Slicks

[PIGEON]

I guess there must have been topics about slick tyres but using the search function I didn't find the info I'm after.
I'm thinking of swapping the knobby tyres on my mtb with a pair of Schwalbe Kojaks or similar threadless tyres, to add some speed to my rides. I'm not much of an offroad rider (slick tyres obviously wouldn't work well in rough terrain), but I'm not sure how well slicks will perform in the wet. Will they be prone to aquaplaning? Would I be better off with semislicks like the Michelin Country Rock? Also, will slicks be more prone to punctures?
Please share your thoughts and experiences!

 

[kaiser]

AFAIK to aquaplane a bike you need to be going around 200mph or summat

 

[Andy B]

Slicks do not aquaplane, nor do they seem to be more puncture prone in my experience

I use Schwalbe & Panaracer semi slicks & slicks, some with puncture protection some without, never really noticed a difference in their ability to protect from punctures

I've found things like Hawthorns will puncture any tyre/tube even ones with Sime in the tubes and puncture protection in the tyre.

 

[Mr Panda]

Schwalbe City Jets are good (25x1.95 version), although not especially lightweight. Been using them for a few years now as an alternative on the Cinder Cone.

 

[double0ten]

i'm on continental travel contacts that are slick up the middle, and a little bit nobbly around the edges, and are ever so good for road riding, yet also surprisingly capable on minor off roads too!
halfords sell em, and they come with inner tubes free!

 

[Charlieboy28]

maybe he meant less grippy, slippy no traction type thing

i have one incident permanently etched in my mind aswell as on my forehead and left palm ,where i did a rather quick left turn at traffic lights on a wet greasy night on slick tyres just as the lights were changing, hit the ground oh so hard, thought at first i had been hit by a car,then nearly got ran over, but it was the wheels just went beneath me, i was covered in sump ( i presume) oil too which may have played a part, have never trusted slicks since then, i have also never again been an amber gambler turning left in the dark and wet on a very busy road whilst going very fast type person since.

I go for the slick middle with bobbly bits at the side type tyre for commuting these days

charlieboy28

 

[PIGEON]

Hehe "aquaplane" might not have been the best choice of words, I think it's highly unlikely that any set of tyres will make a bike float and spin around uncontrollably I just meant to ask whether they're still grippy in wet conditions. I can come up with reasons why they would and reasons why they wouldn't lose traction in the wet, but I don't have any scientific proof or experience to verify my theories

 

[Charlieboy28]

Crazy Bobs

oh forgot to add, someone here recommended Crazy Bobs semi slick street type tyre, which are crazy cheap and look pretty too, anyone used those as a commuter tyre yet.


also found these on the bay which i thought seemed a very good deal and someone might be intrested in

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

charlieboy

 

[kaiser]

they should be grippier with more rubber contacting the ground but it is minor. FWIW I've found the compound to be more relevant. Spesh armadillos whilst having great puncture protection were as hard as a whores heart and gave way without warning. I've always found contis good and if it was 26" slick I was after I'd try gatorskins.

 

[Charlieboy28]

you may have a point, mine were kenda's cheapest finest bargain basement, hard n smooth with a few wiggly lines in them type things