Snow tires are also made with softer rubber that stays pliable in cold temperatures. My Marathon GT 365 tires have the micro sipes as described by Prairie Dog, as well as a soft rubber compound. They have proven to have good traction for me in up to 4” of fresh snow.
I wonder what I'm doing wrong not to be able to ride in the snow at all...
I run all four wheels on my car on snow tires in the winter. The regular all-season tires, even with prominent tread, just spin and provide poor directional control. It’s largely down to the conventional rubber compound becoming even harder and slippery in very cold temperatures.
I haven’t had actual snow tires on a vehicle since the ‘80s. Ever since really good all-weather radials on FWD or AWD became a thing, snow tires just seemed unnecessary. Siping is really important on all-weathers of course, and some compounds are better than others.
I don't suppose those tires have a particular rotational direction do they?
Red Mountain this morning on my way to work ... -14 and now -4.
Ice Spiker Pro are not directional. Marathon Winter Plus are.I don't suppose those tires have a particular rotational direction do they?
Thank you very much Randall for the explanation! It must be as you say.
It's certainly my interpretation of what i personally have experienced. I would suggest that there are certainly more experienced winter riders than I, and hopefully they'll add their own experiences and opinions to this topic.
We experience only light frost here. It is snow that keeps me at home! It's evening my time; I'm still at work. I would ride out to buy some ale but probably would not do that since the snow properties haven't changed since Monday. (Yes, I can drive out; it would be shame on me to do that).
I would have to concur with Randall. Unless there is some degree of a compact base or ice underneath the snow it would be difficult to attain decent traction. @Lattitude appears to get good results from his all-season Marathon GTs but I don’t know if the compound of the A/S rubber tread is any different than that of your winter Marathons or what his base conditions were at the time. That being said, the fact that the 365’s are not studded won’t help much in icy conditions which goes back to my original comment with respect to not one tire being able to do it all. I can only speculate that there are many factors at play when it comes to how tires perform in the winter from ambient temperature, base conditions, tread compound/configuration, tire pressure, as well as snow depth.
That says it ALL!
Stefan ...right on about the studs in Winter...all it takes is bit of ice under the snow and you are down for the count . ADD Knee and elbow pads to save you a trip to the ER when you do take a fall.The First Snow & Ice Ride On Schwalbe Marathon Winter Plus Tyres
No prisoners taken!
This morning, I had a chance to test the new tyres on snow & ice, at "black-ice" conditions. I was enchanted with the winter Marathons! Was it deep snow in my yard or thin ice on roads, studded Marathons held perfectly. For sanity (and to give the studs the chance to break in -- which disallows sudden braking), I rode decently slowly. No issues: just pleasure to ride! The biggest surprise was how quiet those tyres have been! (I had a single stronger braking - again, no issues).
Now I cannot understand how anyone can ride in true winter conditions without studded tyres...
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I have to add I use "traction devices" on my boots, too. It makes little sense to use studded tyres if the soles of your shoes are not studded as well
What you say Steve is true for regular (even wide) tyres. I had already had a crash like that -- precisely as you described it -- instant and face down. That's why I changed to Ice Spiker Pro. The studded tyres I'm using now just love having ice beneath them. It is because they get full traction just on ice. (Full suspension helps as well, as it ensures both wheels maintaining contact with the ground at all times).
