tire recommendations in the wet

This topic has 13 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 11 months ago by americancyclo.

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November 15, 2013 at 7:42 pm #986061

KLizotte
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@vvill 69295 wrote:

I’ve read from various sources that xyz tire is not so great in the wet, but I don’t recall any instance of a tire actually being recommended for use in the wet (save $100 high frequency puncture, racing / “service course” tires).

My understanding is that the wider and more supple the tire, the better a tire will perform in the wet. Obviously at < 28mm there isn't going to be a whole lot of difference if you're cornering too much or are riding on ice, painted lines, metal, etc. but having slid out numerous times on my road bike's old stock tires (Vittoria Zaffiros "slick"), and riding on 25mm Gatorksins now (which I've heard are not great in the wet), I'm wondering if there are any first-hand recommendations people have for riding in the wet.

Can’t provide any info on good tires in the wet but can confirm that my Armadillo Elite 25s are puncture proof but are very slippery even in dry conditions. That is the one thing I really don’t like about them and sometimes makes me nervous. Will look around for more grippy tires when these wear out.

November 15, 2013 at 7:47 pm #986064

vvill
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Part of me is tempted to just get a fat bike. Or Schwalbe Big Apples at least.

November 15, 2013 at 7:53 pm #986067

cyclingfool
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@vvill 69310 wrote:

Part of me is tempted to just get a fat bike. Or Schwalbe Big Apples at least.

My 26×2″ Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour tires are quite stable. I love ’em!

Also, just as a general point of info, Sheldon Brown is always informative on the subject.

November 15, 2013 at 7:56 pm #986069

jabberwocky
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Softer tire compounds do better in the wet. Bike tires don’t hydroplane, so basically rubber grip and contact patch size are your determining factors on wet pavement.

I’ve always found Michelin Pro3s to do very well on wet pavement. They aren’t a long-lived tire, nor are they very puncture resistant. I’m trying Continental GP4000s now, and they are definitely less confidence inspiring in the rain.

November 15, 2013 at 7:59 pm #986071

ronwalf
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@vvill 69295 wrote:

I’m wondering if there are any first-hand recommendations people have for riding in the wet.

For both my falls, it was wet leaves and wet leaf silt that caused slick conditions. Without studs, I don’t see how changing tires would help. I’ve had Vittoria Randonneurs on for the past 7k miles (38s for 5k, 35 for 2k) and they seem to perform about as well as my brakes in the wet on otherwise clear pavement.

November 15, 2013 at 8:37 pm #986090

Greenbelt
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@cyclingfool 69313 wrote:

My 26×2″ Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour tires are quite stable. I love ’em!

Also, just as a general point of info, Sheldon Brown is always informative on the subject.

Agree with this. The Schwalbe’s grip great. Tried Specialized Armadillos, but didn’t like them — felt like I was riding on plastic.

November 18, 2013 at 4:05 pm #986196

vvill
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Thanks all.

Yeah it seems the higher-mileage, puncture protected tires don’t get good reviews for wet traction, I guess because the compounds are more plastic-y and less soft/rubbery. I do have some Hutchinson Fusions which I like for grip (and faster summer riding) but they’re 23s and they wear fast – I suppose that’s just a trade-off on wear vs suppleness. I do have a Schwalbe Marathon in 40-406 on my folding bike and I’ve been happy with that so far although it does seem “slow”.

Agreed that on very slippery surfaces no tires (save studs) will really help.

November 18, 2013 at 4:45 pm #986203

hozn
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I just saw this via G+ Bike Commuting community: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/article/the-best-winter-tyres-for-road-cycling-38889/

Based on that review, I will be giving the Schwalbe Durano tires a shot when I swap out my GP4000S tires. If only they came w/ reflective sidewalls.

November 18, 2013 at 5:11 pm #986206

Subby
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I commuted in on my Continental Grand Prix Supersonic 23s this morning and did not wreck. Therefore, they are excellent in the wet.

Sample size what?

November 18, 2013 at 5:59 pm #986210

americancyclo
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I’ve been pretty happy with my Schwalbe Marathon 26″ GreenGuard Tire HS420 on my rainy day commuter with their reflective sidewall. Although, this morning, while crossing Great Falls St. on the W&OD I locked up my back tire and it skidded across the wet paint stripes in the road.

November 19, 2013 at 12:08 am #986241

Riley Casey
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I’m a massive fan boi(s?) for Michelin City tires http://www.michelinbicycletire.com/michelinbicycle/index.cfm?event=city.view . I’m a commuter / utility rider with only occasional recreational riding ( as in not nearly enough 😡 ) so of course YMMV.

November 19, 2013 at 3:24 pm #986280

cyclingfool
Participant

@Riley Casey 69501 wrote:

I’m a massive fan boi(s?) for Michelin City tires http://www.michelinbicycletire.com/michelinbicycle/index.cfm?event=city.view . I’m a commuter / utility rider with only occasional recreational riding ( as in not nearly enough 😡 ) so of course YMMV.

I want so bad to be a fan, but I can’t given a series of bad experiences this summer after I built up my new bike. Long story short, the sidewall/casing on the 26″ x 1.85″ version of the city tires kept tearing at the bead… this happened on four or five tires. Several others had similar issues based on Amazon reviews. Maybe all of mine came from the same bad batch of tires. Anyway, that experience turned me off to the Michelins.

Quality control issues aside, I did like the handling of the tires themselves in all weather conditions, and their puncture resistance is supposed to be good.

The upshot of all my negative experiences is that thinking that my rear wheel was to blame, I took it upon myself to build my own rear wheel. I had built a couple front wheels, but never a rear. I was always too intimidated, but I took on the challenge. That wheel now has about 1500 miles on it and is still as true as the day I built it. Easily saved at least $100 on the wheel, have the pride of knowing I built it myself, and plan on never ever having to have someone else build a wheel for me. So, in a roundabout way, thanks Michelin.

May 27, 2015 at 4:21 pm #1030987

americancyclo
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@americancyclo 69468 wrote:

I’ve been pretty happy with my Schwalbe Marathon 26″ GreenGuard Tire HS420 on my rainy day commuter with their reflective sidewall. Although, this morning, while crossing Great Falls St. on the W&OD I locked up my back tire and it skidded across the wet paint stripes in the road.

just wanted to update that my Schwalbe tires are still going strong with near 3500 miles on them.
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