I have a road bike that have just enough clearance for 700x28c (continental pro4 endurance 28c). Obviously, this is not the best bike for winter conditions, but what are my best options for tackling ice and snow with that bike?
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4Not good. Your best bet for ice is some sort of studded tire, if there are any available that narrow. For snow you need a lugged tire, and that requires clearance. Given the nasty effect of snow, ice, and salt on the bike you might be better off buying a used BSO with clearances you need.– Daniel R HicksDec 5, 2016 at 21:54
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Yeah. The smallest manufactured studded tire I know is a 700x30. And you can't really get a cross tire in that size either, which would be your second best bet.– BatmanDec 5, 2016 at 22:34
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2On ice you're wasting your time without metal studs– ebrohmanDec 8, 2016 at 3:23
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I will inject here that folks used to make their own studded tires by driving "sheet metal" screws through the tire tread from the inside, then placing a band of some sort (like a "puncture resistant" band) over the screw heads. Or, take a second tire a hair larger than the existing one, cut off the bead, drive the sheet metals screws through it, and work it over the "real" tire.– Daniel R HicksDec 15, 2016 at 22:03
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@DanielRHicks what's a BSO?– user171453Aug 1, 2017 at 20:32
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3 Answers
There isn't. Road bikes are not thought to belong on snow.
The limiting factor for most road bikes for tire size is the brake arch. There are no companies I am aware of making studded or snow tires that will fit in a traditional brake arch on a road bike. The closest I have seen are studded ice tires for cyclocross bikes, but these generally start in the 32/35 range.
There is one thing you can try, if you have disc brakes. It works a lot better than one might think. You can put zip ties around your tire and rim if there is enough clearance. The more zip ties the better the traction. Also the heavier duty zip ties the better. When placing them alternate the heads so that they are on both shoulders of the tire.
I have ridden on ice and snow several times with this method and have yet to go down. I wouldn't get to crazy on them and it helps to keep a pocket of ties, but this method works and does not break the bank like a $100+ studded tire will.
If you can lower your tire pressure slightly that will help as well. I have run this method on a 26" MTB tubeless, running 15psi and it never slipped on a parking lot covered in 1" of solid ice, that i had trouble walking on.
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5I like this, it looks like you've got disc brakes though. I can't see this working too well with rim brakes! Dec 6, 2016 at 16:13
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Yep, this scheme will not work at all with rim brakes. Even if you do it on only one wheel and avoid using that brake, the brake pads will snag the ties. Dec 6, 2016 at 19:53
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Unless you removed the whole brake from that wheel. Not that I'd suggest that.– BatmanDec 7, 2016 at 3:04
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@Batman , you could wear football cleats and put your feet down to brake :P– Nate WDec 7, 2016 at 15:31
What you want is larger tires and possibly studs. You can get studded tires that are 30mm and even then there needs to be room for the studs themselves.
It is possible to do a 650b wheel conversion if your road bike wheels are 700c. The smaller wheels leaves more room for tires. In essence you need to get 650b wheels and tires. If you have rim brakes then you also need to get brakes the have 17mm longer reach so to still have the brake pads go on the rims.
If you have a very narrow road bike then the size of the tire might still be limited by a narrow chainstay or narrow forks so its not a magical solution but it will give more room at the seat tube and brake arches.