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Winter bike tyre buyers guide

A decent hard wearing winter bike tyre is vital during the colder, wetter months. A good bike tyre can help with grip on wet days, comfort and avoiding those dreaded punctures. Take a look at some of the tyres we recommend to get through through winter.

Schwalbe Marathon Plus Road Tyre - Smart Guard

What they say

Schwalbe’s Marathon Plus tyre prides itself on being the only tyre in the world that deserves the label “flat-less”. Featuring a bespoke patented five millimetres thick puncture protection belt, made from highly elastic special rubber, the Schwalbe Marathon Plus Road Tyre – Smart Guard resists thumbtacks, glass, and other sharp-edged debris. An advanced design offers a lighter roll for a comfortable, smooth, and safe ride. Racing and club cyclists, commuters, touring cyclists, and E-Bike riders can all enjoy the benefits of increased puncture protection.

Key specifications

  • SmartGuard puncture protection
  • Wire bead
  • Durable Endurance compound
  • Reflective sidewall for visibility
  • Sizes: 25c, 28c, 32c, 35c, 38c
  • Weight: 25c: 595g; 28c: 750g; 32c: 810g; 35c: 900g; 38c: 960g

Our verdict

Looking for the ultimate winter tyre? These may be heavier than the skinnier, lighter tyres, but you’ll feel safe knowing you won’t be getting any punctures out on the road. Comes in a huge range of sizes to suit most bikes.

Where to buy

Price

£22.99

Price correct at time of publishing.

Continental Gatorskin Folding Tyre

What they say

The Gatorskin is famous as a hard wearing, puncture protected tyre designed for fast riding and commuting. It’s probably the most popular road bike tyre in the UK (maybe Europe) with its cut-resistant Duraskin and Kevlar-reinforced layers. This tyre is ideal for training, commuting, winter riding and even sportives.

The smooth rolling tread which provides exceptional grip in both wet and dry conditions makes it a winter and all-year favourite. It’s well worth your while fitting Gatorskins for winter because of the minimal risk of puncturing and you having to be changing tubes in the bitter cold.

Key specifications

  • High mileage, durable and fast rolling tyre.
  • Exceptional grip in wet and dry conditions
  • Duraskin® cut-resistant layer from bead to bead.
  • Highly puncture-resistant construction.
  • 180 thread per inch casing with Kevlar-reinforced layer directly under the tread.
  • Four widths for all requirements.
  • Quality German made natural rubber tread.

Our verdict

We’re currently running a set of 32mm Gatorskins and have found these to be fast, grippy and very hard wearing. Not a knick or puncture in over 500 miles so far. These will last and last unless you’re unlucky. Highly recommended.

Where to buy

Price

£24.48

From

Ribble

Price correct at time of publishing.

Michelin Power Endurance Road Tyres

What they say

The Michelin Power Endurance Road Bike Tyre is the most robust in the Michelin Power range and provides up to +20% additional protection against punctures. The NEW Power Endurance is designed to last, whilst offering amazing grip and low rolling resistance. This tyre is aimed at the sportive and distance rider.

Key specifications

  • Tread: +20% puncture protection
  • Compound: X-Miles
  • Aramid protek+ puncture protection
  • Bead: Folding
  • Clincher
  • Weight: Approx. 220g (23c)

Our verdict

Another set of tyres we’ve put through testing recently. As with the Gatorskins above, they are long lasting and perform well on the road. The only thing I noticed was that they can be quite difficult to get on the rim.

Where to buy

Price

£34.99

Price correct at time of publishing.

Schwalbe Durano Plus Folding Tyre

What they say

Durano Plus with a racy, dynamic profile. The SmartGuard belt is not as deep as the Marathon Plus‘s, it offers though a unique level of protection for racing tires. The most puncture resistant road bike tire, there is.

Key specifications

  • Designed for maximum puncture protection
  • Schwalbe had redesigned the tread but kept the qualities from the previous models
  • Dual compound ensures the optimum adhesion
  • The SmartGuard protection belt made of elastic rubber achieves an unusually high level of protection for a racing tyre
  • Weight: 700x23mm – 340g, 700x25mm – 380g

Our verdict

Another decent winter tyre that should last year round. Fast on the road and offers good puncture protection.

Where to buy

Price

£31.46

From

Ribble

Price correct at time of publishing.

Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Vectran Bike Tyre

What they say

This is the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season 700C Folding Duraskin Road Tyre-OE. Technology for the ‘Hell of the North’. Styled on the GP4000, but with extra protection layers for harsh weather conditions. With two Vectran anti puncture layers beneath the tread, the GP4 Season is tougher than ever. Combined with Continental’s tear resistant Duraskin mesh from bead to bead and max grip silica rubber compound, the GP4Season utilises all of the best Continental protection materials in one classy workhorse of a tyre.

Key specifications

  • Styled on the GP4000 S II, but with extra protection layers for harsh weather conditions
  • Duraskin® cut-resistant layer from bead to bead plus 2 extra Vectran breakers
  • Black “Max Grip Silica” compound optimised for wet weather adhesion, low temperatures and extended tread life.

Our verdict

Based on the Continental GP4000 tyre this harder wearing tyre is built for harsher conditions and is fairly lightweight for a tyre of this kind. Very good option for year-round use. Highly recommended.

Where to buy

Price

£31.99

Price correct at time of publishing.