The Chainlink

Anyone thinking of using studded tires this winter???

I have bike commuted through three Chicago winters and have never used studded tires. I've always found the major streets were plowed well enough to get by with my regular 26 x 1.5 slicks or 700 x 32 cross tires. Last year, however, the City plowing just really seemed to suck. I mean everyone knows the side streets were basically just left unplowed, but even the major streets seemed to get much less attention than ever before. Clearing bike lanes, or even the regular road surface, seemed to be a pretty low priority. I made it all winter without a major fall, but my fear is that with the current city budget problems and labor cut backs that the roads could be even worse this year.

Long story short, anyone on here thinking about using studded tires this winter? The Nokian 700x 32 A10's studded tires (which are designed for low rolling resistnace and use on plowed urban roads) only cost $38 a tire. Not a bad investment, but I just wonder if I am being over cautious. Just want to see what others are considering doing this year.

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Permalink Reply by ishnock aka the blue baron on December 2, 2009 at 10:13pm
Good input, and I do understand what you are saying. However, studded tires are just too heavy for me. I dont put anything on my bike thicker than 25c....I may go as high as 28c, but that's it.

During the winter, I heavily rely on my instincts and bike skills to travel through ice and snow laden roads.. I don't bike at extreme velocities, and I use different braking methods, similar to what drivers use when they need to stop on a icey road. I brake a little, and then I release, and I repeat the process until my motion has come to a complete halt. Since I ride fixed, I have an immense amount of control over my braking system: direction and the amount of force that is applied.

I also take a little bit of air out of my tires , to take some of the narrowness out, allowing the tires to have more contact with the road

I will say this. Most of my cycling takes place in the burbs, downtown, and up north( but not past 3200 north), and my experience with traveling on those streets in the winter has been positive. Daley keeps downtown streets clear of black ice, and the burbs, well, the one I live in, are very diligent when it comes to keeping the streets drive-safe during the winter.

I am more worried about salt creating rust build up on my frame than I am about traction during the winter....Now that is whole other can of worms.


In the words of the great one( I shouldnt have to say his name), there is no set standard, method, or practice when it comes to biking or bikes, you utilize what works best for your body and your style of biking. ....So experiment...and experiment.....until it feels right and safe.


J said:
I agree that those of you considering studded tires should read through the archived posts.
One point I'd like to make however is that because studded tires are such a niche, very few people have tried them, and those who have, probably haven't tried more than one design -- so anecdotal evidence isn't as useful in this case as it might be with other topics. This does not even take into account the very different road conditions found within the Chicago area. In my neighborhood, due to poor drainage and other factors, black ice accumulates to the point where road tires just don't work. It is true the 23/25c tires sink through the snow, but if you're hitting ice (rather than tarmac or dirt) below -- they just won't work.
So understand that there are several different types of studded tires on the market. Some are based on (rubber) studded MTB and cross tires -- these are wide and aggressive and meant for running at lower pressures. Others are based on high end commuting tires, and can be run at higher pressures on the road.

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