[music] Speaker 1: Winter,
a dark, cold, and inhospitable place. A realm where punctures are more common,
and the roads are slippy. Speaker 2:
We can't do anything about the weather, but one thing we can consider is changing to winter
tires to improve your winter riding experience. Speaker 1: Winter tires offer better grip,
better puncture protection, and they can make you faster as well.
Speaker 2: Really? Really, can they? Speaker 1: Kind of. Anyway, you've
got much to learn, my young padawan. Speaker 2: Well, in this video,
we're going to give you all the information
you need to decide if switching to a dedicated winter tire is for you.
[music] Speaker 1:
Before we dive into specifics, let's first have a poll in the GCN app. We want to know if
you guys use winter-specific tires, yes or no. Speaker 2: Firstly, though, we need to know what
are the differences between winter tires and their summer counterparts. Luckily, we've
got a few examples here to show you today. Speaker 1: We're using Pirelli tires,
but in most cases, what we're saying applies equally to other tire brands as well. The first
big visual difference between a normal tire and a winter tire, is usually the tread pattern.
Speaker 2: It's not just the tread pattern, winter tires have got a whole host
of other features to make them slightly better than their summer counterparts.
Speaker 1: They're specifically designed to cope with the conditions
in winter and the challenges it poses, such as wetter weather, greasier roads, potholes, gravel,
and, crucially, the cold. More on that later. Speaker 2: You can see here in this cross-section
of a tire where the winter tire is slightly thicker. You can also see the added layers
of puncture protection that it's got. Speaker 1: Usually in the form of a belt
of aramid fiber, which is basically the same stuff they use in bulletproof vests.
Speaker 2: It's important to have this added layer of puncture protection, not only because of
the debris on the road, but also because of lube. Speaker 1: I think you've-- Lube?
Speaker 2: Yes. Seriously though, water on the winter roads acts as a bit of a lubricant,
and will actually help objects and things penetrate the tire and cause you punctures.
Speaker 1: I still think you've got a problem.
[music] Speaker 2:
The added puncture protection does come at a trade-off, though,
usually in the form of added weight. Speaker 1: A winter version of me is
also slightly heavier too. Speaker 2: Yes, good point.
Speaker 1: For example, the P Zero summer tire weighs 205 grams for a 25-millimeter,
versus 220 grams for a 25-millimeter Pirelli P Zero 4S winter tire,
and 290 grams for the same 25-millimeter, but in a Cinturato, but that tire is also tubeless.
As you can see, the weight differences are pretty small, and even when you're riding up a
steep climb, it's very hard to actually perceive and feel that difference. That said,
it does have a slight impact. For that reason, I probably wouldn't choose to
use heavier winter tires on my hill climb racing bike, but it is only a tiny difference.
Speaker 2: What does make a far bigger difference is the rolling resistance.
[music] Speaker 1:
Rolling resistance is the friction generated between the tire and the road
surface. Several different factors affect it. Speaker 2: Most notably, is the tire structure
itself, with thicker tires being a little bit slower than their thinner counterparts.
Another thing to consider is also the tire compound itself.
Speaker 1: Now, different compounds exhibit different levels of grip
and rolling resistance. For example, softer compounds are often grippier,
whereas harder compounds are often faster. This is the crucial thing,
the grip and speed or rolling resistance of a given compound is dependent upon temperature.
To help you understand what I mean, it's time for a science example.
Now, back when I was a scientist, I used to use liquid nitrogen on a daily basis. One of
my favorite things to do when I got bored, was to freeze random objects. True story.
Now, if you freeze rubber with liquid nitrogen, it becomes incredibly brittle. Then, if you hit
it with a hammer, it will shatter like glass. This is an extreme example, but it demonstrates how the
material properties of certain materials can change with respect to temperature.
Tire companies, particularly those with lots of automotive experience,
understand this well and use it to fine-tune the operating temperatures
of their rubber compounds using extensive lab research. Also, just off-topic,
it's also why you should never invade Russia in winter, and why the buttons on Napoleon's
soldiers' uniforms actually fell off in the cold. You don't really need to
know that, but anyway, back outside. Speaker 2: At lower temperatures,
summer tires will actually be quite rigid and hard. This can lead to lower rolling resistance
due to them not deforming over the ground. Speaker 1: Yes, and although actually being faster
on balance, they're probably not the best option because that means they'll also have
much less grip. Winter tires, in contrast, are designed to maintain their deformation and grip
characteristics even at a low temperature. Which means, despite having higher rolling resistance
on balance, they can be the faster option. This is because you maintain that much, much better grip
on slippy corners, which is ideal if you're riding around technical lanes
like we are today, or just anywhere where there's corners.
[music] Speaker 2:
Tread patterns, what are they for? Are they for shedding water?
Speaker 1: Well, they do help with that, but they also serve another crucial purpose.
See, the tread pattern helps the tire deflect, and that deflection of the rubber,
the footprint of the tire helps to improve grip. Also the movement of the tread back and forth
actually generates energy in the form of heat. Speaker 2: Warmer tires quite simply work better.
They grip better, and whilst this isn't quite as crucial on a bike as it would be on a Formula
One car, it's still something to consider. Speaker 1: Yes, it does make a difference.
[music] Speaker 2:
Something else to consider, other different types of winter tires. I've got this
Pirelli Cinturato tire, and it's a little bit more heavy duty and slightly slower rolling.
Speaker 1: Yes, compared to this, which is a P040S, this is a more high performance winter
tire. Basically, if you are going to be doing a race in wintery or wet and cold conditions, this
would be the tire that I would choose to go for. Speaker 2: We can't say which tire suits
your riding style best, but fortunately enough, many manufacturers will have a
little chart on their website to guide you towards which tire is best suited for you.
Speaker 1: Yes, they can be really useful. Something else to consider is
tubeless or standard clinchy tires, if your wheels are tubeless compatible.
Well, I'm a big fan of tubeless tires. Speaker 2: Yes, these ones are set on tubeless,
and I think they're amazing. Lower pressures
and less chance of punctures, maybe. Speaker 1: Yes, and less chance
of punctures is especially useful in winter, and I am too, I'm a big fan.
To sum up, if you were to use summer tires in winter, then you could well be slightly faster
when traveling in a straight line, but you would have much less grip going around the corners,
and a far greater risk of punctures. Speaker 2: Winter tires are a much better
bet when it comes to riding in the cold. The compounds are specifically designed to
operate at those lower temperatures, although they will wear out quicker during the summer months,
so it's best to sort them out. Speaker 1: We hope you've enjoyed
watching this video and found it useful. Let us know in the comment section below
what your experiences are of using winter tires. Speaker 1: If you liked this video, of course,
give it a big thumbs up. If you're in the market for some winter clothing,
why not check out the GCN shop. [00:08:28] [END OF AUDIO]