Studded Tyres
Everything You Need to Know about Studded Winter Tyres
Traction for a motorcycle is extremely important. If you have ever tried to ride your motorcycle with regular tyres in the snow and ice, you know how slippery, unstable and dangerous it can be. One of the most hazardous conditions on the road is something called “black ice.” Black ice isn’t really black – it’s clear or transparent. It’s called black ice because most roads are dark or black. When snow melts, turns to water and then refreezes on the road, it is clear and completely invisible to drivers. If you have ever driven a car and run over black ice without realizing it, you know just how scary it can be. Your car can lose traction with just the slighest movement of the steering wheel. Many accidents happen on the road because of “black ice.” It’s bad enough to drive a car on black ice, but much worse to ride a motorcycle on black ice. Studded tyres are designed to be used in the most severe of winter conditions, so, even though it may seem like over-kill to use them, they can give you complete and total peace of mind, knowing that you have good traction no matter what.
What are Motorbike Studded Winter Tyres?
To put it simply, they are knobby motocross tyres that have tiny studs on them to help them grasp the icy road and increase your tyres traction. Similar to how a mountain climber uses an ice axe to help ascend a mountain, studded tyres function as a lot of little ice axes. Studded winter tyres are basically motocross tyres with spikes inserted into each lug. The spike or stud is screwed into the tyre. When the stud penetrates an icy road, it provides a very strong grip compared to a rubber tyre.
How are Studded Tyres Better Than Winter Tyres?
Most motorbike winter tyres are better than normal tyres because they use softer compounds and a different design to grip the icy road, but they still do not offer nearly as good traction as compared to a studded tyre. If you typically drive on icy or snowy roads, studded tyres can be an excellent option for you. They will give you superior traction in hard-packed snow and ice compared to any rubber tyre.
Is There a Disadvantage to Using Studded Tyres?
Although studded winter tyres will offer excellent traction on icy or snowy roads, they do not offer good traction on wet or dry roads. If you have ever worn metal or plastic cleats to play football on grass, you’ll know that cleats give you good traction. But if you wear those same cleats on pavement, they don’t. The cleats are a hard material and so is the pavement, so traction is minimal. It’s the same thing with studded tyres on wet or dry pavement. This is why when you are riding between patches of ice and wet or dry pavement, you still must be somewhat careful to not lose traction.
When Should I Use a Studded Tyre?
While studded motorbike winter tyres will provide an improvement in grip over normal winter tyres in icy, snowy situations, they are not always necessary. If you live in an area or have a regular commute where you’re constantly driving on icy and snow-packed roads, then equipping your motorcycle with studded winter tyres may be a necessity. However, if you live in an area where it only snows some of the time and you don’t have to drive on icy roads on a regular basis, then regular winter tyres should get you around town, or even a long distance, just fine. Usually studded motorbike winter tyres are used when winter conditions are extreme.
What Tyre Pressure Should I Use for a Studded Tyre?
The tyre pressure you choose to run on has a huge impact on the life of your tyres. For the Michelin AC 10 studded winter tyre, 24MX recommends 0.8 bar which is 11.6 psi. When you lower the tyre pressure more than normal, you get more surface area of the tyre onto the road which means more traction. If the air pressure is too high, the studs may break through the rubber heel.
Sizing
18-19” rear studded with 261 23mm studs. 21" front, 252 studs. For maximum grip, the studs In the middle of the tyre are 20mm (140) while the outer studs on the tyre are 18mm (112).
Shopping at 24MX
If you’re ready to shop for your studded winter tyres, 24MX recommends the Michelin AC 10 Winter Tyre as the best studded tyre that all the pros use. Because so much is riding on your tyres!