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Trials tires for winter Trials tires for winter
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 14 Dec 2013
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Trials tires for winter
Now I'm wanting to continue riding to work at least to save on gas and all the short runs in the truck. I live 2 miles from there and the town so warmth is a non issue, but ice and packed snow is, however we are not allowed to run studded tires, it be illegal.

I was wondering if any of the super soft compound trials tires (and run low pressure) would get decent grip, I've never had a set but was seeing if anyone has used them on snow/ice. I would not be running on pure ice, the roads normally get 70-80% opened up to bare asphalt or gravel with patches/sections of ice, and packed snow so even ignoring the law, studs would get worn down pretty quick on all the bare stuff.
I could use a tire cutter and put sipping grooves in the tread blocks for extra bite like car tires have for winter but the tire itself has to be fairly good on ice to begin with. Unfortunately I know grip will be limited no matter what but I can pull in the clutch and coast over the ice as much as possible to help out.
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Old 15 Dec 2013
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Chains = illegal, studs = illegal , fun = illegal
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  #3  
Old 15 Dec 2013
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My state is one of the worst ones for , well...... everything. Many/most states it is legal, even mandatory in areas, to run studs or chains.
The laws are usually made to satisfy one small group that contributed the most to some politicians election campaign , they seldom have anything to do with real life and what the majority wants.
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  #4  
Old 15 Dec 2013
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I use sheetmetal-srews on my xt in the winter, mounted from the outside. I bet its illegal as hell, but it makes me safe.

I think trials tires is your best option, but I bet theyre still slippere on ice.

But why not just walk or use a bicycle, before youre geared up and have started they bike, you could have gotten there by feet.

Then go offroading after work, and have some real fun
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  #5  
Old 15 Dec 2013
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Heidenau K37 and K60 M+S Edition
There are some options, never tried but I'm seriously considering:

Rear:
HEIDENAU K37 M+S SILICA SIO2
Size limited to 3.50 x R18 or 4.00 x R19
Surprisingly not that expensive, 91.50 CHF (100 USD) !
http://www.pneus-online-suisse.ch/pn...,M%2BS|RF.html

Front:
HEIDENAU K60 M+S SILICA SIO2
Available in Switzerland, size 90/90 - 21, Price 70,42 CHF (80 USD approx).
http://www.pneus-online-suisse.ch/pn...,-21,54,T.html

Edit: Fixed link
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  #6  
Old 15 Dec 2013
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I use MT43's in winter, grip like hot snot, don't last long though
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  #7  
Old 15 Dec 2013
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I'm just not going to walk 2 miles to work at 4:30AM, usually 10-15F, plus wind. It would take just as long to bundle up to walk as it would to ride and only be out in the cold for 5 minutes rather than 1/2hour to 45minutes.


The 37's look like what I'm after , they have the sipping that does so good on ice in car tires, I just have to see if I can get them here in the US.

The MT43's are what I figured might work, I know they are soft and that's what it takes to grip, treadwear is always a trade off and I planned to only run them in the winter and take them off when ice isn't an issue.


Edit: after searching the Heidenau's are unavailable over here, I don't know if I want to find out how much shipping would be for 2 tires from Germany.
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Old 15 Dec 2013
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K60 front is no good in the wet, according to my mate. I dont like the threadpattern on it either, too big "blocks" of rubber.

I run Heidenau K73 tires on my motardwheels, its raintires, so they should be pretty soft and grippy. I've run interstate in fresh snow and it worked out, but I think they'll fall short as icetires.
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  #9  
Old 15 Dec 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjrider View Post
Edit: after searching the Heidenau's are unavailable over here, I don't know if I want to find out how much shipping would be for 2 tires from Germany.
I guess you could find out who import/sell Heidenau tires and order directly.

Note that the important difference in these tires is the use of silica in the rubber compound which gives it adherence on the ice.

I assume the gum on any regular trial tire will become very hard at cold temperature and thus lose its potential advantage anyway.

As for shipping cost, you could get a full container and sell the others in the States and Canada!
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Old 15 Dec 2013
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I read up a bit on those K37's and saw there is differences between the SnowTek and regular K37's, Basically I'd need the M +S version as you said.
I ran across some forum about old Soviet bike/sidecars and one guy had talked to a Heidenhau guy , his statement about the Snowtek tires rubber compound was on top of higher silicon it also has cotton fibers in it, The guy stated " walk out on ice in your socks and notice how much better grip they get compared to rubber boot soles. That's one of there things that makes those M+S tire great on ice.

I want a set !!!!! I'm going to make some calls to see if I can't get me a set, I know a few companies that sell Heidenhau tires.

I don't think I can come up with $20,000 to get a whole container full at this time.
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  #11  
Old 20 Dec 2013
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These tires are interesting indeed, not so much for winter riding IMHO but mostly for late fall and early spring riding, as well as for riding at varying altitude when the road gets icy at times.

I really want to try them as well. For now my 640Adv is getting a complete engine rebuilt, so only later on I might install a set as they are easily accessible around here.

Let me know if you want me to send you a set and we'll find a way.
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  #12  
Old 22 Dec 2013
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I couldn't find any of the dealers to want anything to do with special ordering tires. They mostly just said "if it isn't in our store we don't sell it" :confused1:

Shipping will probably be rather pricey I would think, mostly do to size of the box. Unless the tires can be tied flat somehow.
I'd be interested in getting them, see if you can ship them easily, otherwise I'll survive without this year, maybe work on getting some for next winter.

I put 300 ice screws in my XL's D606's and went for a short ride, worked ok but in 1.5 or 2 miles of mixed ice and frozen bare gravel road they are chewed up pretty bad. I'll have to wait for a snowstorm and then ride to work once, hopefully not see a cop.
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  #13  
Old 22 Dec 2013
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IMHO the best you can get is a Mitas with Winter Friction compund.
Mitas has a variety of models.

Ordinary trial-tyres doesn't work well, they clog up with snow and gives no grip.
I use Mitas XT454 (with 7mm studs) for enduro and XT644 (with 1.5 mm studs) for mixed driving. XT644 is also used by the Norwegian and Swedish army. I've also tested XT644 without studs and it works pretty good.

Mitas XT644:
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