VY1.643@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> What are everyone's favorite MTB tires for snowy roads? I'm interested in "normal" ones -- not
> special winter tires that are expensive and hard to
find.
> I'm looking for new tires for my MTB -- ones that will do double-duty as
winter
> road tires, and regular off-road tires. I like fast tires -- I usually ride semi-slicks, but I
> need knobbies sometimes too. Any ideas?

Depends on the snow, for unpacked (or lightly packed), clogging can be a problem, so you need open
lugs (like mud tires). I don't know about SS tires in snow, I wouldn't think they'd work too well.
For snowy roads I use Nokian studded (I know, they're special, expensive, etc.), for off-road, non-
studded, I just go for the widest, openest knob pattern. Currently I use WTB "Tyranno-raptors". Did
you check out icebike.com? There's a review of various (studded & non-studded) tires
(http://users.rcn.com/icebike/Equipme...tudded%20Tires), including the new ones
at Nashbar.

Another good "open tread" design is the Hutchinson Scorpion (replaces the Mosquito). Small, widly
spaced knobs should throw off the snow very nicely.

"May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 18:32:31 -0500 (EST), ChriszCorner@webtv.net
(Chris Zacho "The Wheelman") wrote:

>Another good "open tread" design is the Hutchinson Scorpion

My Scorpions worked well while they lasted. The down side is that they lasted about 125 miles before
the handling disappeared.

Barry

Thanks for the info, guys. Peter, the links (and your review) were very helpful. I may spring for a
set of those 106s anyway!

Matt O.