REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

THOUGHTS: Snow Rideing...

1125 Views 37 Replies 11 Participants Last post by ---Matt---, Aug 3, 2004

BJ-

Discussion Starter · Aug 1, 2004

ok...

at the moment in aus its snow season...and all the major MTNs have snow on em...and i was wondering if anyone has or ever wanted to go riding in the snow...like how they race at the winter X-Games (4by track made froms now...much like boardercross etc)...i was thinking of puttin some snow tyres togeather...and maby goin up for the weekend and riding the boarder cross tracks on me DH rig...

i had some ideas for the tyres...and how id make em...but has anyone else ever done it..know of someone who has...does it take ages and ages...adn is it worth riding in the snow or should i not waste my time...

for the tyres i was thinking of getting a tyre like Michelin DH comp 32s with nice big square tread and in between the tread putting in screws...not huge ones but about 3mm wide and about 20mm long...then using heasp of duct tape to reenforce the side walls and keep em in place as well...will my idea work or does it need more thought...

and has anyone does this before...

(if someone had a pic of snow tyres then that would be sweet...)

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stinkykonaboy

· #2 · Aug 1, 2004

nokian makes snow/ice tires..

---Matt---

· #3 · Aug 1, 2004

stinkykonaboy said:
nokian makes snow/ice tires..

One major problem with that is nokian is almost impossible to get here in Australia.

Hey BJ, I've seen that idea a few times... ages ago on the old forums. It seems that lots of people did that but you shouldn't make the spikes too deep coz they get clogged up too easily. The spikes are more there for riding on ice, rather than snow.

---Matt---

mtbman4

· #4 · Aug 1, 2004

I saw some pics of some home-made snow tires once. Seems like I remember them putting the screws through the knobs. The only thing I would be worried about is the screws scraping the inside of the frame, fork arch. I guess if you had an inverted fork, there wouldnt be much to worry about unless you bottomed out, but the rear might be a little trickier.

mtbman4

· #5 · Aug 1, 2004

Matt, that little video by your name looks a lot like that WOD drop that WCH posted a few days ago. Coincidence?

eman

· #6 · Aug 1, 2004

I would put it through the knobs so its more steady, and they have more to hold onto so they dont fold over.

Check your clearance, expecially in the back.

zedro

· #7 · Aug 1, 2004

eman said:
I would put it through the knobs so its more steady, and they have more to hold onto so they dont fold over.

Check your clearance, expecially in the back.

yup, through the knobs, otherwise you'll probably just destroy the casing. Also its probably better to run tubeless with sealant.

Master_Jako

· #8 · Aug 1, 2004

on the snow king DH races, they would get a mud tire and run screws through the side knobs only.....and they would screw them in through the knobs ...so i agree its a good idea to screw the through the knobs--but, only through the side knobs....

Beau

· #9 · Aug 1, 2004

Here's what we do........

Here's how we do it in Mini-sota:

Depending on the snow conditions, it's better to run narrower tires in the soft stuff. For hardpacked, run wider tires.

We go to the local hardware store and buy stainless screws and nuts. I think they were about and 1/8th inch is diameter and anywhere from a half inch to 3/4 of an inch long (depending on the thickness of the knob).
Then figure out what pattern you're going to run and mark it on the tire Get a small drill bit and drill a hole (this saves a ton of time) in every knob that you plan to install a stud.
Next begin the loooong process of installing each stud/screw. Run the screw through the knob of the tire, screw on a nut and tighten it up.
After all the studs are in place, run a few layers of Minnesota Chrome (duct tape) around the inside of the tire. For tubes, use a puncture proof, thorn resistant or DH tube. Also, cutting a slit on a old tube and wrapping it around the existing tube will help. They are heavy, but work well.
Tire pressure is also HUGE. For deep powder run really low pressure, like 8-10 pounds. For hard packed, 10-15 pounds.

Good Luck, Beau

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thesacrifice

· #10 · Aug 1, 2004

the winter is for snowwwwboarding!

---Matt---

· #11 · Aug 2, 2004

mtbman4 said:
Matt, that little video by your name looks a lot like that WOD drop that WCH posted a few days ago. Coincidence?

Nope, that drop is near my hosue in Australia... not in the US/Canada. The drop in my pic is about 6' vert and I'm landing about 10' from the top of the launch. Not as difficult to land as WCH's but still fun

---Matt---

Here's a pic of mine:

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BJ-

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 2, 2004

ok...

to be entirely truthfull what u boys are talking about is what i first came up with but my mates told me other wise...

ok so is this what u guys are getting at...use a narrower DH mud tyre (like the michelin DHmud3) and put the screws in the outter knobs...(is this for less rolling restience or some other reason)...coz i really dont need to be able to go fast i mainly want traction...

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Panacea

· #13 · Aug 2, 2004

Stuff the snow mate!

Snow is great fun on a trail bike. Rooster-tail heaven but one of the advantages of living in Aus (and there are many!) is being able to ride all year round. I can understand the technical merrit of wanting to ride the snow but jesus the cons outway heavily! Slippery nasty stuff it be. Having said that i don't want to rain on your parade so if you want to give it a go, good luck! Make sure you keep your knees warm

P.S and dont eat the yellow snow!

Beau

· #14 · Aug 2, 2004

no

nuts on the outside of the tire

Beau

BJ-

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 2, 2004

well thats what i wanna know...is it worth making these dam tyres for 2 days of riding at bulla...

would i have more fun going to jindabyne and the surrounding ares and just ripping it up on dirt than hitting the snow...

Beau

· #16 · Aug 2, 2004

Try this

getto snow bike-cost $0,000,000,000,000.0009

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zedro

· #17 · Aug 2, 2004

BJ- said:
well thats what i wanna know...is it worth making these dam tyres for 2 days of riding at bulla...

would i have more fun going to jindabyne and the surrounding ares and just ripping it up on dirt than hitting the snow...

as long as theres no ice, normal knobby tires can work pretty well on hardpack. I climbed our toboggan hill with my Tioga 2.3s no problem one time.

BJ-

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 2, 2004

what...

so u mean summin like this...

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Beau

· #19 · Aug 2, 2004

Damn......that was fast

yeah, works good

Beau

BJ-

Discussion Starter · #20 · Aug 2, 2004

[/QUOTE=zedro]
as long as theres no ice, normal knobby tires can work pretty well on hardpack. I climbed our toboggan hill with my Tioga 2.3s no problem one time.

fair enough...

heheheheeh...that bike looks funny...and its got RSTs...

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