Mountain Biking - Is there slicks with grip in wet?

Hi,

I'm going to buy slicks to my 26" MTB to get really low rolling resistance since daily commuting takes too long time and too much effort. And I got help here with the size I can use and I'm going to go for 26x1.5 or 26x1.75 and I'm looking on Schwalbe tyres and I found some nice tyres which is lightweight, low rollingresistance and all that what I'm looking for. But there's no word about wetgrip.

I won't ride in the woods with slicktyre, but maybe a shortcut over a lawn (grass) and over gravel on a short distance (when I have to and can't avoid it). And I don't want to crash, don't want to feel I'm riding on ice. I have 26x2.1 front and 26x1.9 back now and never experienced problems.

I need advice now which is more related to the tyre itself. Okay, Of course slick isn't as good as "offroad" so I don't expect supergrip, but I still want a smooth ride and don't risk breaking arm and leg. ;-)

I'm looking at these:
Continental City Ride http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18836 - Continental City Contact Reflex http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Reviews.aspx?ModelID=18824 - Schwalbe Marathon Racer http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24796 - Schwalbe Marathon Plus http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24542 - Schwalbe Road Cruiser http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24626 - Schwalbe Speed Cruiser http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24625

Other tyres may work as long as the store is located within EU.

Regards
Slowmaster

Slick tires on road will get good grip in the wet. Bike tires don't hydroplane like car tires do. Any slick tire will do. For pavement the best bike tire tread is completely smooth. We MTB'ers are used to treaded tires because we ride on loose materials (dirt, gravel, snow). Roadies though use perfectly slick tires wet or dry.

Thanks! Good to know. The only problem is changing tyre when it's snow outside cause that often comes with surprise. The best would be an extra set of wheels too, but it's so expensive. I would like to be able to changing quickly.

Slowmaster

Around my neck of the woods snow season is also ice season and only a fool ventures out on a bike without studded tires. How often do you get snow? Does it accumulate all winter or is it melted pretty quickly? Is ice a common occurance?

Slick tires on road will get good grip in the wet. Bike tires don't hydroplane like car tires do. Any slick tire will do. For pavement the best bike tire tread is completely smooth. We MTB'ers are used to treaded tires because we ride on loose materials (dirt, gravel, snow). Roadies though use perfectly slick tires wet or dry.

Road tires don't hydroplane, but road tires will definetely slide out on you in the wet, especially if sand/gravel is present, if you're crossing painted lines or if you're crossing grass.

The Marathon's look pretty good. If you want more tread, you might look at the Ritchey Speedmax tires. I haven't ridden them, but others have recommended them too me.

I live in Sweden and snow come from time to time. And it melts pretty quick, but then it freezes and then it's a shaky ride, but it's fine with my tyres. But my bike is heavy (18 kg/40 lbs) so it's an effort commuting. My bike is in parts now and I'm cleaning it and I removed alot of mud from the jockeys at the reargear and the chain is cleaned too.

I just wish I could afford wheels too so I could switch easily, but that's something I'll buy later.

Slowmaster

Road tires don't hydroplane, but road tires will definetely slide out on you in the wet, especially if sand/gravel is present, if you're crossing painted lines or if you're crossing grass.


Agreed. Grip ain't infinite. :) On the sand/gravel and grass I see how tread can help by penetrating the soft surface but on painted lines I doubt any sort of tread features will net you any extra stick. All a non-slick tire will do for you on wet painted lines (or wet manhole covers for that matter) is just give you a smaller contact patch on that very slippery surface.

If I were doing almost all of my riding on the road and only crossing the occasional grass or sandy area and only occasionally did so in the rain I'd just use slicks and walk the bike on those rare occasions when I need to.

Micheline's are great slicks I love 'em. No tread on them whatsoever, super fast.

Road tires don't hydroplane, but road tires will definetely slide out on you in the wet, especially if sand/gravel is present, if you're crossing painted lines or if you're crossing grass. But so will knobbies.

my road bike has totally slick super skinny 700c tires. i used to be afraid of washing out, but it's never happened. commuting conditions that make slicks wash out will give aggressive treaded tires a run for thier money as well.