Reply #92: Studded tires are the key, I had not problem over the last two winters [View All]

[happyslug]

Yes, I mean studded tires on my BICYCLE. Helps a lot on keeping on the road with ice on the road. Stopped most of me slipping when Ice is on the roads (I live in Johnstown PA, we had a long winter this year then last, but last year we had more snow).

The down side of studded tires is increase roll resistance (you will feel the difference), thus my Sumer slicks stay on mt bike till snow actually stays on the ground (i.e. does not melt) till the snow melts and no longer stays on the ground. Most years that is December 1 till March 1. This year I had to keep the studs on for an extra three weeks.

I obtain my studded tires via Peter While Wheels, he sells three levels of studs, all you need is the one with the least studs:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/

Peter Whites Web page on studded tires he sells:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

Please note, El Nino is believed to have ended this spring, we are this in a La Nana period. Snow falls are lower in La Nana Periods then El Nino periods, thus the last La Nana Period I did not have to change out of my Slicks all winter long for about 2-3 years (No long term period below 32 degree in the Johnstown PA area). The last two years we had Six weeks to a two month period of almost constant temperatures below 32 degree. Thus I had to use Studded tires for a longer time period.

My present set of studs are about 8 years old, I use them almost every day to go to work and home (about three miles each way) but I rarely go any further with them, thus they last a long time.