Какая ширина резины лучше для зимы: широкая или узкая, какой размер шин лучше для зимы

Узкая или широкая резина: что лучше? Плюсы и минусы широкой и узкой резины

Автомобилисты часто спорят, какие шины лучше: широкие или узкие. Ведь от ширины зависит управляемость и курсовая устойчивость автомобиля, сцепные свойства покрышки.

Широкие низкие автопокрышки смотрятся эффектно и отличаются практичностью. Узкие показывают стабильное поведение на мокрой дороге и преимущественно используются зимой.

Но как узнать, резина узкая или широкая? Для этого необходимо обратить внимание на маркировку, которая наносится на боковую часть покрышки.

Стандартная маркировка выглядит ‘195/65 R 14 91V’ и расшифровывается так:

• 195 – ширина покрышки при нормальном давлении в соответствии с рекомендациями производителя. Измеряется в миллиметрах.
• 65 – цифра указывает на профиль резины. Измеряется в процентном соотношении высоты профиля от ширины резины.
• R – маркер указывает на конструкцию шины. R – радиальная резина.
• 14 – диаметр колесного диска. Измеряется в дюймах.
• 91 – индекс нагрузки на покрышку. Чем меньше цифра, тем меньший вес способно выдержать колесо.
• V – маркер обозначает максимально допустимую скорость для шины.

Ширина шины – расстояние между боковыми частями покрышки от края до края. При этом давление в покрышке должно быть оптимальным.

Для обеспечения безопасного и комфортного вождения ширина профиля не должна превышать ширину обода на 30%. Это необходимо учитывать, если вы решили поставить резину шире, чем рекомендовано производителем.

Важно. При установке слишком широкой резины происходит ее саморазбортировка. Во время резкого поворота такая покрышка может порезаться о собственный диск.

Можно ли поставить шины шире, если это не предусмотрено производителем? В этом случае нет. Устанавливают только рекомендованные модели / размеры резины. В инструкции по эксплуатации автомобиля указаны максимальные и минимальные значения. Самая большая цифра – это максимально допустимая ширина, а самая маленькая – минимально допустимая ширина.

На что способна повлиять ширина покрышки:

• Летом широкая резина предпочтительнее узкой. Такие покрышки подходят для агрессивной активной езды на повышенных скоростях. Широкие шины лучше тем, что препятствуют пробуксовке колес во время старта. Они также меньше нагреваются при скоростной езде. Если вы предпочитаете спокойный стиль вождения, не делаете резких перестроений на скорости, устанавливайте стандартную резину.
• Узкие шины покажут себя лучше широких в зимний сезон. Такие покрышки легко преодолеют замерзшую колею, прорежут себе путь по снегу. Узкая резина также позволяет снизить расход топлива.

Узкие и широкие шины: отличия

От ширины покрышки зависит уровень комфорта, безопасность, управляемость автомобилем, а также его внешний вид.

Широкие покрышки увеличивают сопротивление качению, что приводит к большему расходу топлива. Если говорить о том, какие шины лучше шире или уже в плане эстетики. То тут выигрывает широкая резина. Она смотрится презентабельно, сразу меняет восприятие автомобиля.

Отличия кроются и в стоимости. Узкие покрышки стоят дешевле. Они популярнее. Узкая высокопрофильная резина выпускается в большом количестве, что и снижает ценник. А вот низкопрофильные широкие покрышки подойдут не для каждого автомобиля.

Плюсы и минусы широкой резины

Преимущества:

• Положительно влияют на разгон автомобиля. Препятствуют пробуксовке при резком старте.
• Обеспечивают эффективное торможение на сухом и мокром асфальте.
• Повышают курсовую устойчивость, маневренность машины на резких поворотах.
• Идеально подходят для езды в условиях грунтовых дорог и бездорожья.
• Смотрятся солидно, улучшают внешний вид машины.

Для быстрой загородной езды по трассе широкая резина будет предпочтительнее. Но при такой эксплуатации увеличивается риск аквапланирования.

На что обратить внимание:

• Низкое сопротивление скольжению на мокрой дороге – риск эффекта аквапланирования.
• Большой вес.
• Высокая стоимость.

Плюсы и минусы узких покрышек

На зиму следует выбирать узкую резину, которая показывает стабильные тягово-сцепные свойства по сравнению с широкими покрышками. Такие шины обеспечивают высокое поверхностное давление на дорогу, устойчиво проходят снежную колею, справляются с отводом воды и объемных масс талого снега.

Узкие покрышки подходят и для тех, кто часто ездит за город, не увлекается скоростной ездой. Для малометражных автомобилей также предпочтительнее этот вид резины.

Преимущества:

• Сокращенный расход топлива.
• Устойчивость к аквапланированию.
• Эффективный отвод воды и грязи от пятна контакта.
• Хорошая проходимость по снегу и льду.

На что обратить внимание:

• Не подходят для экстремальной езды.
• Перегреваются при движении на высокой скорости.
• Требует максимальной аккуратности при вхождении в крутой поворот.

Подведем итог

• Какая резина лучше – шире или уже – зависит от технических параметров вашего автомобиля, стиля вождения и рекомендаций производителя.
• Зимой лучше себя ведет узкая резина, а летом – широкая. Узкие покрышки уверенно справляются с талым снегом и показывают хорошее сцепление на льду. Широкие устойчиво ведут себя на сухом асфальте и обеспечивают надежную маневренность.

Если вы затрудняетесь с выбором, опытные специалисты всегда помогут правильно подобрать модель покрышек для вашего автомобиля.

Какие выбрать шины для зимы: широкие или узкие?

Вы когда-нибудь задумывались над таким вопросом: какие шины лучше для зимнего вождения: узкие или широкие? А вот инструкторы по вождению решили выяснить, что предпочтительнее для наших зимних дорог.

Эксперимент

Чтобы не вдаваться в теорию, автоинструкторы приглашают нас на специальный полигон, где проводится эксперимент по тестированию шин разных размеров.

Для эксперимента был выбран автомобиль Volkswagen Golf 7-го поколения и шины Nokian Hakkapeliita 8 трех размеров:

• 195/65R15,
• 205/55R16,
• 225/45R17.

Отметим, что все три комплекта шин перед тестированием прошли прикатку в 100 километров на этом же полигоне.

Перед началом заезда были проверены масса и ширина покрышек. Оказалось, что разница между 195/65R15 и 205/55R16 не 10 мм, а 8. Честно сказать, для нас это было открытие. Самыми тяжелыми оказались 225/45R17, и это было предсказуемо. Шина 195/65R15 по весу легче 225/45R17 на целых 1,7 килограмм. А вот при проверке веса колеса в сборе разница стала уже 4,6 кг, то есть в сумме получилось 18,4 кг. Как видно из цифр, основная прибавка идет все же от диска.

Управляемость на снегу

Первый параметр, который был проверен, — это управляемость на заснеженной дороге. Оказалось, что разница при вождении на различных шинах огромна! Особенно это касается поворотов. Отметим, что дорога была выбрана сложная: снежная, «трехмерная» и проложенная через хвойный лес. На покрышках 205/55R16 отличная управляемость и контроль над авто. Нейтральная поворачиваемость, совсем небольшой доворот задних колес при сбросе газа, который мягко гасится стабилизирующей системой. Всё быстро и безопасно.

Следующие шины 195/65R15. Наш автомобиль стал немного нервным, Golf пытается уходить в занос, требуются размашистые и быстрые движения рулем, а вот после заноса авто долго стабилизируется. Однако для переднеприводной машины, так скажем, в «боевом» режиме избыточная поворачиваемость выгодна.

Берем самые широкие покрышки 225/45R17. Поведение Golf похоже на «уравновешенную» шину 205 мм. Как только увеличиваешь скорость, появляется некое коварство. 

Машину после входа в поворот начинает сносить. Машина цепляет снег и даже чуть-чуть не долетела до дерева при попытке сделать быстрый круг. Что касается времени прохождения дистанции, на этих шинах автомобиль показал худший результат.

Итоги по тестированию управляемости:

• поведение хэтчбека сильно менялось в зависимости от выбранного комплекта покрышек;
• с шинами 195/65R15 Golf получил избыточную поворачиваемость, часто хотел развернуться и вел себя не очень хорошо на поворотах;
• покрышки 225/45R17 дали автомобилю недостаточную поворачиваемость и довольно низкое сцепление с дорожным покрытием;
• шины 205/55R16, если можно так сказать, исцелили Golf; трасса была пройдена быстро, спокойно и ровно; занос начинался плавно, то есть не был для водителя неожиданностью.

Испытание льдом

Перед контролем управляемости на льду отключаем ESP. На 225/45R17 сцепления с покрытием мало, машина мечется между заносом и сносом, на руль приходится давить, а связь с колесами часто теряется. Даже на небольшой скорости машина скользит задней осью, постоянно намекая на разворот вокруг своей оси.

На узких и высоких 195/65R15 Golf как будто впивается в лед. При увеличении скорости не хватает поворачиваемости, да и скольжения задних колес добиться очень сложно.

На покрышках 205/55R16 зацеп чуть больше, машина более сбалансирована, требует меньшего руления на поворотах. Поведение автомобиля безопасное.

В итоге можно сказать, что 205/55R16 показали себя очень хорошо, да и к шинам 195/65R15 претензий нет, хотя рулить нужно больше, и имеется недостаточная поворачиваемость.

225/45R17 не имеют достаточного сцепления со льдом, требуется большая работа рулем, автомобиль все время хочет уйти в занос.

Испытания на снегу

На утрамбованном снегу машина разогналась быстрее на шинах 195/65R15, а вот при торможении они уступили 2,7% или 40 см более широким колесам. R16 в этом испытании были стабильнее всех.

В итоге на снегу результаты разгона и торможения очень близки.

Разгон и торможение на льду

«Ледовые» тесты проводились почти при таких же условиях, что и на снегу: резкий разгон с пяти до 31 км/ч и резкое торможение до пяти км/ч. На шинах 205/55R16 автомобиль отлично цепляется за покрытие, торможение на высшем уровне. Для более узких шин результаты такие же.

Беремся за широкие 225/45R17. На удивление машина укатывается намного дальше, и это чувствуется даже без измерительных приборов.

А теперь замеряем выступание шипов: у 195/65R15 — 1 мм, 205/55R16 — 1,1 мм, 225/45R17 — 0,9 мм. Возможно, плохие результаты торможения на ледяном покрытии именно из-за выступания шипов. Но, согласитесь, показатели не могут разниться на больше чем два метра!

Итог: На льду результаты покрышек 195/65R15 и 205/55R16 схожи (разница в 2,9%), шины 225/45R17 явно провалили торможение и крайне плохо цеплялись за лед при разгоне.

Выводы

Узкие шины на льду довольно послушны, но в поворотах приводят к резким срывам. Высокий 65-й профиль и большой боковой увод заставляет сильно крутить руль даже при проезде обычных виражей. Эти шины специалисты рекомендуют для автомобилей с ESP, а при вождении на снегу управлять необходимо очень аккуратно.

Золотая середина — так можно сказать про комплект 205/55R16. По результатам у этих покрышек все тесты были пройдены на хорошую оценку.

В нашем случае, с автомобилем массой 1205 кг, как раз эта ширина оказалась самой оптимальной. Благодаря умеренной высоте профиля поведение машины было понятным.

Широкие шины показали себя с самой плохой стороны. Ледовые испытания были полностью провалены. Большая площадь контакта со льдом привела к маленькому удельному давлению шипов на поверхность из-за небольшой массы авто. На снегу машину сносит, руль приходится крутить сильно, а контроль над дорогой часто теряется.

Видео о том, как выбрать зимнюю резину:

Удачи за рулем!

В статье использовано изображение с сайта dadi-auto.ru

Какие брать зимние шины — широкие или узкие?

Собственно, на дворе уже середина ноября и большинство автолюбителей уже переобулись. Но видел сегодня парочку авто на летней резине, как по мне, так это совсем неправильно. Мало того, что рискуют своим здоровьем и своим авто, так ведь еще и пешеходов подставляют. В общем — переобувайтесь вовремя и неважно, что снег еще не выпал.

Задали мне на почту такой каверзный вопрос по поводу ширины зимних покрышек, ведь вы прекрасно знаете, что к вашему авто можно брать шины явно не одной ширины. И если грязевую резину лучше брать пошире, то с зимней придется разобраться. Поехали…

Все вы прекрасно знаете, что за ширину шины отвечает первый параметр, который вы можете увидеть по маркировке. То есть шина 215/65R16 по ширине будет именно 215 мм. А ведь бывают и широченные 265 мм и узкие от 175 мм.

Возьмем для примера популярные шипованные шины Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 — отличные «бриджи», собравшие множество положительных отзывов. Однако вот ведь незадача — размерный ряд очень широк, для диаметра r16 самые узкие покрышки будут на 185/55, а самые широкие — размером 275/70. Разница в ширине аж 9 см. Какой размер шины выбрать для зимы, чтобы было комфортно ездить?

Смотрите — узкая с высоким профилем шина предназначена прежде всего для того, чтобы прорезать сугробы/снег, чтобы добраться до твердой поверхности и зацепиться за нее шипами. Поэтому узкие шины больше подходят для глубокого снега, когда нужно вгрызаться в снег и добраться до твердой поверхности.

Когда шина хорошо гребет по снегу — это просто отлично, многие города России чистят от снега лишь по праздникам, так что в хороший снегопад, будучи обутым в узкие шины, вы будете «на коне». Однако есть и минусы, какие, вы наверное догадались сами )) Подскажу — пятно контакта. У узкой покрышки пятно контакта с твердой поверхностью будет заметно ниже, чем у широкой. А потому на голом льду или ледяном асфальте на узких шинах ездить будет весьма некомфортно.

Высокие шины делают авто неустойчивым, так что в поворотах авто будет накреняться сильнее. Так что для зимы брать высокие колеса оправданно, если вы ездите чисто по сугробам и снеговому бездорожью.

Широкая зимняя резина, да если еще и шипованная, позволит вам почувствовать уверенность на любой ледяной дороге без снега, пятно контакта средней части шины будет максимальной, благодаря чему автомобиль будет крепко держаться на льду, также заметно увеличится курсовая устойчивость от боковых сносов.

Однако, почитать отзывы автолюбителей, можно заметить общую тенденцию к установке именно узких шин.

Вроде бы все понятно, однако есть еще нюансы — рекомендованный размер шин для вашего автомобиля и максимально возможные отклонения(их еще называют допусками). Перед покупкой зимней да и вообще любой резины почитайте книжечку вашего авто, узнайте рекомендованный размер покрышки и возможные отклонения. Исходя из этого уже и делайте покупку.

Но помните, что покупая покрышку чуть больше рекомендованного размера вы рискуете тем, что колесо будет задевать арку(пусть не при прямом положении руля, но в повороте точно). Именно поэтому внедорожники для офф-роад заездов и лифтуют(поднимают на 2 и более дюйма), чтобы была возможность поставить более широкую и большую покрышку, для грязи такой вариант будет оптимальнее штатных и более узких размеров.

Представьте картину — поставили на Ниву узкую резины, она начала прорезать грязь и «дорезала» до того, что села на брюхо. Видели такое не раз, особенно в весеннюю слякоть на поле, машина даже на штатной резине уходит в грязь по самое «брюхо», стоит чуть надавить на педаль. Ибо под грязью до твердой поверхности не достать ))

Виджет от SocialMart

Так что наш совет таков — не гнаться особо за шириной или высотой зимних шин, максимум отклонений — на полтора-два сантиметра. И уж берите в сторону УЗКОЙ резины, раз большинство выбирает её, значит она действительно больше подходит для суровой российской зимы. И конечно нужно сосредоточиться на подборе оптимально подходящей для ваших дорожных условий шин — то есть выбрать шипы/липучку, а уж потом и по брендам пробежаться.

Ибо не каждая «шиповка» даже от именитого бренда будет максимально комфортной. В одних условиях лучше себя покажет Гиславед, а в других — Нокиан, В одних условиях покупка «липучки» станет лучших вариантом вместо «шиповки».

Другие обзоры шин и дисков: 90000 Winter tyres buying guide | Wiggle Guides 90001 90002 90003 If you’re determined to keep riding throughout the winter, you’re going to need some extra help to deal with the change in conditions. 90004 90005 90002 In this guide to winter tyres for road and mountain bikes, we assess some of the best examples on the market, and explore the advantages winter-optimised compounds can deliver for your off-season rides. 90005 90008 Do I really need winter cycling tyres? 90009 90002 The tyre is the source of the bike’s grip, acceleration, cornering, and ultimately the cyclist’s control.90005 90002 During winter, however, the duties of a tyre increase, with water, ice, and snow changing how the bike reacts and making formerly challenging conditions impossible. 90005 90002 It’s a difficulty shared by both mountain and road bike riders. 90005 90002 Winter rains tend to wash more debris onto roads, which means more glass, nails, and other sharp items all poised to give you a puncture. 90005 90002 Changing a tyre in the wind and sleet is no-one’s idea of ​​a good time, which is why many winter tyres put puncture protection paramount among their priorities.90005 90002 Mountain bike riders, meanwhile, can find ice-packed terrain that is impassable with a standard tyre. Trails become less predictable and the extremes of hard and soft terrain widen. 90005 90002 This is why many serious riders invest in an excellent winter tyre when conditions turn for the worse. 90005 90008 What’s different about winter tyres? 90009 90002 90027 Mountain bike winter tyres have a different solution to the change in conditions compared to their winter road-going brothers (or sisters).90005 90002 Given their task of traversing mud, rock, and gravel, winter mountain bike tyres tend to employ deeper, wider tread patterns, softer compounds, and even spikes or studs to provide grip on the ice. 90005 90002 To complicate matters, some winter mountain bike tyres are more resilient in the face of soft, deep clinging mud, while others are aimed at better navigating hard-packed surfaces. 90005 90002 The effect on performance can be huge, so it’s worth paying close attention to the kind of surface you anticipate spending most of your time on this winter.90005 90002 Counterintuitively, most winter road tyres employ a slick surface, which actually provides the best grip on even wet tarmac. Their narrow profile cuts through shallow water (mud is less of an issue), removing the need for water-dispersing treads, allowing the smooth tread to still grip the road’s grooves and indents. 90005 90002 So, for winter road tyres, while the approach of maximising grip remains largely unchanged, the focus is more on puncture protection and using robust compounds to provide durability in testing conditions.90005 90008 Winter MTB tyres — which is right for you? 90009 90002 90042 As mentioned, the type of terrain you’re riding in should influence your choice of tyre but there is a variety of ways you can find the best match between your cycling style, the terrain, and the bike you’re using. 90005 90002 It’s important to note that buying tyres is always a compromise between speed and grip. More grip means more rolling resistance, and therefore more effort to generate speed. 90005 90002 There are, however, ways around this problem, such as the use of pronounced side lugs on the tyre to help cornering, while avoiding overkill on the tyre’s main contact point with the ground.Tightly spaced, shorter lugs perform best on dry, hard-packed trails while taller, more widely spaced lugs plug into the mud more efficiently and clear more quickly. 90005 90002 Manufacturers also employ different compounds across the tyre profile to help get the most out of each point of contact with the terrain. The softness of rubber is measured in ‘durometers’. Tyres with a durometer of 70 are hard, fast-rolling and long-lasting. Softer, stickier tyres with a durometer of under 50 offer improved grip at the expense of durability and speed.90005 90002 Many riders find a compound rating of around 60 gives the best all-round compromise for long tyre life and good performance across a variety of conditions. Super-soft downhill racing tyres can approach 40 durometers prioritising grip over everything else. 90005 90002 Now you’ve established the type of tread and compound you want, the next thing to consider is tyre width. Again, this is a process of compromise, and what is right for you may depend on your riding style and preferences.90005 90002 Wider tyres are more stable on corners and at speed, with the bigger surface providing more purchase and control. But that also means more friction, and therefore more rolling resistance as the tyres grip more terrain. 90005 90002 There’s a fuller description about tyre width in Wiggle’s Road Tyres Buying Guide. 90005 90002 You also need to make sure there’s enough clearance between your tyre and the bike’s frame. 90005 90002 Cross-country mountain bikers tend to go for tyres between 1.8 (4.6cm) and 2.2 inches (5.6cm) wide, while more aggressive ‘All-Mountain’ riders and downhill racers use tyres between 2.1 (5.3cm) to 2.4 inches (6.1cm). 90005 90002 Another option is to go for front and rear specific tyres which have tread designs optimised to provide the best performance for their respective jobs. 90005 90002 The back wheel’s main occupation is power and acceleration, so it makes sense to have a thinner tyre that can dig into the mud and get purchase. The front tyre, meanwhile, is preoccupied with stability and steering, so many riders go for a wider profile up top with more pronounced side lugs and lower central lugs for less resistance.90005 90002 90005 90008 Winter road tyres — which is right for you? 90009 90002 90071 90005 90002 Durability trumps all other considerations when going for a winter road bike tyre. There’s little point having a tyre fizzing with speed if you’re going to spend most of the ride at the roadside, attempting repairs with frozen digits. 90005 90002 So, the first consideration when looking for a winter road-going rubber is something that can withstand nicks and gouging on a debris-strewn road.90005 90002 Winter road tyres achieve their resistance to punctures in several ways, such as more robustly wound thread, reinforced sidewalls, and interior puncture protection systems. 90005 90002 All these protections have a negative effect on performance, but manufacturers are making huge strides in mitigating these. 90005 90002 A higher thread count — measured in TPI — means debris has a harder job penetrating the tyre, but the downside to the extra durability is a heavier compound with more rolling resistance and slightly less traction.90005 90002 Winter tyres often have a TPI under 100, while more expensive options can push the TPI over 100 using materials like Vectran or Kevlar to offset the disadvantages. 90005 90002 Puncture protection has come a long way in recent years, with manufacturers using ‘protection belts’ and ‘breaker’ materials to keep intruders at bay. 90005 90002 You’ll also find that winter tyres are significantly wider than your standard road-goers. A consensus for having wider road tyres has been gathering pace for some time, and current winter models follow this trend, with many starting at 25mm; already wider than the former standard 23mm.90005 90002 Current thinking is that wider is better and the only thing holding you back is your frame’s clearance, so feel free to be bold. 90005 90002 Have a look below at some of the leading winter tyres for MTB and road bikes on the market … 90005 90002 90005 90008 The best winter mountain bike tyres for winter for muddy conditions 90009 90002 Mud tyres tend to have large outer lugs and a relatively light compound. 90005 90002 Michelin Wild Mud Advanced Reinforced Folding 650B Tyre 90005 90002 90102 90005 90002 The Michelin Wild Mud tyre features an aggressive tread in high-volume casing, designed with great traction in mind.Michelin Reinforced Technology improves the casing’s resistance to external attack on the sidewalls and reduces punctures due to impact or pinching. 90005 90002 Michelin Wild Mud Advanced Reinforced Folding 650B Tyre 90005 90002 90109 90005 90002 These Wild Mud 650B tyres from Michelin have been designed for muddy Enduro terrains and offer outstanding performance, good grip, excellent traction, and great self cleaning. They’re particularly effective in a muddy Enduro event when these things matter the most.90005 90002 90005 90008 The best winter mountain bike tyres for winter for icy conditions 90009 90002 Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Evo LiteSkin 650B Folding MTB Tyre 90005 90002 90120 90005 90002 The Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Evo LiteSkin Folding MTB Tyre has 378 spikes that bite firmly into icy roads gripping tightly to help you to stay upright. 90005 90002 90005 90008 The best winter mountain bike tyres for winter in hard-pack conditions 90009 90002 Michelin Wild Race’r Advanced Folding MTB Tyre 90005 90002 90131 90005 90002 Michelin Wild Race’r tyres use an optimised tread design to improve performance on dry, hard packed terrain.Low height blocks along the entire tread aid in fast rolling, while the diamond shape blocks, on the sides, provide more ridges and grip. 90005 90002 Continental Trail King Folding MTB Tyre — Protection Apex 90005 90002 90138 90005 90002 The Continental Trail King is an all-purpose weapon. Developed to handle a broad range of terrains, the Continental Trail King is a super fast tyre with good grip. 90005 90008 The best road tyre for puncture protection 90009 90002 Schwalbe Marathon Plus Smartguard Rigid Road Tyre 90005 90002 90147 90005 90002 Famed for its puncture protection, Schwable have overhauled the Marathon Plus.The flat-resistant tyre gets a new, dynamic profile and boasts many internal improvements such as improved Smart Guard that helps reduce rolling resistance. 90005 90002 Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Folding Road Tyre 90005 90002 90154 90005 90002 This top-level racing clincher has exceptional winter and wet condition performance with a Duraskin® cut-resistant layer from bead to bead, and two extra Vectran Breakers help to increase puncture protection. 90005 90002 90159 90160 90005 90008 The best winter road tyre for wet conditions 90009 90002 Michelin Power All Season Folding Road Tyre (700 x 28c) 90005 90002 90167 90005 90002 The Michelin Power All Season tyre lets you ride in total confidence.Thanks to the new grip compound, the rubber can better cope with lower temperatures, and increases your traction on variable road surfaces. 90005 90002 Continental Grand Prix 4000S II Folding Road Tyre 90005 90002 90174 90005 90002 Continental’s Grand Prix 4000S II Road Tyre features a Vectran breaker for unsurpassed puncture protection and Continental’s advanced BlackChili compound for lower rolling resistance and increased grip. 90005 90008 The best winter all-round bike tyres 90009 90002 Michelin Power Endurance Folding Road Tyre (700 x 25c) 90005 90002 90183 90005 90002 For cyclists looking for endurance, bead-to-bead protection, and long life from their tyre, they need not look much further than the Michelin Power Endurance Folding Road Tyre (700 x 25c) offers you all-round protection, lower rolling resistance and superior wear and tear with excellent grip.90005 90002 90005 90002 Vittoria Rubino Pro Endurance G + Folding Graphene Tyre 90005 90002 90192 90005 90002 The new Rubino Pro Endurance tyre, with G + (Graphene) technology, has a unique diamond tread pattern and is designed for riding in the most challenging of road and weather conditions. A great high-mileage training tyre for all seasons and weathers. 90005 .90000 What Is Natural Rubber and Why Are We Searching for New Sources? · Frontiers for Young Minds 90001 90002 Abstract 90003 90004 What is rubber and where does it come from? Rubber is a natural product produced by plants and is present in many of the goods used in our daily lives.Rubber has had an important role in human history, throughout the development of human civilizations. It still plays an important role, and that is why we need to search for new rubber sources.Nowadays, 99% of the natural rubber we use is extracted from a tree called 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006. In this article, we give some details about the best alternative rubber sources currently available. 90007 90008 What is Natural Rubber? 90009 90004 Natural rubber is produced from plants and is classified as a 90011 polymer 90012. A polymer is a chemical compound with large molecules made of many smaller molecules of the same kind. Some polymers exist naturally and others are produced in laboratories and factories.90007 90004 Natural rubber is one of the most important polymers for human society. Natural rubber is an essential raw material used in the creation of more than 40,000 products. It is used in medical devices, surgical gloves, aircraft and car tires, pacifiers, clothes, toys, etc. Natural rubber is obtained from 90011 latex 90012, a milky liquid present in either the latex vessels (ducts) or in the cells of rubber-producing plants. Around 20,000 species of plants produce latex, but only 2,500 species have been found to contain rubber in their latex.The biological function of rubber for the plants is not fully known. However, it has been shown that rubber can help plants to heal after they are damaged, by covering wounds and stopping the bleeding. This blocks the entry of harmful bacteria and viruses into the plants. 90007 90004 The properties of rubber include high strength and the capability to be stretched many times without breaking. Natural rubber compounds are exceptionally flexible, good electrical insulators, and are resistant to many corrosive substances [1].90007 90004 Synthetic (man-made) rubber can be produced through a chemical process, but people have not been able to produce a synthetic rubber that has all the properties of natural rubber. So, natural rubber can not be replaced by synthetic rubber in most of its applications. This is why natural rubber is still very important to human society [2]. 90007 90008 The History of Natural Rubber 90009 90004 As far back as 1600 B.C., Mesoamerican peoples in Mexico and Central America were using liquid rubber for medicines, in rituals, and to paint.It was not until the conquest of America that the use of rubber reached the western World. Christopher Columbus was responsible for finding rubber in the early 1490s. Natives from Haiti played football with a ball made of rubber, and later, in 1615, Fray Juan de Torquemada wrote about indigenous and Spanish settlers of South America wearing shoes, clothing and hats made by dipping cloth into latex, making these items stronger and waterproof . But rubber had some problems: it became sticky in response to warm weather and it hardened and cracked with cold weather.90007 90004 One century later, in 1734, Charles Marie de la Condamine went to South America on a trip. There, he found two different trees containing latex: 90005 90011 Hevea brasiliensis 90012 90006 (Figure 1B) and 90005 Castilla elastica 90006 [3], but only the first became important as a natural rubber source. The reason why the Hevea tree succeeded over the Castilla tree was the way its latex was transported along the trunk. The Hevea tree has connected latex tubes (Figure 1A) that form a network, whereas the Castilla tree does not form a connected system.Thanks to its connected system, the Hevea tree bleeds latex when a special incision is made in its trunk (Figure 2). Without the latex tube connections, the Castilla tree does not bleed latex, making harvest of rubber more difficult. 90007 90034 90035 90036 Figure 1 — 90011 (A) 90012 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006 trunk section and magnification of a longitudinal section of the connected tubes. 90041 90036 90011 (B) 90012 A 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006 plantation and a drawing of the leaves, flowers, and fruit of this plant.90041 90048 90049 90035 90036 Figure 2 — 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006, with a special incision made for latex extraction. 90041 90048 90004 In 1839 Charles Goodyear invented the 90011 vulcanization 90012 process, solving many of the problems associated with rubber. Vulcanization is the process of treating rubber with sulfur and heat, to harden it while keeping its elasticity. It prevents rubber from melting in the summer and cracking in the winter. A few years after this important discovery, in 1888 Dunlop invented the air-filled rubber tire, making rubber an extremely important raw material worldwide.Rubber became an essential material for the Industrial Revolution. 90007 90004 From 1850 to 1920 році, businessmen were pushing entrepreneurs and traders to increase the amount of rubber extracted from Amazonian trees. During this period, the Brazilian Amazon was the only source of rubber and they controlled the price, making rubber expensive. At the same time, as more and more industry was developing in Europe and USA, more uses for rubber were being found [4]. Rubber was such an important material for Brazilians that they prohibited the export of rubber seeds or seedlings.However, in тисяча вісімсот сімдесят шість, H. A. Wickham managed to smuggle 70,000 rubber seeds, hidden in banana leaves, and brought them to England. From those seeds, only 1,900 seedlings survived and were sent to Malaysia to start the first rubber plantations in Asia. This marked the beginning of the end for Brazil as the world’s main rubber producer. After 12 years, rubber production in the new plantations in Malaysia were as competitive as the ones in the Amazon and these plantations soon became the world’s main natural rubber supplier (Figure 3).90007 90062 90035 90036 Figure 3 — 90011 (A) 90012 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006 originated in the Amazon and made its way to Malaysia, the main producer of natural rubber. 90041 90036 90011 (B) 90012 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006. 90011 (C) 90012 An alternative rubber source, guayule (90005 Parthenium argentatum 90006). 90011 (D) 90012 An alternative rubber source, Kazak dandelion (90005 Taraxacum koksaghyz 90006). 90041 90048 90004 Henry Nicolas Ridley was a scientist who became director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens in 1888.While working there, he found the first 11 rubber trees that were planted in Malaysia and he started promoting the establishment of rubber tree plantations. Sometime later, he developed a revolutionary method for harvesting latex from the 90005 Hevea 90006 tree by continuous tapping. Tapping is the process of removing the latex from the tree. This discovery allowed a much higher latex yield to be achieved, and rubber became an essential material in Singapore’s development. The new plantations were more competitive in price, so from the end of the nineteenth century until the First World War, rubber collection from wild sources in tropical America declined tremendously.During the war, the supply of rubber was cut off. The USA, Germany, and Russia started searching for alternative rubber sources, either natural or synthetic, since the Amazonian trees were not supplying enough rubber for their needs [3]. Several research programs started in these countries, but, after the war, the supply of rubber from Malaysian plantations started again and the effort to look for new rubber sources almost disappeared. 90007 90004 Nowadays, around 90% of natural rubber is produced in Asia, with Thailand and Indonesia being the most important rubber suppliers (supplying more than 60% of the world’s natural rubber).90007 90008 Why are we Looking for New Rubber Sources? 90009 90004 In recent years, the search for alternative sources of rubber has begun again. There are three main reasons for this: 90007 90004 1. 90096 Threats to the 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006 tree and its rubber production 90099 90007 90004 First of all, the rubber trees are exposed to several diseases and since Asian rubber plantations started from only a handful of seeds, all the trees are genetically very similar. Less genetic variation means lower ability to fight against plant diseases.If one tree becomes sick, the illness can rapidly spread to the entire plantation. Today, the most important and dangerous disease that 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006 suffers from is called South American leaf blight disease. This disease can cause the devastation of an entire plantation. It is still confined to the tropical Americas, but if it arrives in Asia, it could mean the end of the rubber plantations. Under natural conditions, rubber trees commonly grow with a lot of space between them.In nature, serious damage to 90005 Hevea 90006 from South American leaf blight is unusual, because the other kinds of trees growing in between the rubber trees are not susceptible to the disease and act as barriers. But, on plantations where rubber trees grow very closely together, it can become lethal. 90007 90004 Second of all, an important threat to the natural rubber market is the very competitive and fast-growing market for palm oil and its side products. There is an increasing demand for both rubber and palm oil but, in Malaysia, the area in which Hevea brasiliensis is being grown is not decreasing, however, the area dedicated to grow oil palm is increasing.If the continuous growth of oil palm plantations does not stop, either the natural forest or the 90005 Hevea 90006 plantations will have to get smaller to make room for new crops of oil palms. 90007 90004 And last but not least, 90011 rubber tapping 90012 is a not well-paid job and it is difficult work. Young people tend to choose more attractive work, which could result in a shortage of skilled rubber tappers. 90007 90004 2. 90096 Rubber from 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006 can cause serious allergy 90099 90007 90004 The latex proteins in rubber made from 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006 can produce severe allergies in certain people, even when they are exposed to very small amounts.The latex proteins are very difficult to separate from the rubber in the purification process. Since these allergies can be so dangerous, an alternative to rubber that does not contain these latex proteins would be advantageous. 90007 90004 3. 90096 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006 is only produced in a single area 90099 90007 90004 The conditions needed to grow these rubber trees are very specific and only occur in certain areas in the world. Most of our natural rubber is produced in a small region of Asia, making the supply vulnerable to damage.If the Asian plantations can not produce enough rubber, rubber stocks could be insufficient for the world’s needs. It would be helpful to be able to find other plants producing rubber that can be grown in other areas of the world. 90007 90008 Are There any Alternative Rubber Sources? 90009 90004 Not all rubber-containing plants produce good-quality rubber. Some plants that have been considered as alternative rubber sources are guayule, Russian dandelion, rubber rabbit brush, goldenrod, sunflower, fig tree, and lettuce.Two of these plants seem to be the best alternatives to 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006: guayule and Russian dandelion. 90007 90004 Guayule (90005 Parthenium argentatum 90006) is a native shrub of the north plateau region of Mexico, which usually grows in limestone soils in areas with very low rainfall (Figure 3C). Guayule grows best when temperatures are between 18 and 49.5 ° C. Under these conditions, it can live for 30-40 years. Rubber is found in the stems and in the roots of guayule, and it is found in the individual cells of the plant, instead of in latex vessels or tubes.The rubber content of guayule increases over a period of several years. Less than 1% of the world’s rubber comes from guayule. Rubber from this plant is studied for biomedical applications, because it does not cause allergies. In order to extract the rubber from the plant, guayule tissue must be thoroughly softened and smashed up to free the rubber particles contained in the individual cells. The quality of rubber from guayule is not good enough for all uses, because it has more impurities than does rubber from 90005 Hevea brasiliensis 90006.90007 90004 The other good option for rubber, Russian or Kazak dandelion (90005 Taraxacum koksaghyz 90006), is a fast-growing plant with a high-quality rubber that was discovered in тисячі дев’ятсот тридцять одна in Kazakhstan (Figure 3D). Kazak dandelion grows very close to the ground, can be grown in regions with mild temperatures, and produces yellow flower heads (they look like a flower but they are a dense group of small flowers without stem). Kazak dandelion contains rubber in the leaves, flowers, and roots, but only rubber in the roots is good for extraction, due to its higher quality and quantity.For 90011 rubber extraction 90012, Russian dandelions must be either pressed or mixed [5]. Kazak dandelions have another advantage-they also produce a carbohydrate called inulin, which is a substance that can be used in foods as well as the production of medicines against cancer, biofuels, or even bioplastics (plastics made out of natural products). At this point, it is still too expensive to extract the rubber from Kazak dandelions. Through research, a plant with bigger root and higher rubber content can hopefully be developed.90007 90008 Conclusion 90009 90004 Even though the rubber tree is the best source of rubber available today, it is facing some important threats. Rubber is only produced from plants that grown in certain unique areas. In order to expand the sources of natural rubber and avoid the dangers of limited production, we should search for new rubber-containing plants and improve the ones already known, to try to make them economically competitive. 90007 90155 Glossary 90156 90004 90011 Polymer 90012: 90011 ↑ 90012 A chemical compound with large molecules made of many smaller molecules of the same kind.Some polymers exist naturally and others are produced in laboratories and factories. 90007 90004 90011 Latex 90012: 90011 ↑ 90012 A whitish milky fluid containing proteins, starch, alkaloids, etc., that is produced by many plants. In some plants it also contains rubber. 90007 90004 90011 Hevea Brasiliensis 90012: 90011 ↑ 90012 It is a tree native to the Amazon. It is economically very important because the latex collected from the tree is the primary source of natural rubber. 90007 90004 90011 Vulcanization 90012: 90011 ↑ 90012 Process of treating rubber with sulfur and heat, to harden it while keeping its elasticity.90007 90004 90011 Rubber Tapping 90012: 90011 ↑ 90012 Process of collecting latex from a rubber tree. A collecting groove is made in the bark of the tree before sunrise and the latex is collected in the late afternoon. 90007 90004 90011 Rubber Extraction 90012: 90011 ↑ 90012 The action of obtaining or separating rubber from the root tissue. 90007 90008 Conflict of Interest Statement 90009 90004 The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.90007 90008 Acknowledgments 90009 90004 We would like to thank Natalia Carrero, Laura Barker, and Marcel Prins for their input in reviewing the text. 90007 90004 The AIR project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 752921. 90007 90203 90204 90205 References 90206 90004 [1] 90011 ↑ 90012 Vijayaram, T. R. 2009. A technical review on rubber. 90005 Int. J. Des. Manuf. Tech.90006 3: 25-36. 90007 90004 [2] 90011 ↑ 90012 van Beilen, J., and Poirier, Y. 2007. Guayule and Russian dandelion as alternative sources of natural rubber. 90005 Crit. Rev. Biotech. 90006 27: ​​217-31. doi: 10.1080 / 07388550701775927 90007 90004 [3] 90011 ↑ 90012 Whaley, W. G. 1948. Rubber-the primary source for American production. 90005 Econ. Bot. 90006 2: 198-216. doi: 10.1007 / BF02859004 90007 90004 [4] 90011 ↑ 90012 Ullán de la Rosa, F. J. 2004. La era del caucho en el Amazonas (1870-1920): modelos de explotación y relaciones sociales de producción.90005 Anal. Mus. Am. 90006 12: 183-204. 90007 90004 [5] 90011 ↑ 90012 van Beilen, J., and Poirier, Y. 2007. Establishment of new crops for the production of natural rubber. 90005 Trends Biotechnol. 90006 25: 522-9. doi: 10.1016 / j.tibtech.2007.08.009 90007 .90000 Best overshoes for cycling 2020: how to keep your feet warm and dry through winter 90001 90002 In this cycling overshoes buying guide, we collected only the best items you can buy today, from trusted manufacturers. No one likes cold, wet feet when cycling during the winter months in the cold, rainy days. Overshoes might look clunky but they offer an essential line of defence against cold, wet weather for cyclists. 90003 90002 The clue is in the name. Overshoes are designed to be worn over the top of your cycling shoes, with holes on the bottom for your cleats to pop out of, so you can still clip into your pedals.Whether you’re a professional cyclist putting in the hard winter yards or a commuter riding to work by bike, overshoes are a sound investment and will pay dividends in terms of your comfort. 90003 90002 In this buying guide we’re looking at fully-fledged overshoes, but other options include toe covers, designed for cool mornings (typically in spring and autumn) when you do not need the all-in protection of overshoes, and oversocks , made from a breathable knitted material — again for those rides when you want a little protection from the wind, but overshoes are, well, overkill.90003 90008 What are the best overshoes? 90009 90002 Shimano is best known as a groupset manufacturer — take a look at the gears and brakes on your bike and there’s a good chance they will bear the Shimano logo — but the Japanese firm also makes some rather good bike clothing, including the S- Phyre Insulated Shoe Covers. 90003 90002 Shimano’s flagship overshoes are made from a stretchy neoprene, providing a snug fit around your cycling shoes and ankles, with an additional coating to stop water penetrating the fabric — unlike most neoprene overshoes.The material also keeps things toasty. 90003 90002 These are superb overshoes, albeit one of the pricier options out there, but we’ve got a whole range of options for you to choose from, from the likes of Sportful, Castelli, Gore and more. 90003 90008 Buying overshoes: what to look for 90009 90002 Overshoes are typically made from either a lightweight, windproof fabric or neoprene. The former provides low-bulk protection with improved breathability over neoprene, sometimes with the addition of a waterproof membrane or silicone / polyurethane coating to add rain / splash protection.Some overshoes will also add a fleece lining, making them better suited to winter riding, but neoprene is the go-to option for the grimmest months of the year. 90003 90002 Neoprene is not necessarily designed to be waterproof in a deluge but, just like a wetsuit, will retain plenty of warmth when soaked through and is also windproof, making it a popular choice. Your feet should stay toasty, as long as you’re generating body warmth. On the flip side, neoprene lacks breathability, so is best avoided in mild conditions — you’ll find your feet getting damp through sweat, rather than rain.90003 90002 Despite the claims of manufacturers, no overshoes will be completely waterproof — in persistent heavy rain, water will eventually find its way in through the cuff, cleat holes or zip, if there is one. The key, then, is finding a set of overshoes that will put up the best fight against inclement weather. 90003 90002 Depending on the construction, some overshoes will feature a zip on the rear to make them easier to pull on and off, while others will rely on the natural stretch of the fabric.A waterproof zip will provide a little extra protection for what is otherwise an area vulnerable to water ingress. 90003 90002 Overshoes can come in for a fair amount of wear and tear, whether that’s repeatedly pulling them on before a ride, scuffing a foot on the kerb while waiting at a set of lights, or sliding across the cafe floor. The best overshoes will have double-stitched seams, particularly on the bottom of the shoe around the cleat holes, where you should also look out for a tougher, more durable fabric.90003 90002 That’s the essentials dealt with. Otherwise, if you commute to work by bike, reflective detailing will improve your visibility in low-light conditions — in fact, it’s useful throughout winter, full stop. Research also suggests moving body parts — i.e. your feet while cycling — are more likely to attract a driver’s attention. 90003 90002 The final thing to consider is sizing. Overshoes rely on a snug fit to provide an effective seal around your feet — too loose and water will run into them quicker than you can say ‘soggy feet’; too tight and you will not be able to pull them on in the first place.It can be a tricky balance to strike, finding a set of overshoes that wrap around your feet but do not require a pre-ride wrestling match. Some combinations will work better than others, depending on the fabric of the overshoe and the design of your footwear (particularly the retention system). 90003 90008 The best overshoes, in order 90009 90034 90003 90036 1. Shimano S-Phyre Insulated Shoe Covers 90037 90002 90039 Best overshoes for all-round winter protection 90040 90003 90039 Reasons to buy 90040 90002 + Warm, waterproof protection from the elements + Flexible fabric provides a snug fit + Durable, reinforced sole 90003 90039 Reasons to avoid 90040 90002 -Limited reflectivity-Premium price tag 90003 90002 Shimano only launched these S-Phyre Insulated Shoe Covers last winter but they quickly became a firm favourite thanks to the excellent protection offered against cold, wet weather.Yes, these are a premium option, but they outperform other overshoes at this level. 90003 90002 The overshoes are primarily made from a neoprene fabric that performs just as you’d hope. It does an excellent job at keeping water out — crucially, the exterior has been treated to stop rain soaking in, unlike most neoprene overshoes, so water beads up on the surface and simply runs off — while keeping your feet toasty deep down into single- figure temperatures. 90003 90002 The material is super-stretchy, so while there are no zips here, the overshoes are relatively simple to pull on.On that note, however, it’s important to fully take the overshoes off after each ride, rather than folding them down onto your cycling shoes, otherwise the fabric is liable to stretching. 90003 90002 The limited seams Shimano’s overshoes do have are sealed to stop water seeping in, while the bottom is made from a tough, reinforced fabric that’s shown little sign of wear and tear in testing. Our main gripe here is the lack of reflectivity, with just a thin stripe on the rear. These are performance-focused overshoes, but a little extra reflective detailing would not go amiss.90003 90034 90003 90036 2. Castelli Diluvio Pro Shoe Covers 90037 90002 90039 Pro-inspired overshoes for deep-winter riding 90040 90003 90039 Reasons to buy 90040 90002 + Thick neoprene provides excellent protection + High cut to prevent water ingress + Generous reflectivity 90003 90039 Reasons to avoid 90040 90002 -Lack of reinforcement on sole 90003 90002 Castelli is the clothing sponsor of Team Sky, providing kit to the likes of Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas, and these overshoes are the result of a request from the British squad for deep-winter protection.90003 90002 As a result, Castelli has increased the thickness of the neoprene material to 4mm — many neoprene overshoes opt for 3mm, although the GripGrabs we’ve featured also utilise a beefier construction. On top of that, the overshoes extend significantly past the ankle and onto the calf, providing more protection than most, and the rear zip is water resistant and finished with a neoprene cover to stop it rubbing against your leg. 90003 90002 There’s also a generous amount of reflectivity, with large Castelli print on the outside and an oversized panel on the Achilles.The toe area is protected by a tougher rubber material but we’d like to see this used on the underside, too. 90003 90034 90003 90036 3. GripGrab RaceThermo Hi-Vis Waterproof Winter Shoe Covers 90037 90002 90039 Zipperless overshoes with tons of high-vis detail 90040 90003 90039 Reasons to buy 90040 90002 + 4mm-thick neoprene provides plenty of protection + Flexible fabric and snug fit + High-vis colourway and tons of reflectivity 90003 90039 Reasons to avoid 90040 90002 -Large cleat holes leave shoe vents exposed 90003 90002 Like our winning Shimano overshoes, GripGrab’s design utilises a zipperless construction, relying on the stretch of the fabric to provide a close fit around the shoe, ankle and calf.90003 90002 The 4mm-thick neoprene provides ample warmth for winter riding and GripGrab has put plenty of thought into the details, with an elasticated velcro band running across the underside of the overshoe, once again to keep the fit close. That said, the large cleat holes do leave shoe vents exposed. 90003 90002 Otherwise, the sole stitching has a rubber coating to improve durability, plus the version we’ve chosen here goes to town with high-vis and reflective detail. What’s more, there’s a tab on each heel to mount a compatible light — ideal for winter.90003 90034 90003 90036 4. Sportful SpeedSkin Silicone Booties 90037 90002 90039 An excellent option for milder conditions 90040 90003 90039 Reasons to buy 90040 90002 + Weatherproof fabric with taped seams + Well-suited to mild temperatures + Close fit 90003 90039 Reasons to avoid 90040 90002 -Limited thermal protection-Fabric can be tough to pull over shoe buckles 90003.90000 The best mountain bike mud tyres in 2020 90001 90002 Here’s our rundown of the best mountain bike mud tyres to help you beat the gloop and keep on rolling until spring comes around. 90003 90002 >>> Click here to find the best mountain bike tyres 90003 90002 Every winter, rather than slip and slide defensively through the gloop and muck, it pays real dividends to fit specific mud tyres. They bring extra grip and promote greater confidence at every turn, allowing you to keep attacking the trails.90003 90002 Pick a versatile mud tyre and you’ll only need to swap tyres once this winter. With half an hour in the workshop, you can enhance your riding until the clocks go forward again next spring. 90003 90010 The best mountain bike mud tyres 90011 90012 90013 WTB Verdict Wet, £ 57.99 90014 90013 Schwalbe Magic Mary, £ 49.99 90014 90013 Michelin Wild Mud Advanced, £ 56.99 90014 90013 Specialized Storm Control, £ 30.00 90014 90013 Maxxis Shorty, £ 54.99 90014 90013 Specialized Hillbilly, £ 35.00 90014 90025 90010 ‘Buy Now’ links 90011 90002 You will notice that beneath each review summary is both a link to the full version of the review and a purchasing link. If you click on one of these links then mbr may receive a small amount of money from the retailer should you go to purchase the product from them. Do not worry, this does not affect the amount you pay. 90003 90002 All of the following mud tyres scored at least 9/10 in our test. Here’s a complete list of all the tyres we’ve tested.90003 90002 90003 90034 WTB Verdict Wet, £ 57.99 90035 90002 90037 Rating: 9/10 90038 90003 90002 With towering 7.5mm edge incisors and 5mm centre blocks, this is about as meaty as you can in a mountain bike tyre. It’s the toothy sibling to the Verdict Dry, and both centre and edge knobs have been lengthened considerably for extra grip in everything from damp conditions to full-on quagmires. 90003 90002 90037 Read the full review of the WTB Verdict Wet 90038 90003 90002 90003 90010 Schwalbe Magic Mary, £ 49.99 90011 90002 90037 Score: 9/10 90038 90003 90002 For aggressive riding in UK conditions, the Magic Mary is a great performer. The moto-style blocks clear crud well, cornering and braking is excellent and the tyre never over or under steers on severe cambers or dragging brakes down ruts. With simple, huge square blocks jutting out at all angles, the tread pattern looks a lot like a classic motocross tyre, and, sure enough, chuck it at some gloop and it’ll take everything in its stride — only a pure downhill spike has more bite.90003 90002 90037 Read the full review of the Schwalbe Magic Mary tyre 90038 90003 90002 90003 90010 Michelin Wild Mud Advanced, £ 56.99 90011 90002 90037 Score: 9/10 90038 90003 90002 Almost certainly a tad overkill for 90 per cent of UK riding then, but an awesome tool if you want to embarrass your mates on an uplift day in the rain, or ride the gnarliest tracks in your area. 90003 90002 90037 Read the full review of the Michelin Wild Mud Advanced tyre 90038 90003 90002 90003 90010 Specialized Storm Control, £ 30.00 90011 90002 90037 Score: 9/10 90038 90003 90002 A firm favourite here at mbr, the tubeless-ready Specialized Storm Control is studded with small blocks, and designed for mud, but versatile enough for most trail riding. 90003 90002 90037 Read the full review of the Specialized Storm Control tyre 90038 90003 90002 90003 90010 Maxxis Shorty, £ 54.99 90011 90002 90037 Score: 9/10 90038 90003 90002 The design is essentially a cut-down mud spike, but it’s proven way more versatile than a pure mud specialist and will happily double up as a dry weather tyre.90003 90002 90037 Read the full review of the Maxxis Shorty tyre 90038 90003 90002 90003 90010 Specialized Hillbilly, £ 35.00 90011 90002 90037 Score: 9/10 90038 90003 90002 The highest praise we can give it is how we often forgot this was a test tyre, and just got on with our riding — the Hillbilly simply gets the job done without any issues. 90003 90002 90037 Read the full review of the Specialized Hillbilly tyre 90038 90003 90010 The best mountain bike mud tyres: the verdict 90011 90002 The best mountain bike mud tyre for XC duties: 90037 Specialized Storm Control 90038.90003 90002 The best mountain bike mud tyre for mixed loose conditions: 90037 Schwalbe Magic Mary 90038. 90003 90002 The best mountain ibke mud tyre for utter filth / race conditions: 90037 WTB Verdict Wet 90038. 90003 90002 The best mountain bike mud tyre for a budget: 90037 Specialized Hillbilly 90038. 90003 90010 Front tyre priority 90011 90002 Front-end security remains a priority in winter — a back-end slide is always much more manageable — and mixing and matching tyre brands, compounds and sizes at either end is the best way to balance rolling speed, weight and control.If you’re a proper tweaker, you can always trim knobs down for custom grip levels. 90003 90002 Rear winter tyres face a difficult balancing act, since weight and rolling friction are far more noticeable out back, and rear tyres are also much more prone to damage and punctures, so require extra casing thickness and protection. 90003 90010 Traction versus drag 90011 90002 Well-spaced, spiky blocks are the signature tread pattern of winter-friendly tyres, but the height and aggression of these knobs, and the weight and width of the tyre casing, are further factors that directly affect drag, overall bulk and a product’s optimal terrain and purpose.90003 90002 Even with mud tyres you can have too much of a good thing, which is why you need to balance wet weather grip with acceptable rolling resistance. 90003 90010 Rubber compound 90011 90002 Durometer is the quoted measure for rubber hardness, with higher numbers signifying a firmer compound, i.e. 60a is harder than 50a. This durometer measurement is only a guideline, as proprietary compounds and blends can also make huge differences to grip, rebound damping and rolling speed. In this respect, rubber is something of a ‘dark art’, with certain tyres often surprising on specific terrain and surfaces.90003 90010 Weight 90011 90002 Mud tyres need significantly more support to keep big tread blocks stable, which adds weight. More fabric and rubber in the construction of grippier, wider tyres also adds weight, but bigger air volumes offer more comfort and isolation from the ground — especially useful on hardtails to smooth out the rougher ride. 90003 90002 Overall rotating weight becomes very noticeable when big tyres pick up clag, and therefore muddy tyres can make it hard to change direction at speed — although that is not always a bad thing in extreme conditions! 90003 90010 Casing 90011 90002 It’s harder to stick to precise lines to protect sidewalls from abrasions and sharp edges in slippery winter conditions.Therefore it’s worth thinking about running a heavier casing with better protection and durability — the caveat being that riding in the winter is slow-going, and a heavier carcass can decrease acceleration and rolling speed further. 90003 90002 90003 90010 Tread 90011 90002 More open tread patterns should hold onto less gloop and clear more readily once up to speed, but the downside is greater rolling resistance. Mud tyres get pronounced shoulder blocks for better cornering hold and off-camber bite.Rubber formulas and special coatings on the outer casing surface (beneath the blocks) are also designed to shed sticky mud more quickly. 90003 90010 Width 90011 90002 Thinner tyres carve through deep, thick mud more effectively, but be realistic as to how much of your ride time is spent in proper gloop, as wider tyres are generally better everywhere else. A good compromise is a wider ‘grip’ tyre up front and a thinner ‘drive’ tyre out back, but beware that super-fat front rubber can ‘float’ a little in serious mud rather than ‘cutting’ in.90003 90010 Air pressure 90011 90002 Different tyres require different pressures and, generally, the thicker the casing the lower the air pressure you can get away with. 90003 90002 Year-round, aim for the minimum air pressure that keeps the tyre casing from twisting too much under hard cornering forces and still prevents rim strikes under impacts. If you often run with more than 30psi, try reducing pressure and experimenting with softer tyres in winter. 90003 .