I'm into winter #5 with a Nokian tire tungsten-carbide studs. I got mine slightly used for $20, but now that I know how long they last I would not hesitate to spend the cash on new if needed. They really are tough. That said, for casual use around town the steel ones might hold up for a while, but for regular use / commuting I'd say the carbide ones are the way to go.
The main issue I've seen with just about every home-made studded tire is that either the things stick out too far, thus actually making traction on bare pavement worse (so they're only really good for icy paths and roads that never get bare). Also, since they are screwed / driven in they tend to eventually fall out, and also usually protrude through the tire so a liner (often made from an old tire carcass) is needed to protect the tube. Then the wheel starts to roll like poo because of the extra weight...
At our shop I always try to chat with those using studded tires so as to compare experiences. Almost all who started out with homemade studs eventually switched to factory-made, even if just steel studs. Ottawa can have some serious winters, so I guess those of us who ride through them need stuff that really works.
Mark Rehder - Coordinator
re-Cycles Community Bike Shop
http://re-cycles.ca
On 23-Dec-10, at 12:51 PM, Eric Montgomery wrote:
At about $ 12.50 per tire compared to $70-100.00 for carbide. Plus the fact I am using Kenda 700x38 at pich flat pressure used tires so if I get one season I am not worried._______________________________________________
On Thu, Dec 23, 2010 at 10:14 AM, Sam Haraldson <sam@bozemanbikekitchen.org> wrote:
> Stainless Steel Studded tires designed by me @ $ 0.25 per stud installed in
> existing tire.
Eric,
Thanks for your chiming in on this issue. I typically recommend
against the use of steel studs unless a rider knows they will be
riding solely on ice/snow. I've personally found that unless a
studded tire has carbide studs they will wear out in as little as one
season. What are other people's experience with the longevity of
steel vs. carbide?
- Sam
--
Director of Operations
Bozeman Bike Kitchen
http://bozemanbikekitchen.org
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