[mtnbkrmike]

TL; DR version: do you guys wait to run your expensive studded tires on snow only? Or do you not mind running them in mixed conditions pending arrival of full on winter?

Extended version:

My daughter and I have the original non-studded Cake Eaters that came standard on our bikes a year ago. I bit the bullet and instantly changed them out to studded Wrathchilds (tubeless) last October. We rode lots and then in April or May, swapped them back to the Cake Eaters (tubed). Last week we went back to the tubeless Wrathchilds.

My thinking was to use the Wrathchilds for snow, and the Cake Eaters for the shoulder seasons (and maybe a bit of 3 season riding as well).

This year our weather has been the mildest I have seen for 25 years. There is still a ton of dirt and bare rock, especially at elevations below 5000 feet.

Contrary to a lot of posters, I don’t mind losing studs in these conditions. We do our best to not skid or scrape against rocks but whatever. I’m not going to sacrifice having fun out there. Or should I? I have about 5 extra boxes of concave XL studs I have bought, just in case there was a shortage of those along with everything else. Last year I probably replaced 50 or 60 studs per bike.

Yesterday those studded tires saved us in the ice and snow that we did encounter at higher, non-southern exposure elevations, but we did end up riding at least 50% bare dirt and rock. And we rode that pretty aggressively.

Again, lost studs I don’t care about. But beaten tires I do. Those Wrathchilds cost me a small fortune.

How badly will my Wrathchilds get beaten up, running them for a few weeks each year in the shoulder season? Would you guys care? Will I notice much difference in the snow if the treads are no longer perfectly squared off? They were pristine even after heavy use last winter. I am wondering how much wear and tear they are incurring for the few weeks right now that I am running them in mixed conditions.

I love biking right now, but maybe it’s not worth it if it ends up ruining $1000 worth of tires. We can Zwift until the snow arrives. Even though it’s a month late this year, I am sure it will be here sometime soon.

Any thoughts, other than that I should learn to write more concisely? Thanks for any input.

 

[127.0.0.1]

don't care.
will ride studs on 20 miles pavement or rock for 300yds of ice

 

[mtnbkrmike]

don't care.
will ride studs on 20 miles pavement or rock for 300yds of ice

Thanks. I didn’t word that very well.

Forget about the studs.

Do you worry about chewing up your $$$$$ tires? I can Zwift for 3 to 5 weeks a year during the shoulders, and my Wrathchilds would likely stay pristine year after year indefinitely. How much damage are these few weeks of dirt and rock doing to those tires? And is it worth it?

Just trying to see how much the experienced fat crew try to keep their expensive tires pristine. Like I said, after a 💩 load of miles last winter in snow and ice, my tires looked brand new. Not sure how they are going to look after I keep running them in dirt and rock this year for the few weeks before the snow arrives.

Edit: I’m going to change the title, which is a little misleading. This isn’t about studs. It’s more about potentially destroying expensive tires for the sake of a few weeks of riding.

 

[tri-tele]

Ride the expense studded tires whenever there’s a chance you’ll need them. Replacement cost is still cheaper than PT visits and lost riding time due to injury.

Thanks. I didn’t word that very well.

Forget about the studs.

Do you worry about chewing up your $$$$$ tires? I can Zwift for 3 to 5 weeks a year during the shoulders, and my Wrathchilds would likely stay pristine year after year indefinitely. How much damage are these few weeks of dirt and rock doing to those tires? And is it worth it?

Just trying to see how much the experienced fat crew try to keep their expensive tires pristine. Like I said, after a 💩 load of miles last winter in snow and ice, my tires looked brand new. Not sure how they are going to look after I keep running them in dirt and rock this year for the few weeks before the snow arrives.

Edit: I’m going to change the title, which is a little misleading. This isn’t about studs. It’s more about potentially destroying expensive tires for the sake of a few weeks of riding.

 

[127.0.0.1]

I don't run studs in summer, or intentionally 100% rock...only when it has been cold enough for some ice

but if I roll out and do 35 miles and no snow or dirt doesn't matter to me one bit

no I don't worry about any expense on any bike part, it's meant to be ridden and worn out

the only thing I do worry a tiny bit about, is steep rock and torqueing hard and slipping...that might rip a stud out...but wear on studs ? no way...studs are tougher than the rubber that holds them in....if they wear down it means I been pedaling that pig

 

[mtnbkrmike]

I don't run studs in summer, or intentionally 100% rock...only when it has been cold enough for some ice

but if I roll out and do 35 miles and no snow or dirt doesn't matter to me one bit

no I don't worry about any expense on any bike part, it's meant to be ridden and worn out

the only thing I do worry a tiny bit about, is steep rock and torqueing hard and slipping...that might rip a stud out...but wear on studs ? no way...studs are tougher than the rubber that holds them in....if they wear down it means I been pedaling that pig

I’m NOT talking about the studs. I even changed the title.

I’m talking about wear on the tire. My treads are still perfectly square. They won’t be for long if I keep running them in the rock and frozen dirt. Is it worth 3 or 4 weeks of riding if I destroy these tires in the process, when I can road ride or Zwift in the meantime. Or run my non-studded Cake Eaters.

My question has nothing to do with losing studs. I honestly couldn’t care less. I have boxes and boxes I will use to replace them as I lose them.

Let me try approaching it from this angle - are perfect treads noticeable in the snow? Will it matter if I beat up my pristine Wrathchilds in the dirt and rock before hitting the snow? Will my traction in the snow be materially impacted running tires with some wear and tear on them?

Here’s a related question - how often are you guys replacing your expensive fat tires, not due to preference, but because they get worn out? Can they even wear out running them in only snow and ice?

And how tough are Wrathchilds? Are they going to deteriorate quickly, running them on dirt and rock? Or can they take a beating?

 

[127.0.0.1]

I don't care about my $180 each winter tires they are meant to be ridden and worn down not fawned over and taken out only to display at Christmas

perfect treads are noticeable in some snow, but since there are 35 types of snow....it doesn't make sense to worry about it. I just ride.

fwiw they wear down less than non-studded...since the studs take a lot of contact and lift the knobs up a bit ...there is less rubber wear

can they wear out only in snow and ice ? barely, they will last forever if they are truly dedicated to water use...

 

[prlundberg]

I have put about 700 miles on my Colossus tires over the past year, probably half or more of that on pavement and dirt, and a couple weeks ago I noticed threads are showing in the siping. Not sure how that happened, but I wonder how it will affect icy traction. I am not studded. Will find out soon I guess. It has me thinking of buying dedicated winter tires. I'm still new at this, but I thought the Colossus has been pretty good as an all around tire. I'd like more winter traction though.

 

[Bassmantweed]

I used to try and keep everything I own in perfect shape until I realized that is preventing me from getting 100% enjoyment. I by no means beat on my stuff, but if it breaks I replace it.

whatever it takes to get me on the trail.
Enjoy

 

[LMN]

Ride them.

As tires age rubber hardens. I am sure you have been through this with winter tires on your truck. Tire looks good but no longer works in the cold.

 

[RickBullottaPA]

TL; DR version: do you guys wait to run your expensive studded tires on snow only? Or do you not mind running them in mixed conditions pending arrival of full on winter?

Extended version:

My daughter and I have the original non-studded Cake Eaters that came standard on our bikes a year ago. I bit the bullet and instantly changed them out to studded Wrathchilds (tubeless) last October. We rode lots and then in April or May, swapped them back to the Cake Eaters (tubed). Last week we went back to the tubeless Wrathchilds.

My thinking was to use the Wrathchilds for snow, and the Cake Eaters for the shoulder seasons (and maybe a bit of 3 season riding as well).

This year our weather has been the mildest I have seen for 25 years. There is still a ton of dirt and bare rock, especially at elevations below 5000 feet.

Contrary to a lot of posters, I don’t mind losing studs in these conditions. We do our best to not skid or scrape against rocks but whatever. I’m not going to sacrifice having fun out there. Or should I? I have about 5 extra boxes of concave XL studs I have bought, just in case there was a shortage of those along with everything else. Last year I probably replaced 50 or 60 studs per bike.

Yesterday those studded tires saved us in the ice and snow that we did encounter at higher, non-southern exposure elevations, but we did end up riding at least 50% bare dirt and rock. And we rode that pretty aggressively.

Again, lost studs I don’t care about. But beaten tires I do. Those Wrathchilds cost me a small fortune.

How badly will my Wrathchilds get beaten up, running them for a few weeks each year in the shoulder season? Would you guys care? Will I notice much difference in the snow if the treads are no longer perfectly squared off? They were pristine even after heavy use last winter. I am wondering how much wear and tear they are incurring for the few weeks right now that I am running them in mixed conditions.

I love biking right now, but maybe it’s not worth it if it ends up ruining $1000 worth of tires. We can Zwift until the snow arrives. Even though it’s a month late this year, I am sure it will be here sometime soon.

Any thoughts, other than that I should learn to write more concisely? Thanks for any input.

I switch to VanHelgas for regular terrain and back to studded Wrathchilds for "real" winter.

 

[Fleas]

We have a lot of pavement connecting some of our trails so I wait until the snow starts sticking to change to the snow tires. Until then, I'm running Jumbo Jims.
If it melts after I change to snow tires, then I just say "eff it".

-F

 

[ctxcrossx]

I'm on the other side of things. In the early days of mass production fat specific items, I used the Surly Ectomorph tires for many seasons. I only used them in snow. Virtually no wear.... And if you know these tires, there was little tread to begin with. Without snow though, you get normal tire wear, and they wouldn't have lasted a season on dirt.

I will always save studded tires for snow. They're way too expensive for me to do otherwise. I'm certainly not going to use $500 worth of tire when there is no benefit to do so. Thinking about it now, I don't even consider snow tires to be a consumable. They just last super long as long as they stay on the snow.

One thing to mention is that I live in southern New England. I don't have to worry about a ride having unexpected elements of snow/ice due to elevation, etc.

 

[kosmo]

Is it worth 3 or 4 weeks of riding if I destroy these tires in the process, when I can road ride or Zwift in the meantime. Or run my non-studded Cake Eaters.

Given a choice, yeah, I'd run the (cheaper?) Cake Eaters and save the spendy tires for when it matters.

But you can't put a price on anything that lets you ride in the dirt instead of Zwift!

Not really kidding.

 

[308]

I have two sets of studded Wrathchilds (26 & 27.5) and primarily use them throughout the winter and during shoulder seasons. I have seen some wear as a result of running them when there is not snow around but nothing too excessive that would cause me to stay away from using them. If they are changed out for the warm months I wouldn't expect too much wear. I don't mind losing studs in the winter or shoulder season as well. To me its part of being able to bike year round and the small extra cost does not offset the health benefits I get from biking. The Wrathchilds are an awesome tire!

 

[ctxcrossx]

Here’s a related question - how often are you guys replacing your expensive fat tires, not due to preference, but because they get worn out? Can they even wear out running them in only snow and ice?

I've been fat biking for well over a decade using fat specific tires. Throughout these years I've probably only used three or four sets of tires. None of them have worn out. I've ended up just upgrading, giving them to a friend, or looking for something different. No noticeable wear on any of them. Used for snow riding only and go out for several hours a week throughout the winter.

 

[127.0.0.1]

about knob wear...it's like mud. sharp fresh knobs matter a lot in snow (not all of it but most of it)
snow grip is a lot about holding onto snow in the knobs as long as possible as it rolls on the ground...because snow grips snow best

sharp knobs do that better. fwiw studs keep knobs from wearing out quite a bit when run on pavement compared to no studs. my dillies still seem to have little wear on the knobs despite my long pavement runs

 

[MikeTowpathTraveler]

I average about 1 Jumbo Jim rear tire a year on my Haibike Full FatSix. I ride 12 months of the year though I try to avoid snow storms as I am usually plowing the crap rather than playing in it. Besides, in South Jersey, snow doesn't tend to last long. The stuff that falls on roadways become a mixture of salt, brine and other nasties that play havoc on steel and aluminum components as the roads are pre-treated before most every snow fall. And there are no man-made groomed paths that others seem to enjoy riding on. Here, you blaze your own trail.

So far, 16,300 miles on the odometer with an average of 4 thousand miles a year. Wearing out tires for me is just part of the cost in riding a fun fat bike. The fully fat six is the only bike I ride since putting it into service, late April of 2017.....

 

[mikesee]

Good fat tires are expensive.

I wait til real snow to swap, even if it means riding a different bike in the interim between fall and winter.

 

[Jayem]

You can get a pretty insane amount of seasons out of a set of studded fat-tires. I have an original (as in the first year they came out) set of D5s that I'm still using. That said, they don't mind being ridden a few miles on pavement to/from the trails and a bit of pre-season riding on hard frozen ground (with frosted roots, where the studs help a bit). But I generally switch to these tires when it looks like winter and snow cover is imminent and permanent.