General: List of the best studded tires Urban

When are studded tires the right choice?

Studded tires show their great advantages, especially on icy roads. Freezing wetness will probably bring beads of sweat to the forehead of every winter road user. If you have studded tires on your bike, you can be much more relaxed about it: The metal rivets claw firmly into the layer of ice and ensure really good grip, even if pedestrians no longer dare to step on the road. Appropriate speed is of course still essential!

Many cyclists mistakenly assume that studded tires are also beneficial in icy snow, but that's not a blanket statement. The profile of the tire and the contact surface play a much larger role here - the spikes can't find a hold in loose snow. However, things are different when the snow is packed and/or icy, where the spikes find a good grip again.

What should be considered with studded tires?

Studded tires differ from normal bicycle tires in many ways. On the one hand, it is very important to break in the tires for about 50 km on a dry, firm surface at the beginning. The background is that the spikes first have to be properly worked into the tires - this prevents the risk of losing the small metal rivets later.

Apart from that, the driving experience with spiked tires differs fundamentally from what you are used to. The most noticeable but also the least important thing is the extreme background noise on asphalt. With the loud hum that you make on the bike with spiked tires mounted, you can almost save yourself a bell.

On the one hand, the significantly higher rolling resistance is much more important. Especially at the beginning you really have to get used to the spiked tires, which brake significantly - although the rolling resistance naturally varies from model to model, as our test shows.

Last but not least, you should also keep in mind that the metal rivets tend to slip on hard, smooth surfaces such as manhole covers. Even on wet, non-frozen roads, you have to make compromises in terms of grip, especially when cornering - so: with spiked tires, it's better to look ahead and drive at a reduced speed.

3 tips on studded tires

1. Mount only on the front wheel: The high rolling resistance and heavy weight of studded tires should not be underestimated. Our tip is therefore to only mount a studded tire on the front wheel. Since rolling resistance plays a much greater role on the rear wheel, a lighter-running tire is much more noticeable there. In addition, grip is crucial, especially on the front wheel: A slipping rear wheel can often still be caught, but if the front wheel slips, you can usually only prepare for the fall.
2. air pressure vary: Many studded tires can be adjusted very well to the prevailing conditions with the appropriate air pressure. With most spiked tires, the spikes are on the edge, which means that the spikes hardly touch the road when the pressure is high and the rolling resistance thus drops fundamentally. If you need the spikes because of icy conditions, it is sufficient to reduce the pressure in the tire so that the entire surface, including the spikes, is in contact with the road.
3. Buy at the end of the season: Studded tires are expensive. €100 for a couple is not uncommon. The tires are significantly cheaper at the end of the winter season, when spring is just around the corner - you can often save 50% or more. So: save at the end of winter – the next one will definitely come!

Do you have product suggestions for our list? Or suggestions for our tests? Let us know!