Tires for Paved Wet Roads Fall-Spring
 

I’m not a commuter (wfh) but I figured this group may have some good ideas. I’m looking for tires I would use from around November-April, north of Toronto (Dec-Feb means temps often around 0C), that are good on occasional wet roads, that may be a bit slippery at times. more details:

- clearance for 40’s
- 700c using with a tube
- mainly will be used when roads are dry, but a 1/4 of the time the roads may be wet (temps above freezing), and very infrequently I’ll come across a section that is a bit slippery (not icy, I stay home in those conditions, or turn around if I come across them)
- doesn’t have to be a heavy and beefy commuter tire that goes for 10k, a bit lighter is appreciated
​​​​​​- I’ll likely be running with fenders (still have clearance for 40’s)

Thanks!

Conti Gatorskin Hardshells
Schwalbe Marathon Supremes
Panaracer GravelKings might be ok too.
The new Conti Urban which is supposed to be similar to a 35c GP5000 might be worth a look as well.

If you check out BicycleRollingResistance.com they are starting to do wet grip testing. At least on Road tires. Though with your requirements, those above should work well.

Last purchase, Gravelking SS Plus for rear.

Next purchase, Gravelking SK Plus for front.

Teravail Coronados (OEM on my bike) were too knobby for commuting and did not hold up that well. Rear was worn down at <1000 miles and succumbed to injury. Front tread not lasting all that long either.

As mentioned, the 622-40c Marathon Supremes are great on dry/wet, with those directional treads. Very nice rolling, grippy and good ride. I use 37c f/ 42c r for touring. The OneStar compound version is the best rolling. The Addix Tour compound is a little harder, but as comfy and less grippy. Puncture protection is very good. Haven't had a puncture in over 15k miles of riding over the years. The 622-42c is narrower @ 39mm inflated to 57psi tubeless, when loaded. They are getting harder to find in North America. I bought a bunch of Onestars after trying the Addix version, mainly because the Addix versions are all tubed, while the OneStar come in TLE.
The Panaracer Gravel Kings are designed for crappier road use, like dirt or cobbled etc. The GK Slick is nice and fast but I find it less grippy in the wet vs Supremes. For your use, I would suggest the Pasela in 40c, even if it is a narrow 37-38mm when mounted.. The Pasela are almost as easy rolling as the Supremes, but just about 10% less in basically all departments, especially sidewall puncture, which I had one on the Pasela., but it wins hands down on price, being 30% cheaper.

Continental Gatorskins or Panaracer Paselas are my two top choices.

Paselas have a bit more give for a better ride, Gatorskins wear a bit better. One thing I didn't see in your list is flat resistance; fixing a flat kills your commute speed and time.

Also IME run new tires a few miles (commutes) before you take them out in the rain. That seems to wear off the mold release, and the rubber underneath is much better at grabbing pavement (wet or dry). It usually doesn't take much, maybe 50 miles or so.

When I got my Gravel king tire I wanted to order a Marathon Almotion, basically the fat tubeless version of the Supreme, but it was out of stock. I'm satisfied with what I got. The "Plus+" versions of the Gravel King are armored more.

Continental Top Contact II’s in 700x38c. The Top Contact II has Vectran belting so they offer excellent flat protection at a significantly lighter weight than Marathons and wet weather grip is outstanding. Conti also makes a “Winter” version with an aggressive tread pattern and can be studded, but it sounds like that’s more than you need.

I should add that Schwalbe and other manufacturers fudge the sizing a bit. They list ETRTO and ISO sizing and it's usually between the 2! The Marathon Supremes and Almotion are examples. The Supreme lists as 622-37c in ETRTO but 700-35c in ISO, and 28x1.4 just to mess with us! haha. Same for the 622-42c ETRTO, 700-40c ISO. You'd think in this day and age, the manufacturers would just get together and standardize everything.

I use the Almotion (OneStar) as tourer as well. It does well on and off pavement in the wet, but the Supremes are semi-slicks really, so have more agility, being grippier and lighter, on the road. I still have a set of Almotion hanging in the garage. Seems more valuable now that they've gone to the Addix compound! haha
I know the Pro Tite protection has improved protection on Panaracers, and it blows my mind that they are made in Japan and it costs less than Schwalbe's Indonesian made tires by 20-30%! The Gravel King color series is my wife's fave tire right now, because of the Pansy colored tire, so who am I to say no?

One of them is height and the other is width. Annoying, isn't it?

Continental Gatorskins are bulletproof but I hate riding them in winter here in the Pacific Northwest (I’m in Seattle)… they are the most slippery tire I’ve ridden on wet pavement. I pulled mine off as I had too many close calls with loss of traction with them. Using Cinturato Velo’s 700x35 but set up tubeless as winter tires and they have been great.

On my commuter are Schwalbe Marathon Plus most of the year, and the Schwalbe Marathon Winter (studded) go on for icy conditions. I've never fallen in wet/icy conditions, nor had a flat using either.

The Gator Hardshells mentioned above are a lightweight, long wearing tire, but potentially a bit slick. Perhaps a summer tire.

The toughest, and best traction tire I've found so far is the Michelin Protek Cross Max. I found it had good traction, even in light slush.

https://images.bike24.net/i/mb/46/83...2-d-112763.jpg

Unfortunately a little bit slow of a tire, and not my favorite "century" tire, but it would make a good City tire.

I can get a set of Schwalbe Marathon Racer road tires. They don’t have the same protection as some of the other tires mentioned, but as I’m not commuting or touring I thought this is no worse than my GP5000 I use on my road bike.

The Marathon Supreme One Star is a faster rolling and grippier tire than the Racer. I think you are overly reading the comments. When I say commuting and/or touring, I mean that's what I use it for, and it's not the only purpose of the tire. A fast rolling, grippy tire with a softer sidewall and good puncture protection, can be used for many applications, including fun rides, commutes and touring. I'm pretty sure puncture protection is important for any public ride except in a velodrome?
You also don't say what bike this is for?

I'm trialing a set of 700x40 Maxxis Re-Fuse tires at present - unsure about grip, but supposed to be really resistant to punctures.

If you ride in wet and icy conditions and you've never fallen, I'm tempted to say you don't ride hard enough. :lol: :lol: :lol:

4-Season
 

The only answer for me riding in winter wet Portland, Oregon are Conti 4-seasons. Expensive but fast rolling, excellent flat protection and amazing wet road traction. Also a pretty supple ride.

That's what we used to say skiing. But it's commuting, not Giant Slalom :D

My faves for the ride and very good grip are the Vittoria Open Paves. (Most have half their tread in green.) Not too far behind in the wet and better all the rest of the time are the Vittoria G+ (with that super tread pattern that got forgotten for decades, ribbed!). These are fairly light tires and fast rolling for the amount of sticky. The Open Paves do pick up stuff and flat and cut. The G+ with their graphene are a lot better in that respect. Vittoria also has a better gripping version of the G+. All the G+ may be rolled over into the G 2.0 now which I haven't tried yet.

Are you me, because 100% this^. I've felt so confident on my 35mm Pirelli Cinturato Velos this winter that I've set PRs on many long and winding descents despite not riding outside much since the pandemic started and generally becoming more risk-averse.

Since you're not limiting to commuting tires per se, I'll suggest Conti 4 Season and Vittoria Open Pave. The Pave in particular has really impressed me in terms of grip in the damp, but keep in mind they are a race tire.

In those types of conditions, I've had good luck (over several years) with the Continental Ride Tour tire. In mostly high-30s and above, frequently wet from rain, I generally rode at least several times weekly for a round-trip commuting loop. Handled well, had no punctures, dealt with standing water fairly well, and had sufficient grip even in corners taken at moderate speeds. They come in a variety of sizes in the 622 (700c) format: 28-622, 32-622, 37-622, as well as the larger 42- and 47- sizes). A little on the heavy side due to the solid anti-puncture strip, but otherwise they're a tire I'd do again.

https://www.continental-tires.com/bi...tour/ride-tour

I have a set of conti Ride Tours in 47 and they are great. I use them year around in summer, rain, snow. Cheap and bomb proof. I had a 32mm set earlier. I haven't had a flat ever on them, in over 3 years combined. Contis mount narrow, however, in my experience about 3 to 5 mm.

I also use 42 Conti Contact Speeds on another bike, which are faster and lighter, and work just as well. They are a but softer, so they absorb the cobble stones as well as the 47 Ride Tours.

I don't think you really need profile for wet weather bike tires. They are too narrow to hydroplane, so tread that displaces water isn't necessary. I have used 26" Kojaks in such conditions with no issue.