Oh there's a downside. Back when fields of broken glass were common on the roads I frequented, I had an incident. I wiped my tires with my gloved hand as a precaution against flats, probably a 1/2 dozen times per ride. It became habit, front and rear tires. I did it so often I didn't even look at the tires, just kept my eyes ahead and on the road. Then one day it happened. While reaching down to wipe the front tire, my thumb hit the tire behind the fork crown and was dragged up and wedged between the tire and fork crown. Smoking burning skin! I braked with my free hand, but it took a few seconds to stop. A very painful ride home with an open oozing wound on my thumb. I dont have a thumb print on that thumb anymore!