Wet winter tyres

How Soon Is Now

So I'm using Continental Gatorskins because I've found them great on **** roads for preventing punctures. Obviously found out the hard way twice today on the way home from work there absolutely crap in heavy rain when it comes to grip!

Lost the back end twice in quick succession lucky I wasn't on the road!

So great more bloody money and another issue I have to sort now unless I want to end up under a car somewhere ha!

Very annoying cause haven't had this issue before but couldn't relax the rest of way back after knowing I could go at any time.

Any recommendations on decent wet weather tires that can he easily got and won't cost fortune?

secman

I run conti GP5000 myself but know quite a few lads that use conti 4 seasons.

According to cycling news the best tires for wet weather commuting are the Schwalbe Durano Plus Addix.

I've only used their marathon Plus on my e-bike so I can't speak for the above tires unfortunately.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/best-commuting-bike-tyres/

dahat

For real budget tyres I rode two winters on Michelin Lithions 2 and 3 versions. I found them more than good value for money & will get a set once the current ones that came with new winter bike wear out.

magicbastarder

i use a set of hutchinson fusion 5 all season tyres, haven't found reason to fault them yet. easy on and off.

07Lapierre

Continue GP5000’s for me.

How Soon Is Now

The GP5000s seem to get brilliant reviews nearly everywhere I've looked.

Pricey on cycle superstore wonder would be safe buying from Amazon etc.

I assume your paying per tyre ? I can't remember which way I bought them previously.

https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=131141

07Lapierre

Buy them online CRC, wiggle, Mantel, Bike24 or alltricks usually have them a good bit cheaper than your local bike shop

secman

I watch the special offers on the various bike websites and usually can pick up a pair of Gp5000 and tubes for €85.00. Wouldn't pay circa €70 for 1 in CSS. Mantel have been good for this type of offer

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119701458#Comment_119701458

Funny that the Gatorskins were next up in that link!

Surely in wet weather thread presence for water displacement is king, so the more the merrier.

How Soon Is Now

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/ie/en/continental-grand-prix-5000-road-25c-tyres-pair-/rp-prod183075

85 euro pair worth it?

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119701728#Comment_119701728

I've had them about a year I think happy enough with them but don't feel confident on them after today with how easy I lost control of the back wheel. The first time I was on a path next to shops heading towards crossing and slide went straight off bike. Second time was literally moving away from where fell first time.

It's a slippy area in heavy rain but weird cause never had problem with it before.

But either way I don't feel good about trusting them for whole winter ahead if there gonna slide that easy.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119701825#Comment_119701825

I wasn't recommending them, they do say they're poor in the wet, which is expected as they're basically slicks.

Just thought it was funny :-)

magicbastarder

slicks? tyre tread on road bike tyres makes zero difference to grip.

secman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119701748#Comment_119701748

Definitely

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119701857#Comment_119701857

I know was just explaining the reason I'm looking for a change. There great tyres just not for winter ha.

How Soon Is Now

Seeing a lot of comments that the GP 5000s are very hard to fit. I know the Gatorskins where tough enough. Any comment on what they where like for people who have them?

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119701881#Comment_119701881

just checked, and unsurprisingly schwalbe state that tread on a road bike tyre can lessen grip. i think it was schwalbe who admitted that the only reason they put tread on road bike tyres was because it's what customers expect.

07Lapierre

yep they can be hard to fit alright. it depends on what wheels your fitting them to. I have them on Campag Zonda's, Mavic Ksyrium and Fulcrum racing Quatto carbon rims. On the zonda's ive to use levers to remove them, but on the others i can remove/fit with hands only.

Squidgy Black

Yeah as 07Lapierre says they can be a pain on some rims, but I’d say they’re easier than hardshell gatorskins for sure.

I’ve snapped a couple of tyre levers over the years changing tubes on my aul lads bike because he insists on using them.

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119701976#Comment_119701976

There just the standard wheels that came with the bike https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=159661

I'll probably get those tyres and see how get on with fitting them if have issues I'll drop into bike shop.

How Soon Is Now

As always lads thanks for the advice!

How Soon Is Now

Just seen this on Amazon are these same tyres?

Continental Grand Prix 5000 Performance Road Bike Tire https://amzn.eu/d/hYcMOJS

Bought them anyway coming tomorrow so see how I get on!

CramCycle

I use the GP5000S. Pricey for a commuter tyre but they are fast and no issues and I'm too lazy to change them. The first batch or two had issues but the latest pair are doing great and will last a year of commuting. Grip is good and as MB said, read on a road bike if to make you feel good, not for any real purpose. If you want more grip, let some air out (risk of puncture increases though).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119701961#Comment_119701961

Hard to fit, and can be a dose out on the road if you flat. I often need s second person to finish the job. But I've been running GP 5000s for over a year and had just one puncture. They are a great tyre and worth the hassle for fitting.

CramCycle

It really does depend on the wheel though, once I slide the bead into the centre, on one set of wheels I can do it by hand, on the other I have to use a tyre lever to pop it over. I've found them no more difficult than gatorskins.

How Soon Is Now

So cycled in again this morning was lashing down all morning and I swear no grip full braking just before the lights and bike wasn't fully stopping just slowing down.

Tested the breaks there fine no problem **** tyres on very wet road lethal. Just gonna have to try avoid certain surfaces coming home until I can sort the tyres cause they might as well be made of glass in that weather ffs.

Having absolutely no luck with anything in general atm so I hope the new ones just go on grand and at least fix's this issue never mind the rest ha!

magicbastarder

you were locking your wheels under braking?

columbus_66

GP5000 are racing tyres, I think they are way too expensive and flimsy for winter training, Gatorskins are lethal in the wet. I use Conti Grand Pix, they are much cheaper and more robust, but they have the chilli compound as the 5000's so good grip.

Macy0161

My question is are they for purely commuting or for other rides too?

I've used marathon plus for years commuting - bullet proof puncture wise, and I'm aware of their limitations in the wet grip wise. I generally wouldn't be pushing the corners with two pannier bags anyway. However, they suck the joy out of weekend spins if it's a dual purpose bike.

fwiw I've used GP All Seasons for 5 or 6 years at this stage for my winter tyres. A bit more puncture protection than GP5000 (and 4000's before them), compound designed for cooler weather, and not too much of weight and ride compromise. Years I haven't been racing, I've just used them year round tbh.

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703014#Comment_119703014

I try and use both the front and rear breaks most of the time but if I'm only going slow and just want to stop the bike along with putting a foot down ill usually only use the front. This morning I was pressing both breaks but the wheels where still slowing going. I tested it off the bike in the office and the breaks where locking the front and back wheel no problem so the issue was only outside in the wet.

I checked both breaks they don't look loose or anything and if they where too tight obviously the wheels wouldn't move ha. I find I cant really get my hands further down the break levers comfortably so tend to have them near the top is this an issue?

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703021#Comment_119703021

Well the GP5000s are on the way to me today so I hope they do me over the winter at least!! ha.

magicbastarder

you mean the wheels aren't locking? i'm not sure if you're saying that the brakes themselves aren't functioning efficiently in the wet? i.e. is it the brakes or the tyres you're having trouble with?

disc or rim brakes?

Large bottle small glass

What size tyre have you, what pressure are you running them and what's your weight?

I've slipped once with gatorskins and seen a friend fall once; boths times the pressure was on the high to very high side.

Were you braking at time. Learn to brake better; you need to have weight on wheel to increase braking force available before slip occurs.

Are you using front brake?

iwillhtfu

Gatorskins are the worst tyres you could have in any conditions other than cycling across glass. I'd take any tyre at all over them, they're basically blocks of rubber.

Gp5000 are a great tyre but probably a bit fancy for commuting. For commuting tyres I usually filter to continental and price low-high then get one thats reasonably priced. 4 seasons are a nice balance on price and performance and they've another I think they're called sport or something along those lines that are good.

OP definitely easy on the braking and watch the corners in the wet on those gatorskins.

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703217#Comment_119703217

I'm guessing its the tyres on very wet surface that I'm having problem with and them not having enough grip. There rim breaks they where only serviced couple months ago and I've had no issue with them in the dry weather or average wet day. This only happened in the heavy rain in last few days. Normally if I hit the breaks the wheels will stop no issues but it was all much slower this morning and after going off the bike twice yesterday I'm just a bit paranoid with everything the bike is doing now especially with such **** weather.

magicbastarder

again - are the tyres locking, or are the brakes not 'biting' enough?

if you're pulling the brakes, and the bike is taking a long time to slow down, but the wheels aren't locking; the problem is then probably not the tyres, it's the brakes.

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703224#Comment_119703224

700 x 25c pressure I'm not sure probably around 100 psi and I'm around 11 and half stone haven't checked in a while haha.

When I fell I wasn't going very fast infact I was on the path near few shops to be honest the path surface around there is slippy in the wet anyway but I have to go through it to get to next part of the road. I got back on the bike again few minutes later and the back wheel went again. The front brake would be the main one id use but the high speeds or going down hill id try use both.

magicbastarder

also, be wary about braking or changing direction on road markings; paint is not nearly as grippy as tarmac.

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703294#Comment_119703294

I don't know what it is then because everything was fine the other day its only since the heavy rain. Had no issue with the brakes and no issue with the tyres infact was going at a great pace all week before this bike felt really good it was literally just as I got to that area and came off the bike twice. The lack of grip and bike not slowing down as quickly has to be because of the rain its the only thing that's changed over the last few days nothing was changed on the bike.

In relation to the tyres locking they weren't this morning on the road they where just slowing down but as soon as I tested them off the road they where when braking so I dunno because they where fine in the drier weather and in the lighter rain.

magicbastarder

brakes will work better in light rain than heavy rain; if the pads and rims are a little way dry, you'll quickly generate enough heat under braking to dry them. but if they're saturated, the friction is very much reduced and it takes noticeably longer to build up the heat to drive the moisture away and provide good braking.

depending on where you're cycling, you'll also potentially be dealing with grease on the roads contaminating the water and thus your braking surfaces.

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703417#Comment_119703417

Makes sense! Thanks for the help anyway I don't wanna come across like a thick or anything haha its just easier to explain these things in person when you can actually see the bike etc its just everything was running grand until that heavy rain hit yesterday I had no issue taking corners going from one surface to another so on my first taught was the tyres.

magicbastarder

taking corners is down to mechanical grip and would not be the brakes (though combining cornering and braking in the wet is best avoided if possible)

ratracer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703300#Comment_119703300

If you are going too fast on a path near a shop to be able to slow down, you are simply going too fast!!! What if a person came out of the shop, you’d plough into them??

From reading your comments in the thread, it sounds like you are just not familiar with braking in the wet? It requires much more stopping distance than in the dry/ damp. Practice it more, sometimes it’s just safer to ride just a little slower in the muck weather. And I agree that Gator skins are crap in the rain, I used them until a few years ago when I slid out the back end at a relatively slow speed.

Someone earlier mentioned Hutchinson Fusion tyres, these also get my nod, I find them great on the winter bike!

07Lapierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703006#Comment_119703006

If you had brakes on "Full" the brake lever was touching the handlebar and so you couldn't pull the lever any more? if that happening, its not your tyres, its your brakes need adjusting.

Your tire pressure does seem a bit high which could contribute to your issues in wet weather.

You can calculate the supposed correct tire pressure using this calculator below.

https://silca.cc/pages/sppc-form

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703498#Comment_119703498

Id say it was mainly that **** slipply tile like path I was on. l wasn't really doing very much out of the ordinary on the bike it was something very simple I did to cause it and for it to then happen literally just after I jumped back on the bike! To be honest it didn't help that it happened right outside a homeless hotel in Tallaght and I was surrounded by 4 fellas that started asking me questions about how much the bike cost! haha.

magicbastarder

Someone earlier mentioned Hutchinson Fusion tyres, these also get my nod, I find them great on the winter bike!

twas me; i probably should find a new place to buy them; i got a pair from a chap based in cork, but he's since shut up shop, and decathlon used to stock them but don't anymore.

How Soon Is Now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119703513#Comment_119703513

I don't go quick through that section I've went through it a million times. Infact I slow right down and wait for everyone around me. The surface is just very slippy the path looks more like tiles. I've cycled plenty in rain and was fine there was an awful lot of surface water around yesterday so it was a different experience altogether. I've went through ridiculous conditions on different bikes more heavy duty and never came off them so road bikes are obviously another issue. But yeah the braking ill just have to work around it a bit more and find better methods.

How Soon Is Now

Outside View of the Abberley Court Hotel - Picture of Abberley Court, Tallaght - Tripadvisor

Was just here it happened I dunno how familiar yous are with that area but you have to go very slow through it because all kinds goes on in front of you so there wasn't much speed involved in it haha.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119701970#Comment_119701970

Every day is a school day!

Have come off on Gators myself and put it down to lack of tread, but clearly it's just them.

https://www.bretonbikes.com/homepage/cycling-article-blog/160-the-importance-of-tread-pattern-on-cycle-tyres