Originally Posted by SpiderMike
When you say roots, are you referring to wet, dry, or both? Are you talking baby heads, or those long fingers going across?
My experience with wet roots, tires are going to slide. Its all in the angle, and getting the torque before the root(s). Ate dirt once when I had spun out on a root.
I know there's not a whole lot I can do about wet roots, but I'm talking about needing help taming the dry ones crossing the trail at something greater or smaller than a 90 degree angle ("fingers," as you say). My biggest concern is when I'm riding a narrow section that angles toward a dropoff on one side, and those roots make the bike slip right off the dang trail.
But we're digressing a bit. I'm just wondering what holds better on roots and rocks. Certain type of tread (or lack of)? Harder or softer rubber? More or less surface area?