Tire Pressure
The effect of temperature on the pressure of your tires should be accounted for when they are filled. While your tire may become overinflated and pop with warm weather, cold weather causes a drop in tire pressure. Although such low pressure is recommended for better traction by winter cycling enthusiasts at Icebike, failure to properly secure your tire to your rim can lead to a flat tire in two ways. First, the tube of your tire moves more at low pressures, possibly leading it to become pinched between the outer rim and the ground, eventually causing it to pop. In addition to pinch flats, your tire may pop due to a severed valve stem, as such excessive movement can force the valve stem to tear or be gradually cut by your rim.
Wear and Tear
Conventional tires, which are not designed for extreme temperatures, are particularly susceptible to the effects of cold weather. As noted by cycling enthusiast Jim Langley, riding at the low pressures recommended for cold-weather cycling causes tires to wear more quickly than normal. In addition, such low pressures increase the risk of rim or tube damage due to rocks, bumps and potholes. With your tube becoming more rigid in colder temperatures, such general risks of popping due to wear and tear become more pronounced when it is cold.
Punctures
While the risk of popped tires due to punctures is present throughout the year, cold weather can increase this risk. According to Michelin, the risk of punctures due to objects becoming lodged in the tread of your tire increases with moisture and lubrication. This increases the dangers associated with riding on ice and in cold water, which may also contain hard, sharp chunks of ice that can puncture your tire. Whether or not embedded in your tire due to moisture and lubrication, the increased rigidity of small objects in cold weather, such as sticks and plastics, can increase your risk of punctures.
Maintenance and Prevention
If you do not want to purchase studded or winter-ready tires, some general maintenance can help you prevent popped tires when cycling in cold weather. Maintaining low tire pressure, between 5 and 20 psi, can help to provide you with better traction, thus lowering your risk of popped tires due to accidents. Gluing or using a rubber adhesive to seal your tire to its rim can help reduce the risk of pinch flats. While indoor storage is recommended to protect your bike from damage due to moisture and other environmental dangers, matching your storage temperature to the outside temperature can help prevent tire wear due to fluctuating pressure. In addition, you should regularly check the tread of your tire for embedded objects before, during and after cycling, using water or small, thin tools such as screwdrivers to keep your treads clean.
