Originally Posted by
TimothyH
If the front tire washed out on a loose surface then I would suspect poor technique such as braking into the turn or while turning rather than braking before the turn.
The same thing can happen on any tires if technique isn't correct. I would not change tires until I learned and practiced proper cornering technique for flat turns on loose surfaces.
-Tim-
It was most certainly poor technique but it wasn’t the braking...at least not for Witterings. The simple act of turning a corner on loose gravel can cause the front wheel to wash out. He was probably too leaned over and had too much speed for the tires being used. Knobbed tires have some side grip so they don’t wash out as easily on loose surfaces.
A wider tire would have helped as well. Wider tires wouldn’t wash out as easily either because they float on softer surfaces rather than digging in.
For the friend, his crash
could have been related to braking, although it could just be unfamiliarity with the bike.