Tyres for the winter - best grip?

Alek

I had a quite hair raising experience a few times recently, when my front wheel started slipping while braking... it seems that the current combination of water and slick Zaffiros (otherwise quite grippy) is not really perfect.

I'm thinking of upgrading my rubbers before the winter strikes ;-). Good wet grip is the priority, while rolling resistance, price or weight are less important.

I'm thinking of the following:

Vittoria Rubino 2 folding (super cheap, but mixed reviews)
Vittoria Rubino or Zaffiro Tech (special for wet conditions, not too much info how really effective are they)
Conti GP 4s (great reviews, bit too expensive)
Conti 4000s (only 25mm, while I'd like 28mm. Don't last too long, do they?)

What are your views? Any other ones I should consider?

Planet X

My views would be that no tyres are going to grip a wet manhole cover or grip a painted traffic line.
More to do with bike handling and speed.

rollingscone

alkos wrote: »

I had a quite hair raising experience a few times recently, when my front wheel started slipping while braking... it seems that the current combination of water and slick Zaffiros (otherwise quite grippy) is not really perfect.

I'm thinking of upgrading my rubbers before the winter strikes ;-). Good wet grip is the priority, while rolling resistance, price or weight are less important.

I'm thinking of the following:

Vittoria Rubino 2 folding (super cheap, but mixed reviews)
Vittoria Rubino or Zaffiro Tech (special for wet conditions, not too much info how really effective are they)
Conti GP 4s (great reviews, bit too expensive)
Conti 4000s (only 25mm, while I'd like 28mm. Don't last too long, do they?)

What are your views? Any other ones I should consider?

Although I just posted a gripe about armoured tyres in general, I ran Bontrager Racelites in 28mm on my hybrid for the last couple of years and found them great in all weather (except ice...but really) despite being completely slick they hold onto the ground like it owes them money in even the wettest weather.

My old commute was to and from Dundrum from the city centre (and briefly from Tallaght), all of that time coming downhill on wet evenings never the slightest slip. Eventually I wore a hole in the back tyre during the summer, the front one came off due to looking a bit iffy just this month.

Highly reccomended if you're going armoured.

ford2600

alkos wrote: »

I had a quite hair raising experience a few times recently, when my front wheel started slipping while braking... it seems that the current combination of water and slick Zaffiros (otherwise quite grippy) is not really perfect.

I'm thinking of upgrading my rubbers before the winter strikes ;-). Good wet grip is the priority, while rolling resistance, price or weight are less important.

I'm thinking of the following:

Vittoria Rubino 2 folding (super cheap, but mixed reviews)
Vittoria Rubino or Zaffiro Tech (special for wet conditions, not too much info how really effective are they)
Conti GP 4s (great reviews, bit too expensive)
Conti 4000s (only 25mm, while I'd like 28mm. Don't last too long, do they?)



I got Conti GP 4 season on bike discount or maybe a dutch site can't remember for 30 incl postage
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056963896

Happy bargain hunting!

Ole Rodrigo

Durano plus for the win

Roddy23

I've been on Gatorskins the last year and have had a few scares myself - was looking at these and they get good reviews in terms of grip - something which I feel I could really benefit coming into the next few months

http://www.swimcyclerun.com/tyresclincher/continental-gp-4000s-black-chili.html

Anybody any experience of them?

Alek

My views would be that no tyres are going to grip a wet manhole cover

Thanks, I am well aware of this :-)

I'll research the Bontragers and Duranos. Is there any difference in handling between Durano and Durano plus?

rollingscone

Roddy23 wrote: »

I've been on Gatorskins the last year and have had a few scares myself - was looking at these and they get good reviews in terms of grip - something which I feel I could really benefit coming into the next few months

http://www.swimcyclerun.com/tyresclincher/continental-gp-4000s-black-chili.html

Anybody any experience of them?

I have GP4seasons on my road bike and find them great.

nilhg

Roddy23 wrote: »

I've been on Gatorskins the last year and have had a few scares myself - was looking at these and they get good reviews in terms of grip - something which I feel I could really benefit coming into the next few months

http://www.swimcyclerun.com/tyresclincher/continental-gp-4000s-black-chili.html

Anybody any experience of them?

I did all last winter on Conti 4 seasons and switched during the summer to the 4000s, TBH I'd find it hard to notice any much difference, I've found both great, no much trouble with punctures (1 in 8k+kms) and unless the road is icy grip is great, certainly better than the gatorskins I had on my first bike.

quozl

I'm also using GP 4 Seasons on my road-bike. 28mm ones. Only have about 1000km on them but I've been very pleased with their grip considering their reputation for being puncture resistent.

I've got Bontrager Hard-case 28mm on my Hybrid. Also perfectly happy with these but went with the GP4 Seasons on the road-bike as they're so well reviewed online.

Alek

Anybody with Rubinos? They're only e18 each ;-)

rollingscone

alkos wrote: »

Anybody with Rubinos? They're only e18 each ;-)

Had them on the road bike they were grand. Just ordered 28mm for €13.56 on wiggle for the commuter...I'll let you know how that goes.

Briando

alkos wrote: »

I had a quite hair raising experience a few times recently, when my front wheel started slipping while braking... it seems that the current combination of water and slick Zaffiros (otherwise quite grippy) is not really perfect.

I'm thinking of upgrading my rubbers before the winter strikes ;-). Good wet grip is the priority, while rolling resistance, price or weight are less important.

I'm thinking of the following:

Vittoria Rubino 2 folding (super cheap, but mixed reviews)
Vittoria Rubino or Zaffiro Tech (special for wet conditions, not too much info how really effective are they)
Conti GP 4s (great reviews, bit too expensive)
Conti 4000s (only 25mm, while I'd like 28mm. Don't last too long, do they?)

What are your views? Any other ones I should consider?

Michelin advertise there wheels as having good wet grip, though I've never ridden on them so cant comment. Plan on trying a pair of Michelin Lithion II this winter and see how they go. Good wet grip is what I'm after also.

MB Lacey

Would people recommend swapping the 23mm tyres I've used all Summer (GP4000s) for wider tyres for winter?
Or am I just aswell keeping the 23's on during winter too?

Paul Kiernan

MB Lacey wrote: »

Would people recommend swapping the 23mm tyres I've used all Summer (GP4000s) for wider tyres for winter?
Or am I just aswell keeping the 23's on during winter too?

There are two advantages to wider tyres. Obviously the wider tyres have a larger contact area but also you can run them at a lower pressure so you get even more contact and hence grip.

bazermc

Are these any good for use during the winter:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/espoir-elite-tyre-ec033713

rollingscone

rollingscone wrote: »

Had them on the road bike they were grand. Just ordered 28mm for €13.56 on wiggle for the commuter...I'll let you know how that goes.

Did my first 45km on the 28mm Rubino today no problems. Mind you it was dry and mostly ok roads.

I did go through Bray though which is the cycling equivalent of riding over beds of nails.

rab!dmonkey

Paul Kiernan wrote: »

There are two advantages to wider tyres. Obviously the wider tyres have a larger contact area but also you can run them at a lower pressure so you get even more contact and hence grip.

Wider tyres do not inherently have a larger contact patch.

Paul Kiernan

rab!dmonkey wrote: »

Wider tyres do not inherently have a larger contact patch.

Ya wha', Joe?

http://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#width

f1000

bazermc wrote: »

Are these any good for use during the winter:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/espoir-elite-tyre-ec033713

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/all-condition-armadillo-elite-700c-folding-tyre-ec001822

running Armadillo Elites with 5k covered on them, no punctures and find them good in the wet. Changed over after a losing confidence with Lugano's in wet conditions.

rab!dmonkey

Paul Kiernan wrote: »

Ya wha', Joe?

http://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#width

P = F/A
That's all there is to it.