TPI, PSI, ISO. 650b, 26", 29", 700c. Let's face it, buying tires for your bike can be overwhelming! Add in studded tires for winter commuting in snow covered regions and finding the right tire is darn near impossible.

Madison has been experiencing a nice snowy winter this year and the crew at Planet Bike has been constantly tinkering and swapping out parts and components to make the daily commute a little more safe and enjoyable. Below you will find 4 of the tires we have chosen to ride for the worst winter conditions.

1. Nokian (Suomi) Hakkapelitta A10 - 700 x 32 - 72 Studs

At about $45 a tire the Hakkapelittas are on the lower end of the studded tire price spectrum. The solid center tread provides a fast commute while 72 studs sprinkled along the tire's edge keep the mind at ease while cornering on ice. On raw pavement you don’t have to worry about sliding out around corners and they don’t weigh much more than a regular tire. They are perfect for the winter cyclist who may be trying studded tires for the first time. The biggest limitation of this tire is the non-aggressivene tread pattern. While they work wonderfully on ice and hardpack, they don't fare as well in fresh snow.

2. Kenda Klondike - 700 x 35 - 110 Studs

The Klondikes are a solid, middle-of-the-road studded tire. Their width is just a tad greater than the Hakkeplitta, but still narrow enough to cut through the snow and bite the hard pack below. They cost about $64 a tire. The tread pattern is relatively deep and generously spaced so they do well in the powder, hard pack, or ice. However, this also means that the tires roll with greater resistance on hardpack and pavement.

3. Nokian (Suomi) Hakkapelitta – 700 x 40 - 240 Studs

Thes Hakkapelitta 240 have a stud on almost every knob, giving tremendous grip whether you're turning or riding in a straight line. The deep and widely spaced tread works great in fresh snow and ice covered paths. An added bonus is that when worn out, the studs on Nokian tires can be replaced.

While the large amount of studs is great for snow and ice, they are not the best on solid pavement. As with any studded tire, there is an increase in rolling resistance. This is especially noticeable on bare pavement. The 240 steel studs add a substantial amount of weight/rolling mass. At 940 grams, they are close to 3 times the weight of a standard (non-studded) cyclocross tire. 

The Hakkapelitta is widely viewed as the standard in studded tires. With that title comes price. These tires are expensive. You can expect to pay about $70 per tire.

4. Nokian (Suomi) Gazza Extreme - 29 x 2.1 - 294 studs

The name says it all. At 294 studs these tires are nothing short of extreme. Every single lug features a steel stud. The Gazza Extreme are sized for 29er mountain bikes. The pros and cons are spot on with the Hakkeplitta. However, the Gazza Extreme are also great on hardpacked off road trails. These tires top the price scale at $160 a set.

Passing your fellow bike commuters with elegance and style has never been easier! The Courtesy Bell Classic emits a beautiful tone. The high fatigue spring eliminates unintentional “courtesy dings” on bumpy roads. Fits bar diameters 22.3mm-26.0mm and is available in either Brass or Silver.

In an effort to introduce more youth to cycling, Planet Bike and the Alliance for Biking & Walking have increased their support of Earn-A-Bike programs (EAB), and recognized the key role these programs play in bicycle advocacy.

Earn-A-Bike programs teach youth the basics of bike repair and maintenance, and safe urban riding. Perhaps more importantly, the EAB programs give kids the chance to develop confidence, become more self-reliant and develop positive relationships with adults as they work on bikes. Students collect credit hours working in the EAB shop and are given the option to build their own bike after they have reached their credit goals.

In October, Planet Bike, in partnership with the Alliance, donated hundreds of bicycle accessories to seventeen Earn-A-Bike programs from Portland to Boston, St. Paul to New Orleans and many others in between.

"Biking is an awesome way to empower kids and teach lasting life skills," said Jay Ferm, Director of Advocacy for Planet Bike. "These Earn-A Bike programs help kids who can't afford a bike to become self-reliant and independent while encouraging their innate curiosity and generosity."

"Earn-a-bike programs across North America are growing as parents and communities see the benefits of teaching kids valuable repair skills while enabling affordable, healthy transportation," said Jeff Miller, President and CEO of the Alliance for Biking & Walking. "As the programs grow, they need supplies to keep pace with demand  and Planet Bike's donated accessories will be a big boost."

Planet Bike kicked off their youth biking initiative as a featured sponsor for the 2012 Youth Bike Summit and continues this support in 2013. Planet Bike's goal is to further engage with these young cyclists and advocates and continue to stoke their flame of enthusiasm for cycling. The Alliance works with EAB programs to connect them with one another and other advocacy organizations, helping grow the youth bicycle revolution and fostering the advocates of tomorrow.

Louisville, Kentucky has long been known for its famous Louisville Sluggers, the historic Kentucky Derby, dominant college basketball teams, and smooth bourbon. Lesser known is the fact that the city is emerging as a cycling hotbed.  Louisville has hosted the U.S. Road Cycling Nationals, a stop on the USGP cyclocross series, and this year, the Cyclocross World Championships! Planet Bike’s first SUPERCOMMUTER of 2013, Mary Beth Brown, has thrived in Historic Old Louisville for ten years, the past three living in a car-free household.

Prior to December 2009, Mary Beth only occasionally commuted by bike.  It wasn’t until her car died that fateful month that a daily bicycle commuter was born.

For the past 3 years, Mary Beth has been pedaling herself around the Derby City and has also invested her energies into making bicycling safer, more popular and more fun for the citizens of her community.  You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bicycling advocate with a more down-to-earth outlook than Mary Beth. She served on  Bicycling for Louisville's Board for a number of years.  Now she plans rides that bridge the gap between hardcore commuters and people who are interested but too intimidated. Every year she leads a small ride to Churchill Downs during the lead up to the Kentucky Derby. Riders dress up in fancy attire and focus on just enjoying the ride. Mary Beth says, “Even though I'm no longer officially with any group in particular, I am dedicated to bicycling as a legitimate means of transportation, and will talk about it to anyone I meet.”

The key to success in bike commuting can be as simple as a positive experience, and a positive experience is much more likely when one is prepared.  Mary Beth’s advice to new commuters is to talk to your local advocacy organization and find a community of like-minded individuals. “It was really helpful to have the wisdom and encouragement of members of Bicycling for Louisville and our local “Car Free Happy Hour” to reduce the learning curve,” said Mary Beth. “This group informed me about gear that allowed me to become more independent and confident on my bike.”

Mary Beth’s 2,000 plus miles spent pedaling to work each year are more than just transport from point A to B. “Commuting by bicycle has really put me in touch with my community,” she says, “I love seeing the same people on my way to work - kids waiting for the bus, older folks having a cup of coffee on the porch. I love it.” Bike commuting really does open your eyes to another point of view. As Mary Beth puts it, “You can't roll your windows up on a bike.”