Hey you cold weather people, cold weather tires? What are you riding?

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Vbreeze

Vbreeze

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Dec 18, 2020
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I'm new to the Alps. Now that the high is 13C (55F) in lower altitudes, I'm feeling my totally cooked tires starting to drift a little too much even after :30min warm up riding. It's time for some new shoes.
At least now the notorious BBQ that is the V4 is a lovely thing to sit on in traffic :p

I'm wondering if anyone who lives in colder places has any secrets for extending the riding season. Looking for tires that are great in cold & occasional rain, not necessarily a rain specific tires. I know it's an easy thing to look up but I was hoping for some actual experienced opinions. Thanks.
Screen Shot 2021-10-31 at 4.43.46 PM.png
 
Hmm we’ll I openly admit to favoring fair weather. I honestly haven’t ridden a bike in rain or at night and I don’t think I’ve been on one in sub 60f temp. Just not that damn interested probably why I quit skiing. Pull the bat, throw the covers on and wave bye bye.

Winter time, the bikes get swapped for watercraft and palm trees. No traffic, no cops and the survivability from a dismount is more favorable. F that cold weather .....
 
I also have the Corsa 2's on my 2018 V4s- ride in Northern Colorado.
 
I live in Toronto, mine is on stands and under a cover by the end of September.
 
I commuted year round in Washington, many 5AM 30-ish degree wet mornings on my V4. Rosso Corsa IIs were just fine, enough tread for wet weather, handled cold fine, but still maintained a decent level of performance when the weather was nice.
 
Did you do heated grips or gear? What were you wearing for those rides? 50F is about where I draw the line. Here, in the midwest, we'll get unseasonably warm days which can be in the upper 60s into December. It doesn't get miserable, say 0-20F until late January into February.
 
bp_SFV4 said:
Did you do heated grips or gear? What were you wearing for those rides? 50F is about where I draw the line. Here, in the midwest, we'll get unseasonably warm days which can be in the upper 60s into December. It doesn't get miserable, say 0-20F until late January into February.
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I (covid lock-downs aside) commute 80 Km's return to work most days. Winter temps here average 1 - 12 degrees C (often getting just below on the way in, and on some occasions -4 or -5 C). Admitedly I don't really fang it much in those conditions, so have never moved away from the OEMs... I just changed traction control settings a bit. Also got drenched on a California Superbike School (see below). It wasn't knee down stuff (far from it, but felt like it lol), but the bike didn't step out of line with wet settings.

But more to the point, and in terms of gear: Neck/face neoprene cover, ducati thermals and heated grips (oxfords) a must! other than that, extra layer under dainese jacket, and waterproof dry-rider over pants.


Rainshot_half.jpg
 
I am not a fan of the RC IIs when cold or wet or both. On my SFv4S, I've had the rear step out on 60 degree days, dry and wet, after 15 or so minutes or riding time.
If I planned to ride in colder, damper, weather for a few months, I'd invest in some Michelin Road 5.

Admittedly, Houston isn't the Alps, but it can get chilly. 51* here this morning an the Supercorsa SPs on the RSV4 did pretty well.
 
bp_SFV4 said:
Did you do heated grips or gear? What were you wearing for those rides? 50F is about where I draw the line. Here, in the midwest, we'll get unseasonably warm days which can be in the upper 60s into December. It doesn't get miserable, say 0-20F until late January into February.
Click to expand...

I personally never did heated grips or gear. Made for some tough mornings, but got used to it after a while. Would just double up on gloves or use latex gloves as a liner. On particularly cold mornings, I would put my hands on the frame or hold them by the vertical engine heads to warm them up at stops.
 
Angel's are good tires. When I first started doing track days about 8 years ago, I had the OG Angel's on my K6 1000. By my 2nd or 3rd day, I was passing guys with slicks. Sport touring tires have more grip than people realize. Especially for the street.
 
Thanks guys, I like these suggestions. I don't plan on riding through the winter - it's too extreme here, but there are a lot of random nice days through the Autumn and early Spring.
Bonus story
Imagine perforated gloves, T-shirts, short socks & back-roads where there are no human made structures of any kind for hours of riding.
June 1st, we dressed for the 80F it was when we left San Francisco for Lake Tahoe. Forecast was Sun and 74F up top. Instead, rain, freezing rain, then snow.
We let air out of the tires to get traction in the snow. There were dubious moments. If we'd ran out of gas, we'd still be part of the landscape.
I love big mountains, but they're like that. You never know.

Whatever tires will do it, with some skill and sense, but ya, I'm looking for something that'll carve and stick in 45F-50F, but ya, 35F na. Some of you blue bloods, I salute you.
I found these actual snow tires! (asfaultandrubber.com "Yes, Winter Traction Tires Exist for Motorcycles") - but they don't come in 200/60-ZR17 haha ~ dang! I think the Angels are going to be the same story. I'll have to check the others.



Eric Snow 848 June1.png
 
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45-50F is about where I'd drawn the line and that won't be a long ride either. Just maybe a quick loop to get out of the house for a bit.
 
That photo makes my stomach sink, ive ran it in bad stuff but that looks dangerous
 
bp_SFV4 said:
45-50F is about where I'd drawn the line and that won't be a long ride either. Just maybe a quick loop to get out of the house for a bit.
Click to expand...
Yup… that temp is my cut-off for the over pants. I didn’t really have a choice for my commute (we’re a 1 car 1 bike family)…. But next year I will have access to a car and will be using it in below those temps!
 
Vbreeze said:
Whatever tires will do it, with some skill and sense, but ya, I'm looking for something that'll carve and stick in 45F-50F, but ya, 35F na. Some of you blue bloods, I salute you.
I found these actual snow tires! (asfaultandrubber.com "Yes, Winter Traction Tires Exist for Motorcycles") - but they don't come in 200/60-ZR17 haha ~ dang! I think the Angels are going to be the same story. I'll have to check the others.



View attachment 39368
Click to expand...

You'll probably have to settle for 200/55s with whatever you get, unless you go for corsa 2's which would probably be ok but not great at 45-50F.
 
The only 260/55s I saw where Supercorsas or Rosso Corsa IIs. For any Dunlop, Michelin, etc the best you'll find is 260/55.

I'm a little brand biased toward Michelin since when I've had them on my cars/SUVs they've always been amazing. Their product lineup is a little confusing. The Power 5 and Power GP seem to be near the exact same product. The Power Cup 2 seems more track focused, so I suppose the Power GP is the 50/50 street/track tire and the Power 5 could be more street with occasional track?
 

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