Best grip tyres for wet roads

Carpenter

Can someone tell me the very best tyre for grip on a wet road I was out a while back and the road was like ice @ the moment I have gator skins 23mm also whats the max I can put on my wheels thank you in advance :D

Squidgy Black

Carpenter wrote: »

Can someone tell me the very best tyre for grip on a wet road I was out a while back and the road was like ice @ the moment I have gator skins 23mm also whats the max I can put on my wheels thank you in advance :D

Max size all depends on a) the width of your rim and b) the clearance your fork has, and the clearance in between your rears stays, seat tube and brake bridge.

Best bet is to post exactly what bike you have and someone might be able to tell you.

columbus_66

Conti 4Season, Conti 4000s, Vittoria CX are all good in the wet.

ballyharpat

I generally ride gp4000(s) and they are great in the wet, to save a few euro, I bought some regular gp's and on my first ride, the one on the rear slid out from me, over 2 weeks later and I am just over the road rash and still nursing a pulled/strained muscle/ligament.

Carpenter

_Tyrrell_ wrote: »

Max size all depends on a) the width of your rim and b) the clearance your fork has, and the clearance in between your rears stays, seat tube and brake bridge.

Best bet is to post exactly what bike you have and someone might be able to tell you.

Thank you they are shimano R500 wheels and its a planet x SL pro

Seaneh

Carpenter wrote: »

Thank you they are shimano R500 wheels and its a planet x SL pro

I reckon you'd be luck to get 28mm tyres on that bike.

But yeah, GP4seasons are awesomely grippy.

Briando

Carpenter wrote: »

Can someone tell me the very best tyre for grip on a wet road I was out a while back and the road was like ice @ the moment I have gator skins 23mm also whats the max I can put on my wheels thank you in advance :D

Go with a 25mm tyre. You dont need to pump them to as high a pressure as as 23mm or even a 20mm. Put 100psi in them. More rubber on the road the better the grip.

I race on 23mm GP4000s and love them, though lost the back wheel twice in the wet corners at the weekend.

This question was asked and answered in a thread that was here this morning, though cant find it anymore.

kenmc

px sl pro don't think you'll get anything besides 23 on the rear, bridge clearance is tight.

Ryath

kenmc wrote: »

px sl pro don't think you'll get anything besides 23 on the rear, bridge clearance is tight.

I've a 24mm Continental GP Force on the back of mine with about 3-4mm clearance to the bridge. 25mm should fit no bother. Anything more would probably be getting too tight though. 28s would be rubbing with any bit of flex in the wheels or frame.

Mech1

OH, gotta list this thread for posting to the insurance company next time a cyclist gets hit in the wet. They check if a cars tyre has enough tread and is suitable for road use. Bet they dont check the bike tyres.
Some good info here, thanks.

Squidgy Black

Mech1 wrote: »

OH, gotta list this thread for posting to the insurance company next time a cyclist gets hit in the wet. They check if a cars tyre has enough tread and is suitable for road use. Bet they dont check the bike tyres.
Some good info here, thanks.

What on earth are you talking about.

I'd say about 1% of all cycling accidents are caused by a tyre having little tread when it comes to bike tires.

Cars are a completely different story. Tyre tread for cars tends to come into play when doing speeds of excess of 50km/h.

There's a big difference between a tyre not having enough tread, and a tyre being suitable in the wet.

You can buy slicks for your car that will be legally allowed on the road and qualify insurance requirements, but will be terrible when wet in comparison to standard tires.

hypersonic

cyclist don't aquaplane so no tread required. but fire ahead with the insurance company, you'll give someone a good laugh!

alexanderomahon

kenmc wrote: »

px sl pro don't think you'll get anything besides 23 on the rear, bridge clearance is tight.

I have a px sl pro and use a 25. I switched from Gatorskins because of grip issues and now have gp gt tyres. Review here
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/components/tyres/road/product/review-continental-grand-prix-gt-tyre-13-47158

smacl

I opted for 25mm Durano plus following a similar discussion on here a couple of years ago. No issues in the wet, not too heavy, and good puncture resistance. While I don't race, I've found them to be a great tyre in most conditions.

Wishbone Ash

Mech1 wrote: »

OH, gotta list this thread for posting to the insurance company next time a cyclist gets hit in the wet. They check if a cars tyre has enough tread and is suitable for road use. Bet they dont check the bike tyres.
Some good info here, thanks.

Unless going off road, tread on a bicycle tyre will reduce grip as there is less rubber on the road. As has been said, it is necessary on motor vehicles to dissipate water at high speeds to prevent aquaplaning.

Many bicycle road tyres have tread but it's purely a placebo to satisfy the concerns of those with your mindset (or in some cases to increase tyre flexibility).

Have a look at the Formula 1 racing the next time it is on. Do you seriously think they would be running on slicks if tread provided more grip?