Ziptie your tire for better traction

[Cheaper and lighter than chains.]
Photo by Todd Boulanger

Having trouble getting a grip on all that compacted snow and ice? Here’s a super-cheap DIY solution sent in by City of Vancouver transportation planner Todd Boulanger (and originally commented on by Ian…thanks guys!):

Directions:

  • Zip tie every other rim section between spokes (range: 1 per 3 spokes or 1 per 1; depending on ice) on only rear wheel
  • Place and center and tighten zip ties so that tie clasp is facing towards hub (not too tight, just tight enough to keep from moving and not pinching tire) and between spokes
  • Test with 1 tie and spin wheel to check for tolerances with fenders and frame
  • Trim off extra cable on all ties
  • Push clasp to center it on rim facing hub
  • Spin wheel to recheck
  • Work around tire as needed (add more later if needed)

Tools:

  • 20+ zip ties (6+ inches in length) ~$3
  • Large nail clippers
  • Bike with hub or disk brakes on rear wheel

Technique:

  • Pedal in low gear smoothly and take shallow turns use only rear brake when possible.

Where would we be without zipties?

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Chris Smith
17 years ago

Is this for fixies only, or does it work with brakes?

Adam-8
Adam-8
17 years ago

There was also an article about this on the last page of the first section of the Oregonian today, which, I’d like to add, featured one of my favorite people ever, Scotty Whitlake of Rose City Messenger.

Adam-8
Adam-8
17 years ago

Wouldn’t work with a rear rim brake. disc or drum brakes or a fixed gear would be fine.

Gustavo
Gustavo
17 years ago

This [b]only[/b] works for fixies or hub/disc brakes. Any calipers would hit the zip ties as they closed on the rims. Not sure what would happen, but probably not good. 🙂

Jonathon Severdia
Jonathon Severdia
17 years ago

I have seen this technique also used as an emergency repair for a blown tire, with a dozen or so zip ties concentrated around the tear to keep the tube from exploding.

BrandonS
BrandonS
17 years ago

If you have a bike with wide enough tires this really isn’t neccessary to ride today. I got in this AM just fine on a mountain bike with a nobby front tire (to aid in balancing on the slush) and a slick rock rear tire (granted, I did lose traction periodically). I’m on the springwater for most of the ride and conditions are pretty kosher for a good time. On the streets, cars are driving much more cautiously, so I’m actually feeling much safer. So get out there!

beth
17 years ago

It worked on my bike yesterday. Sort of:

http://bikelovejones.livejournal.com

Problem is that, unless you have either a fixed or coaster rear wheel, you have to forego your rear brake to do this (the zip will hang up on the rear rim brake, so just unhook it and run it wide open, and use only your front brake).

I got tired of that approach and swapped in a beefier, grippier rear tire so I could have my rear brake back. But it’s still a great idea.

Mark Johnson
17 years ago

Zipties may be a fine solution for some bike types and the limited amount of snow we get here in Porltand. However if you are serious about riding in wintery weather, check out this report about IceBike at:

http://portlandor.wordpress.com/2007/01/18/ice-bike/

bArbaroo
bArbaroo
17 years ago

I visited the icebike website and found a post from this amazing guy in Ottowa http://mudhead.uottawa.ca/~pete/winter.txt – good reading if you have time.

Jordan
Jordan
17 years ago

I found that my single speed mountain bike worked great in the snow and ice. Contiental Cross Country 2.0 tires have nice open tread that releases the snow really well.

Rocky Thompson
17 years ago

this is an awesome tip. i made some a long time ago with hex-head screws and lined the inside of my tires with duck tape; it turned out to be way more trouble then it was worth.

Dabby
Dabby
17 years ago

The best thing to do is just run the tires you are used to, and deal with it.
Quick fixes like this and studs are only god while it is still frozen.
With any of these ideas, the minute you hit a patch of regular cement or pavement, you are probably going to crash.
Be careful….

Randy
Randy
17 years ago

A nice elegant solution. It is however plastic and designed to be thrown away. How about bike tire chains the can be used again and again vs. thrown away after a couple of used. Production of plastic products is also a highly toxic.

felix
17 years ago

could this not break the nipple off the spoke on the rim?

Tiah
Tiah
17 years ago

I saw the bit in the paper about Scotty
(I don’t even know him but I love that guy)and remembered a tip that Tad had for wintry riding-put tacks through your tire for an instant diy studded bike tire but Dabby’s warning about the zipties would also hold true for that.You couldn’t ride on the cement that way,too. Well, it wouldn’t be good. Anyhow, I saw lots of peeps out and about with their normal tires, fixie riders included (though one of my favorites tok it on the leg when riding his fixie into work Tuesday morning-he switched to his mtb later on in the day)and I was thrilled to see the comitted riders. For everyone who rides cross and mountain bikes I’m sure getting about in the snow was not only not a problem but also fun. I’m fine with it clearing up, but it was fun while it lasted.

Paul Tay
17 years ago

::sniff:: Only proles bike on ice. I intend to drink myself into STUPOR for the duration. Wake me when it thaws.

a.O
a.O
15 years ago

I tried this and it didn’t work worth a damn. The zip ties did add some traction, but they slid on the rim even though I pulled them very tight. Several of them ended up jammed against the spokes and against the stem, which could have caused pretty serious damage to the wheel had they been left on. Ultimately, it wasn’t worth the effort.

Zaphod
15 years ago

a.O, thank you for your insight. None of my bikes are fully disc so it’s moot for me anyway but I do wonder how well they work and from what you are saying… not too well.

You could skip the section of rim where the valve is to eliminate that risk. Would have been a total bugger to be replacing a tube in the freezing cold.

a.O
a.O
15 years ago

Zaphod, I can just imagine standing in a huge snow drift, pulling my gloves off, and trying to change a tire while my hands and feet froze! I pulled off the ones next to the valve first to avoid the problem, but I was also afraid for the spokes given how hard they were jammed up against them.

Also, this is funny to say, but I consider myself a ziptie “expert.” I had a summer job for three years in a row where I ran big cables while building casino ships. I must have installed and removed hundreds of zipties on any given day. One thing I know is how to ziptie things, and it was impossible to put them on tight enough to prevent movement on the wheel.

Next winter, I’ll buy some studs to go with the ones for my truck.

bill
bill
14 years ago

Seems to me that if you “studded” tires with wood screws, the instant that you put weight on the bike, the screw would press into the inside the tire and into the tube, probably pinching it and ripping a hole. There’s no possible way it could remain outside the tire.
Zip ties are definitely not going to stay where you put them, but I don’t see how they could damage spoke nipples. One way of keeping zip ties in place would be put a tie on both sides of a spoke then use another zip tie horizontally and tie those two together. Or use two horizontally, one on each side of each spoke.

Sue Gemmell
14 years ago

RT @BikePortland: Or, if you can't afford studded tires, and you don't have rim brakes, consider using zip-ties http://bit.ly/6D3ILP

loganenator
14 years ago

Great idea! RT @BikePortland if you can't afford studded tires, & you don't have rim brakes, consider using zip-ties http://bit.ly/6D3ILP

smileysattva
14 years ago

love this DIY approach to snow tires for you bicycle. awesome. http://bit.ly/6D3ILP

Teresa Boze
14 years ago

Best tweet of #snowpocalypse09 #PDX genius! RT @BikePortland: Can't afford studs | no rim brakes? consider zip-ties http://bit.ly/6D3ILP

carrie medina
14 years ago

RT @BikePortland can't afford studded tires, and you don't have rim brakes, consider using zip-ties http://bit.ly/6D3ILP

Jonathan Maus
14 years ago

Or, if you can't afford studded tires, and you don't have rim brakes, consider using zip-ties http://bit.ly/6D3ILP

Jonas Elslander
14 years ago

@D_tur Of je maakt er zelf… http://bit.ly/8ovdGl

Dan Herrick
14 years ago

I didn't see this until after I bought my studded snow tires. Wonder if this works well? Anyone tried it? http://tinyurl.com/225j6e

John Lascurettes
15 years ago

I bought zip ties at Radio Shack today. I’m MacGuyvering myself some bike snow tires until I put on my studded tires. http://is.gd/bQ15