Tire temperature range?

[AvalancheRun]

Need to leave soon and wondering if my Schwalbe Energizer Plus can handle 20F temps, or a little below. The site doesn't say.

I'm assuming this is an all-weather tire that will still grip well in those temps?

 

[fooferdoggie]

well the tire will be harder so it might not grip as well. I started testing them with the back brake see how easy it is for it to lock up in different types of weather. a little les air will help too.

 

[mschwett]

the addix-e compound in those tires is not claimed to be one of schwalbe's "all season" or "lots of grip even at low temperature" tires so i would advise caution. likely a significant decrease in traction below freezing. air down a bit for sure, reduce cornering speeds and expect slightly increased stopping distances.


from other schwalbe e bike tires:

vs :

the addix e compound is probably harder for increased load and decreased rolling resistance at high speeds, but it won't be as grippy when cold.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I concur with @mschwett. There is an interesting anectode to tell.
My brother used to ride his e-MTB in the city on Schwalbe Johnny Watts tyres. Excellent tyres, make no mistake. However, when the temperature dropped below 10 C (50 F) and it got a little bit wet, Jacek was making a fast U-turn by the Warsaw Mermaid...

It is him at the location in the warm season (an old photo, so an old bike). See the paving.

As he was making the U-turn, he severely crashed as he were riding on ice. The impact was as hard as Jacek's Garmin sent an emergency alarm to one of his sons! My brother got really irritated, and ordered a pair of Schwalbe Johnny Watts 365 tyres, the ones with the 4-seasons compound as mentioned by Mark above. Since that, Jacek rides the 365 tyres in the cold season, and he only replaces the wheelset to Ice Spiker Pro when we have ice & snow here. Jacek is now the "365" believer. He has just bought a pair of Schwalbe G-One Overland 365 tyres for his new gravel bike because he thinks the new compound is just ultimate. Yes, I could see him riding the 365s in the snow; he reserves the studded tyres for the icy days.

The moral, AR, is: get yourself "all-season" tyres and you would not regret it. As for me, I have swapped the current tyres on my both e-bikes for Schwalbe Marathon Winter Plus. Not only different rubber but also a number of small studs will not hurt.

FYI, both I and brother were on pretty long rides at temps down to -9 C (16 F) this year. Pretty long winter ride means 55-57 km (or around 35 mi). I also had one Metric Century at -4 C (25 F).

 

[indianajo]

I ride $26 kendas or giants at 6 F, and do not have trouble falling down or stopping on dry pavement. I do not ride on steel plates, rock, or ice. I walk the bike if there are short patches.

 

[AvalancheRun]

Thanks for the replies!

Felt no difference in handling/braking/acceleration at 18-20F, but I was focused more on keeping my fingers from freezing off! My bikes are always at the lowest allowable PSI so that may have helped.

The moral, AR, is: get yourself "all-season" tyres and you would not regret it. As for me, I have swapped the current tyres on my both e-bikes for Schwalbe Marathon Winter Plus. Not only different rubber but also a number of small studs will not hurt.

Yes! Gotta figure this out ASAP.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I have not really had any issues but I dont make crazy leaning turns either. only had a few 20 degree rides on marathon plus but never had an issue.

 

[Chibbie]

the addix-e compound in those tires is not claimed to be one of schwalbe's "all season" or "lots of grip even at low temperature" tires so i would advise caution. likely a significant decrease in traction below freezing. air down a bit for sure, reduce cornering speeds and expect slightly increased stopping distances.


from other schwalbe e bike tires:
View attachment 169661

vs :
View attachment 169662

the addix e compound is probably harder for increased load and decreased rolling resistance at high speeds, but it won't be as grippy when cold.

Interesting. I went out for a ride today when it was about 20 degrees Fahrenheit on my bike that has Marathon E-Plus tires (so, the addix e compound, not the 4 season compound). Because I had read this thread beforehand, I was being particularly attentive to the handling and even did some purposefully hard braking (in safe areas). I didn’t notice any difference at all in handling as compared to warmer conditions. Granted, the roads were dry - I have no problem riding when it’s cold and no problem riding when it’s wet, but I don’t ride when it’s both wet and below freezing due to the risk of ice - and perhaps it wasn’t cold enough for the difference between the addix e and addix 4 season to be appreciable. And the tires were set at about 20% below maximum inflation, so that probably helped. But all that said, I really didn’t notice any difference at all. Others’ experience may vary, of course; and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

Interesting. I went out for a ride today when it was about 20 degrees Fahrenheit on my bike that has Marathon E-Plus tires (so, the addix e compound, not the 4 season compound). Because I had read this thread beforehand, I was being particularly attentive to the handling and even did some purposefully hard braking (in safe areas). I didn’t notice any difference at all in handling as compared to warmer conditions. Granted, the roads were dry - I have no problem riding when it’s cold and no problem riding when it’s wet, but I don’t ride when it’s both wet and below freezing due to the risk of ice - and perhaps it wasn’t cold enough for the difference between the addix e and addix 4 season to be appreciable. And the tires were set at about 20% below maximum inflation, so that probably helped. But all that said, I really didn’t notice any difference at all. Others’ experience may vary, of course; and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I have absolutely no expert knowledge about this subject at all, but I imagine the difference between the addix and 4-season materials, while real, are probably mostly theoretical under normal conditions. 20°F might be cold enough to measure the difference with scientific instruments but not by just riding and feeling the difference. I don't know. Just saying, it may not matter which kind of compound the tires are made of for most people. Maybe well worth it for people riding in serious winter climes.

TT