Winter riding!!!

[2 strokes 4 life]

This year was my fist time to try out my Ice studded tires. It was alot of friends even by myself. I cant wait for the lakes to freez over for some sweet ice racing. Also the trails are not hardened yet so not a whole lot of fun in the trails yet. Will get some pics this weekend.

Anyone eles doing the same?

 

[MattR]

Got Studs?

I love winter riding. The past several years, I just put in some Kold Kutter screws. They work ok, but the rear tire wears down after about 5-6 rides. I ride singletrack/doubletrack trails, but there is always frozen puddles and frozen ground. It can be hard on screws when there is little snow. This year, I decided to make the investment and got some "real" tires (with carbide studs).

Here is my new rear Trelleborg that I just mounted up the other day.

Here is my front tire. It is a Chen Shen with carbide studs. It was custom done and I bought it "used" from a friend. Still has lots of life left!

I'm excited about trying them out. We just got a bunch of snow today. Hopefully, I get to ride this weekend.

 

[gasgasman]

What!!!!?
Are y'all nuts?
If it's below 50F, I ain't going no where.
BTW, it will be in the 70s this weekend here in Texas.

 

[Boomhauer]

After seeing Jim Senecal's back I don't think I am crazy enough to try it!

Yep you guys are CRAZY!

 

[rpduc]

I rode my "ole" Husky 610 wxe last winter on the ice. She don't turn so good...

This year I'm anxious to give the MC250 a whirl. We had beautiful clean ice on the lakes here for a bit, but not quite thick enough. Then it got warm and snowed and screwed the whole deal.

I've been watching craigslist for some used Fredette tires. Last year I was looking for 21" and 18" for the Husky. Everyone had 19" rears for sale... now all I see is 18 inchers... go figger.

I finally just screwed my own tires last year, but I can tell ya that my buddie's Fredette tires hook up WAAAAYYY better on clean ice. Can't bring myself to lay out the cash though. For just play riding the self screwed tires are adequate.

Those Trellborgs look like they'd be great for frozen trails. Give us a report.

 

[2 strokes 4 life]

Well I looked a the Fredette tires and I cant spend that much for an Ice screw tire. Buy a Teraflex and do that to the rear and mount up an aggresive front and your in the same situation for about the same price.

As for those Telleborg they look sweet but pricey. Still they should hook up really well. Will post up pics of my tires tomorrow.

 

[jhendr3702]

What!!!!?
Are y'all nuts?
If it's below 50F, I ain't going no where.
BTW, it will be in the 70s this weekend here in Texas.

it was in the low teens here the last few days. Saturday it was 50/50
50 degrees and 50 mph wind....
and the cold is coming back for the weekend
slightly different part of Texas...

 

[GMP]

You can climb a pile of ice glazed rocks like a cat! Standard issue here for winter riding. I've tried them but never took the $$ plunge, I think next year I will as there are now more inexpensive alternatives. Dry rocks will tear them apart though, you have to be carefull how you use them especially here or you through your $$ away. In frozen sand they should last forever.

I've ice raced with the screws but for frozen trails they just get spit out too fast.

Its funny, in spring you can see all the rocks/logs on the trail scratched up like a bunch of lions or something used them for toys.

 

[gun]

We usually start using smaller studs that are used in car tyres early winter when the snow is not enough or is not covering everything. Then there are frozen puddles and small snow piles that you have to cross, these small studs give you a little security though they dont work on ice (you wont spin around like a jerk). And they are pretty durable even if you ride on clear ground, for a longer periode.

These best-grip nails are by the way interesting, they´ve got different sizes and you can take them out and insert into a new tyre:
http://www.best-grip.com/eng/default.asp
I will probably try them out (if they are cheeper) since Trelleborg prices are going ski high over here!

 

[MattR]

There are some studded tires on ebay in the $200 range. I think they are Cheng Shins or Michelin... I can't recall. That's not a bad price.

I tracked my expensives the past several winters when going the Kold Kutter screw route. It was roughly $100 to do both tires, including the replacement screws as they wore down on the rear.

If you can pick-up good "used" or ebay studded tires, your investment will break even in the 4-5 year timeframe. The carbide studs last years so you have to consider the investment overall.

No doubt it is $$$ anyway you look at it. That's the price for having fun!

EDIT:
Here is a link for custom done Cheng Shins @ Tire Express
http://www.tireexpress.com/prod.cfm/cid/6703/pid/11236
I was going to buy some of these prior to finding my current set.

 

[JoshP]

Trell's are pricey but worth every dollar and they last a few seasons
so compared to the amount you spend in a year on standard knobs
it's probably not too much more. I'm on my third season and only the front
is showing wear. I did buy a second set of rims though to swap out whenever
it gets unfrozen because like Glenn stated without ice and snow they just tear apart. enjoy

 

[gun]

What do you guys think of this??
Little brutal I know.. But at this time people are trying anything to drive on snow.

 

[d2w]

That looks amazing, and I don't know the first thing about snow/ice riding! What does your tire now weigh?

 

[Rick]

I'm not an ice rider out here in California, but that looks painfull!

 

[JEEPUSAURUS]

ice tires

carrige bolts work good, i do it every year on the rear, one through each nob, they last a long time, but you have to double tube it (split an innertube down the inside and glue it inside the tire) or the bolts just tear the tube up in about ten minutes, it does make the tire a little heavy but it's kinda like a big flywheel weight, and helps keep the traction factor up.