Wet weather winter tyres

[TonyHetherington]

I think this is a bit of an overdone topic - my apologies if so, but although I've searched and read lots, I'm still not quite sure what to get.

Continental Gatorskins seem to be recommended by many for anti-puncture, but looking at them they don't seem to have much tread and, as such, I worry what they'll be like in the wet?

I'm looking for a winter tyre, essentially. One to commute with come rain or shine (probably not "come snow" as I have a 4x4 ). Is there a right answer?

Thanks!
Tony

PS: Road bike 700x23, if that matters

[anonymous-user]

Tread will make f**k all difference on the road in the wet on 100 psi tires 700x23 tires, in fact it will only make it worse.

[TonyHetherington]

Ah. That's interesting. Must take my car hat off, I guess!

Why is that?

[anonymous-user]

Narrow cross section & pressure cut through any water, no chance of aquaplaning. Any tread will reduce contact patch with the road.

You do have to watch out for oil/diesel & ice though, although once again tread will make that worse, perhaps the only advantage of any tread will be when riding over the tiny grit build up you get after rain.

Edit: Obviously you could buy tires that are wider and fill with lower pressure to increase contact patch and therefore increase the grip, but slow you down as a result.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th September 16:01

[Kermit power]

To add to that, I find my brakes give up long before my tyres, which are 700x28 Conti Gatorskins.

In the dry, I can lock up the tyres very easily should I choose to do so. In heavy rain, I just coast to a stop even under full braking!

[TonyHetherington]

Ok - thanks - I hadn't looked at it like that but now you say it, it makes sense.

So, for grip, is it even worth changing my current tyres? I can't recall what they are (came with bike - a Bottecchia) but tread or no tread doesn't matter - so it's just their puncture resistance, is it?

[anonymous-user]

TonyHetherington said:

Ok - thanks - I hadn't looked at it like that but now you say it, it makes sense.

So, for grip, is it even worth changing my current tyres? I can't recall what they are (came with bike - a Bottecchia) but tread or no tread doesn't matter - so it's just their puncture resistance, is it?

Get wider tires and fill to a lower psi, but you go slower and work harder.

Edit:-

Here is some further information

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#tread

Of course the rubber compound a tire is made from will change it's grip characteristics, not that I've looked but I'd imagine it's possible to find a very soft & grippy 700x23 tire that will work better in the wet than a Conti-Gator skin or such like, but then you have to build in, rolling resistance, wear rate and puncture protection to the equation.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th September 16:14