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Rainy days slicks or knobbies?

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Rainy days slicks or knobbies?

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Old 07-04-07, 07:37 AM
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Justin
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Rainy days slicks or knobbies?

What handles better on wet pavement, have used both but take it pretty easy on rainy days and really don't notice to much a difference. Thought I would get your take on it.
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Old 07-04-07, 08:58 AM
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Doubt it really makes all that much difference, as long as you slow down a bit and take it easy. I used inverted tread tires on MTB when it was set up as a commuter. I had enough tread for light snow and some muddy areas. If I wanted to hit the technical stuff I would swap the wheels out for the ones with knobbies.

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Old 07-04-07, 09:00 AM
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Slicks will always handle better on pavement (on a bike, at least). I don't have the citation, but in order to hydroplane a tire with a contact patch and pressure equivalent to a bike's tire will need to be traveling at far faster than a normal biker (60-100mph?!?). Knobs grip well in loose pack like sand and mud, but just end up bending and deforming on pavement (increasing rolling resistance and being looser in a hard corner). No matter what, if you hit wet train tracks at an angle you're going down. Just my disjointed thoughts on the matter.

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Old 07-04-07, 09:02 AM
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Of course! Sheldon is the one with the answer:

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

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Old 07-04-07, 10:31 AM
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Thanks, love your signature tarman
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Old 07-04-07, 06:55 PM
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Originally Posted by tarman
I don't have the citation, but in order to hydroplane a tire with a contact patch and pressure equivalent to a bike's tire will need to be traveling at far faster than a normal biker (60-100mph?!?).
I can vouch for that. Riding on ice and snow I definitely have better traction than most cars. Plain water is a cinch.
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