Navigating Winter Roads Safely: The Crucial Role of Specific Winter Tyres for Your Bike
As the cold winter weather draws in, you need to start thinking about how to prepare your bike for winter, especially if you plan on maintaining your outdoor cycling regime throughout January and February. Whether you expect wetter conditions or snow and ice, you must prepare your bike for wet, slippery road conditions with winter tyres.
Winter tyres offer additional grip to prevent accidents while cycling in winter conditions. We always recommend changing to winter tyres before the weather changes to stay safe on the roads in winter. In this guide, we will help you choose the right winter tyres for your bike, give recommendations on how often you should change them and teach you how to change your tyres.
Table of contents
- The importance of winter bike tyres
- Choosing the right winter bike tyres
- How to change bike tyres to your winter ones
- How often should I change my bike tyres?
- Tips for extending the life of your bike tyre
- Winter bike tyres FAQs
The importance of winter bike tyres
Tread
Winter bike tyres will help you navigate cold and slippery conditions because of the extra grip. Winter tyres feature a more rugged tread pattern and extra grip than traditional road tyres, with smooth surfaces.
You can change your road bike tyres to specific winter tyres for a road bike with a smooth profile, or you can opt for adventure tyres with an open block tread for additional grip. Remember that with more tread comes better grip and safety in icy and wet conditions, but with that, you will lose performance.
Puncture protection
Your slick road tyres are more likely to get wet in winter weather, which increases the risk of rocks and glass sticking to them and causing a puncture. No one wants to be on the side of the road changing the tyre in the cold winter weather.
Winter tyres for road bikes with additional tread will help reduce this risk and negate the need for heavy-duty tyres.
Opting for tubeless tyres will also help prevent suffering from punctures.
Tyre materials
Typically, the softer the tread, the better the grip, which is ideal in a winter tyre. However, softer tread tends to wear out faster. Therefore, many winter tyres feature multi-compound rubber, layups, and synthetic compounds, which deliver balance when braking late and hard-turning and improve rolling speed.
Furthermore, rubber can harden in cold weather, reducing grip. So look for tyres with silica compounds that offer excellent grip even in minus temperatures.
Studs
You can also opt for studded tyres if you’re cycling through ice. The metal studs dig into the ice, allowing you to cycle in icy conditions.
Choosing the right winter bike tyres
You can purchase various types of winter tyres, so consider these options to find the right one for your bike.
Tread pattern
Look for tread patterns specifically for winter conditions. Tyres with larger and deeper treads will provide the best grip in snowy and icy conditions.
Studded vs. non-studded
Studded tyres are excellent for cycling on icy surfaces but are overkill for everyday winter cycling.
The rubber compound
The best winter tyres will have a softer rubber compound to remain pliable in colder temperatures and to improve grip on snowy and icy surfaces.
Width
The wider your tyres, the more surface area you have and the better your stability on slippery surfaces. Consider going up a size or two than your standard tyre width if your bike frame allows.
Casing and puncture protection
Ensure your winter tyres have durable casing and puncture protection, as you’re more at risk of punctures in the winter.
Can you switch to tubeless tyres?
Tubeless tyres are more beneficial in winter as they are less prone to pinch flats, and the sealant can help prevent small punctures.
Where will you be riding?
If you’re primarily going to ride on snow-ploughed roads, you may not need as aggressive winter tread as someone who cycles on off-road trails.
What’s your local climate?
Consider your local climate. Are you expecting much snow and ice or just rain? Consider studded tyres for icy climates or a rugged tread pattern for snowy or wet conditions.
Bike compatibility
Make sure your winter tyres are compatible with your bike frame and fork. Some bikes have tyre clearance limits.
Recommended winter bike tyres
At Swinnerton, we want to provide you with the best winter bike tyres this season. So, we recommend the Continental Road Bike Tyre Con Gp 4Season Vectran winter tyre and the Hutchinson Tundra Gravel Winter Tyre. These are available in multiple-width sizes.
How to change bike tyres to your winter ones
If you are swapping out your tyres this winter, here’s a quick reminder of how to change bike tyres.
Tools you will need
- Your new winter tyres
- Two tyre levers
- Bike pump
Steps:
- Lower your gears. Shift your gears to the smallest chainring and smallest rear cog to reduce tension on the chain, making it easier to remove the wheel.
- Release your brakes. If you have rim brakes, release the brake by pulling the brake lever or releasing the quick release if your bike has one.
- Remove the wheel. Open the quick release or unscrew the thru-axle to remove the wheel and gently pull it out of the dropouts.
- Deflate the inner tube (if necessary). If your tyre has an inner tube, release the air from the tyre.
- Insert tyre levers. Use the flat end of the tyre lever to get under the tyre bead and hook it onto one of the spokes. Do the same with the second a few inches away.
- Remove tyre. Gently pry off one side of the tyre over the wheel rim.
- Remove the inner tube (if necessary). Once one side of the tyre is off, you can remove the inner tube. Remove the valve first.
- Remove tyre. You can now remove the entire tyre.
- Install your winter tyres. Place one bead of the winter tyre on the wheel rim and work your way around.
- Insert the inner tube (if necessary). Slightly inflate the inner tube to give it shape. Insert the valve into the hole first and tuck the rest of the tube into the tyre.
- Mount the tyre. When the inner tube is in place, mount the rest of the tyre on the wheel rim. Use your hand initially, but if needed, use the tyre levers. Be careful not to pinch the inner tube.
- Final checks. Check the tyre is sitting on the wheel rim and that the tyre bead is inside.
- Inflate the tyre. Pump the tyres to the recommended pressure.
- Check for air leaks. Listen for any hissing sounds. If you find a leak, you may have a faulty inner tube.
- Put the wheel back on. Place the wheel back on the dropouts, ensuring it is aligned. Close the quick release or tighten the thru-axle.
- Adjust the brakes. If you have rim brakes, adjust them to align with the wheel.
- Test ride. Take a short test ride before cycling in winter weather to ensure everything is securely in place.
How often should I change my bike tyres?
The frequency that you change your bike tyres depends on the type of tyre you have, your riding habits, road conditions and your maintenance practices. You should regularly check your tyres for wear and tear and learn what to look out for to know when to change them.
- Change your tyres when the tread has worn away. Most tyres have tread wear indicators – a small bar in the grooves. When the tread is level with these indicators, it is a sign that the tyre has reached the end of its life.
- Generally, road bike tyres may need replacing every 1000-3000 miles, depending on the road conditions. You must change mountain tyres more frequently, especially if riding on rough terrain.
- If you frequently ride on rough surfaces or encounter sharp objects like glass or debris, your tyres will likely get punctures.
- Different tyres provide different benefits. For example, some will last longer, and some have high performance, offering better grip and responsiveness but wear out quicker.
- Regularly inspect the tyre for signs of damage, bulges and sidewall cracks. If you notice any visible problems, we recommend replacing the tyre.
- If your tyres still have tread left, replace them if they’re old, as rubber degrades over time, and old tyres become more brittle and prone to failure.
- Your tyres may wear out faster if you have an aggressive riding style, take sharp turns and brake heavily.
Tips for extending the life of your bike tyres
- Proper inflation. Keeping your tyre inflated to the recommended pressure will significantly extend your tyre life. Under or overinflated tyres can lead to increased wear and decreased performance.
- Rotate tyres. If your tyres have uneven wear patterns, consider rotating your tyres to help distribute the wear more evenly. Rotate your tyres between seasons to preserve your summer tyres during winter.
- Choose the right tyre for the terrain. Different terrain requires specific tyres to ensure optimal performance and durability. For example, you will need different tyres for road and gravel cycling.
- Avoid aggressive riding. Limit abrupt braking, sharp turns and aggressive manoeuvres, putting extra stress on your tyres. Smooth, controlled riding reduces wear.
- Store your bike in a cool place. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and UV rays can degrade the rubber.
- Adjust your tyre pressure based on the surface. You will need a lower pressure for better traction on rough terrains, and higher pressure is better for smooth surfaces.
- Do not exceed the weight limit of your tyres. Exceeding the weight limit will lead to premature wear and potential tyre failure.
- Clean your tyres. Clean away dust and debris that could accelerate the wear of your tyres. Use a brush or a cloth and mild soap.
- Choose quality tyres. Invest in high-quality tyres for better durability and puncture resistance.
Winter bike tyres FAQs
Can I use regular tyres in winter?
We wouldn’t recommend using regular tyres in the winter. If your usual tyres get wet, they are more prone to glass and debris sticking to them, causing punctures.
Regular tyres also don’t offer the adequate grip needed to ride in rain and ice.
Are studded tyres necessary for all winter conditions?
Studded tyres are only appropriate for icy conditions. Studs need something to dig into and grip on. If you encounter snow on the ground, the tyres will spin as the snow is too fluffy for the studs to grip.
If there is no ice and it’s just wet weather or sludge, the studs will make an unpleasant noise on the tarmac and reduce your performance.
What are the benefits of wider vs. narrower winter tyres?
In short, wider tyres provide more grip, whereas narrower tyres give you more speed. In winter, grip is essential, especially when cycling in wet or icy weather.
Winter bike tyres at Swinnerton Cycles
We hope you now understand the benefit of changing to winter tyres on your bike during winter. With a better grip and less risk of punctures, winter tyres can keep you safe on the road and trails throughout the winter season.
Why not browse our range of tyres at Swinnerton Cycles to find the perfect winter tyres for your bike?
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