jeff williams

I dislike fenders -offenders I calls 'em.
Anyway -it rains alot where I live, 'tis the season.
So a few days ago I took my offroad tires off as I will be commuting, less offroad -returning to semi-slicks.

My knobbie tires throw very little water up, the semi's -I got puddled!
I know they are better traction in wet but...bla.

Forget it, I'm running an old set of knobbies this season. Never had them slip -and I like the buzz.

How come the knobbed tires throw less water with more wet surface area?

bullfrog

My bet is that there is less surface area with the knobbly's that touches the road and than means that less water sticks to it. If less water sticks to it it would throw less water up too. There are also gaps in the thread of the knobbies which would prevent it from sending up a constant shower of water.

ghettocruiser

What he said. Last winter I noticed that when I was on wet pavement with the studded tires, they threw up almost no water at all.

About the only good thing I can say about studs on bare pavement.

pyroguy_3

The reason the slicks throw up more water IS because there is more surface area. This coupled with the grooves going along the circumfrence of the tires basically sucks up the water. The water then exits the grooves when it has reached a centripital acceleration great enough to release the water from the hold of the grooves and it just so happens that this is usually straight up onto the rider. Sooooo unless you're going to be doing any hardcore speed-turns, knobby tires will be fine. Just don't be too much of a daredevil unless you want to end up on your rear end sliding across the pavement! But that could be fun with like motor racing leathers on or something...

jeff williams

Ya I know, I was taught how to drop a motorcycle. The hard way.
Passenger, my friend said 'Oh $hit, do exactly what I do.' Got off and slid it right up to the car.

Painted lines on asphalt in the rain are murder eh?