A change of tyres can transform a winter’s riding.
There is little worse than standing at the roadside, wet through from the falling rain and hands numb with cold, trying to fix a puncture.
The roads are awash with debris (glass, flint, thorns and the like) in winter which increases the likelihood of picking up punctures, and while some riders swear by using a race tyre year-round and will roll through winter without picking up a single flat, multiple stops at the roadside can be enough to deflate the spirits of the most motivated rider.
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Winter tyres (or rather, considering the prevalent conditions in the UK, the kind of fit-and-forget training tyres you can leave on your bike year-round) are typically heavier and less lively than summer race tyres. The key, then, is finding a all-round tyre that strikes a balance between grip, puncture protection, rolling resistance and ride quality. The best training tyres offer an element of all four.
With that in mind, here’s what to consider when buying a set of winter tyres, as well as some recommendations of our own. What’s your favourite winter tyre? Tell us in the comments section below.