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A Few Words On Studded Tires... |
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Written by Joel Dexter
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Tuesday, 13 November 2007 |
A few words on studded tires...
It wasn't many years ago that one had options when it came to studded bike tires. Nowadays whether you're commuting or mountain biking there is a studded tire choice that'll do you right. With offerings from Nokian, Schwalbe, Kenda, Continental, and Innova (to name a few) there are - in my opinion - a couple that really stand out from the rest of the pack:
 | | Nokian Extreme 294 |
Nokian Extreme 294 (26" and 29") - Nokian has been doing this for a while and they have found the right formula. The Extremes have 294 sharp carbide studs. With a wide spaced tread pattern these will work well on snow or ice. An excellent all-around choice for trail riding or for the most sure-footed commuting. See Them Here
Have a 29er? Lucky you there is a version of the Nokian Extreme 294 to fit your big ol' smooth rolling wheel. See Them Here
 | | Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro |
Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Winter Tire - New for the winter of 2007, Schawalbe has come out with the new pinnacle of studded bike tires. Ultilizing a foldable bead and a lightweight casing, the Schwalbe shaves just under 300 grams per tire compared to the Nokians - well over a pound for the set. On top of that, the Ice Spiker Pro has 361 carbide studs for a little extra grip. The catch? You're gonna drop 30 dollars more per tire, well worth it if you want to keep the weight down on your bike (when else does a 60 dollar difference on a bike part save over a pound?). See Them Here
One concern I hear about studded tires is "Will they lose studs?" Well... yes, probably. It is almost inevitable at some point you're going to lose a few of those little guys regardless of which brand you have. The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent this from happening. According to Nokian there is a break-in period for their tires, and I think it can apply to any brand. It is as follows:
"Ride Approximately 30 miles (50 km) on road surfaces during the break in period. Avoid rapid acceleration and braking. Only careful break in will ensure that the tires are optimised."
If you don't plan to follow that, at least keep in mind the major points of it. Be mindful on them, especially in the early stages of their life, and they will last many seasons.
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| Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Studded Winter Tire: 26 x 2.1 Studded Mountain Bike Tire. Lighter, grippier, faster. With 361 spikes... |
 | $69.95
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| Nokian Extreme 294: 26x2.1 Studded Tire. Features a new open tread pattern that closely resembles the Nokian Hakka WXC. The tires offer excellent grip on Snow and Ice. 26 x 2.1 in size... |
 | $89.95
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| Nokian Gazza Extreme 294: 29x2.1 Studded Tire.... |
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