Best road bike tyres for UK Winter

Really could do with something that inspires condidence in the wet. Not all that bothered about rolling resistance, as I’ll only be mincing until I can MTB again.

I’m just trying to make the bike as washout proof as poss as a fall would not be good.

IOM weather,by the way.

Not Gatorskins, they go hard and slippery in the cold/wet.

I’ve been using Schwalbe Ultremo ZXs which are good, also like GP4Seasons before those. Both are a good mix of puncture resistance, grip and speed.

Conti 4 seasons. Nice & Sticky.

I found them a bit rubbish on wear, others don’t.

I’ve been very happy with Panaracer Race D Evo 2’s I put them on for the winter and have just left them on. I’ll replace them with the same when they wear out. I have had one puncture since putting them on and not a single moment where I’ve lost grip despite using them in some pretty horrible conditions.

Conti GP 4 seasons 25 or 28 good compromise between grip/wear/puncture resistance. As above gatorskins are great in warm and dry but terrifying in wet and cold.

Vittoria Rubino pro used to be alright too (and cheap!)

I was really impressed with Continental Grand Prix GT, and did a review…

Review: Continental Grand Prix GT tyres

If grip if your priority then I’ve suggest trying to find some Vittoria Open Pave’s.

For general robustness, deflation resistance, decent speed and surprisingly very good grip in all weathers,

Schwalbe Durano.

I use 28’s on my commuter, will switch to the set if free 25’s that BC gave me
-When the 27s eventually wear out.

Open Paves. Available pretty cheaply at the moment and true to width in a 25c. I also ride Schwalbe Ones all winter, along with Mavic Yksion Pros on the fixed road bike.

I raced the Paves all through last winter. Great tyres, wear is OK, supple as anything, and I was never bothered by the puncture fairy. And you don’t have to have iconic green now.

Totally ignorant re Road Bike wheel/rim/tyre sizing I’m afraid.

The bike I’m looking at has Giant P-SR2 rims? If that makes sense.

What sizes would they take?

I’m assuming the 25/28 is width?

Would the 28s be wider, and more slip resistant?

Sorry, total noob numpty.

GP 4 Seasons.

In terms of the wheel then yes, wider is better but you may be restricted in size by your frame. Almost all bikes with get a 700x25mm in, some will squeeze in a 28mm, few normal road bikes will go any bigger.

Vredestein fortezza senso xtreme are hands down the safest and comfiest 25s I’ve ever used in the winter. Can’t recommend them highly enough and everyone that I’ve suggested them to has been impressed! I’ve only tried the 25 but would go 28 if you can fit them in. Rolling resistance isn’t to bad considering!

Link: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vredestein-fortezza-senso-xtreme-weather-clincher-road-tyre/

Good shout surfingobo, I’ve used them and they’re very good indeed. Cheaper at Ribble too.

The best race tyres you can afford; do you think the pros opt for tough old winter tyres when it rains?

Let the pressure down a bit, don’t ride in the gutter etc…

Vittoria Voyager Alpha are a fabulous tyre. 13000 commuting miles on mine without a puncture.

Not bad for a 371g, 37c folding tyre.

Vittoria Rubino Pro Tech, if you can find any…

They have been superb over last winter, very grippy.

Crikey makes a good point, people want different things from winter tyres.

Personally, I want wet grip first and foremost. Puncture resistance is good but not essential, durability doesn’t even come into the thought process. Paves are awesome in the wet, as are the Vresestein Senso. Gatorskins for example are terrible and hence I will never use then again.

Unless the tyre is bigger than 25c, I think tyre tread is overrated, slicks grip just as well or better than anything else on wet tarmac.
Gatorskins I think are just quite a hard compound so don’t grip as well in the cold.

GP4000 Sii in the tradition of “stuff I own and quite like”. No punctures over the winter so clearly are totally puncture proof. They also did me proud riding in Flanders this spring without a puncture.

GP4Seasons or Schwalbe Ultremos/Ones – as has been said if your priority is grip then you want a decent softish tread compound. If you want durability then there are better choices but they won’t grip as well.

I’ve never understood the whole winter tyre swap for road bikes. My tyres stay on all year and still grip in cold. Wet, sunny, mild conditions.
Buy whatever you like and don’t ride in the gutter.