Comments on: Schwalbe Marathon Winter Studded Tires (700×40)

By: jnyyz

jnyyz — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 02:31:48 +0000

I’m on my fourth winter with these tires. They are just a good as you say. Just make sure that you have enough stay / fender clearance to run them. They are not just wide; they are also quite tall.

http://jnyyz.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/spring-has-sprung/

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 04:43:01 +0000

I have put about 600 mi on my marathon winters and love them. These are good all-winter tires to keep from slipping on black ice and dying. I generally put them on for cold spells when there has been or will be precipitation. My commute is about 33 mi roundtrip, so I inflate to 80 psi, near the Rec limit for pressure. These tires seem to have the right mix of traction and relatively low rolling resistance; I don’t think that the nokian A10 would have enough traction for my needs.. We had an ice storm in December; rode 5 miles each way on solid ice in Creve Coeur park. No problem.

Owners of these tires will tell you how every once in a while you will feel them slip laterally in deeper snow, like 1 to 2 inches.. Startling but harmless. Things get bad when the depth hits 3 inches and most of your effort is going into steering. Have not tried the lower PSI e.g. 35, but that may help.

Stud loss is not an issue. I think I have lost a few (have to really scrutinize them), but the tires have worked well. Only PITA thing is the fit with Planet Bike fenders on my cyclocross bike. A lot of abrasion; the rivets on my last fender set wore off. My next bad-weather bike will have fender mount braze-ons, so the problem is not really with the tires themselves.

Highly recommended. Will get another pair if these ever wear out.

By: matt

matt — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:42:31 +0000

just placed my order. thanks again for pushing me over the edge

By: Ted Johnson

Ted Johnson — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:49:46 +0000

Don't you hate being scooped? Thanks for the tip on the Icebugs.

By: matt

matt — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:41:26 +0000

I think you’ll find they solve all your problems. If terribly expensive maybe start with a studded tire in front and see if you still slip.

I find that the Nokian A10 does not slow me down *at all* vs. a regular tire, but it has fairly few studs and little rolling resistance. More “aggressive” tires would be slower.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:30:25 +0000

Great post …. and I was writing the same article just now.

Bought a couple of weeks ago two pair (Schwalbe winter marathon and snow stud )and we love them. And for the shoes we use “Icebugs” ….. shoes with studs.
Have a nice and save ride

By: Ted Johnson

Ted Johnson — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:47:56 +0000

@welshcyclist: There are some good articles on Commute by Bike and elswhere on riding in snow, with or without studded tires:

How to Ride on Ice
http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/11/18/how-to-ride-on-ice/

Cycling on Ice
http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/12/17/cycling-on-ice/

Got Snow? Add Bicycle
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17246001

This is my first winter with studded tires. The most useful advice I heard was to remember that you are on ice when you put your foot down. Your tires may be gripping beautifully, but that doesn’t mean your shoe will.

By: welshcyclist

welshcyclist — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:36:32 +0000

Living here in Wales, where usually, we only get 2 perhaps 3 weeks of snow a year, it is not really an option to buy studded tyres. However, this winter, we’ve had far much more snow than normal, and ice has been a severe problem. I’ve come off my bike only 6 times in 6 years of commuting a 40 miles round trip, everytime on ice, and painfully, twice this winter. Now, if there’s the slightest chance of ice out there I just don’t ride, which brings me onto studded tyres, are they that good? I’ve no experience of them. Can you ride normally with them or do you have to adjust the way you ride? The biggest question of all is, would I feel confident enough to actually ride in the snow and ice with them? I’d like all opinions, perhaps it’s too late for this winter, but then again there’s 2 months to go, and I’m feeling awfully frustrated at not getting my commute in each day, this last spell has meant me not riding for 6 days!!!

By: johncoe

johncoe — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:58:44 +0000

@ted: there’s an obscure note on the schwalbe website that indicates that the tires need to be run on pavement for several miles in order to “set” the studs. i had one stud wiggle a mil or two out of position, but i noticed it in time and reset it with a pair of needlenose pliers… all the others have stayed put. but, based on the presence of the schwalbe’s note and your own experience, i guess this might become an issue for some users.

By: matt

matt — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:33:33 +0000

thanks, John. I have been considering a pair of MWs for a few weeks now, and this is really informative.