Tubeless rain tire recommendation for chipseal road
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Tubeless rain tire recommendation for chipseal road
I've been using the Hutchinson Secteur 28 tubeless for the rear on my titanium rain road bike. Despite the name "Sector" which implies some connection to Paris Roubaix, I find this tire to have really poor wet weather grip. For dry it is pretty good and the wear has been decent as well. But I ride in the rain a lot and my confidence should be inspired, not like it is now where I fear I will go down like those You Tube videos of TDF time trialists going down on turns in the rain.
I am reluctant to spend more than about 40 (max 50$) on a tubeless tire. I was thinking of trying the TUFO Comtura 5 TR or TUFO Comtura Prima TR (which is more expensive). Either of these tire seem to have an above average rating in the wet. Has anyone tried these? Just doing my research...
Or does anyone have any other gravel/road tubeless wet weather tires that they like?
I am reluctant to spend more than about 40 (max 50$) on a tubeless tire. I was thinking of trying the TUFO Comtura 5 TR or TUFO Comtura Prima TR (which is more expensive). Either of these tire seem to have an above average rating in the wet. Has anyone tried these? Just doing my research...
Or does anyone have any other gravel/road tubeless wet weather tires that they like?
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You have a bike that is specifically used to ride in the rain?
Damn, I need to up my bike segmentation game!
As for tire suggestions, the tires I ride on my bikes work on dry ground as well as wet ground- Conti GP5k in 32mm, Panaracer GK slick in 32mm, Panaracer GK SS in 43mm, and more. I just dont take corners leaning over 60deg.
Damn, I need to up my bike segmentation game!
As for tire suggestions, the tires I ride on my bikes work on dry ground as well as wet ground- Conti GP5k in 32mm, Panaracer GK slick in 32mm, Panaracer GK SS in 43mm, and more. I just dont take corners leaning over 60deg.
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I love the Vittoria tires with their ribbed tread but I don't know if any but the best and most expensive have that tread pattern or come tubeless. I suspect the Corsa Control G+/G2.0 with Graphene is exactly what you want but it is going to cost quite a bit and probably comes no bigger than 28c. (I may be wrong here. They make and I have the same tire in 30c Tubular.)
That ribbed tread is (almost) what Vittoria made for many years for their cheap cotton training tubulars. Palo Alto Bikes always had them in stock with all sorts of labeling on them; Vittoria seemingly made them for everybody. I completely took that ribbed tread for granted. It wasn't until the mid-'80s when it disappeared that I realized just how good it was. Then ~ 7 years ago, Vittoria brought it back with the Graphene. And I am back in love. Best all around tread ever in my opinion. Good cornering, even in the wet. Best ever for climbing out of cracks, ruts and up shoulders to get back on the pavement. The tread with no surprises.
That ribbed tread is (almost) what Vittoria made for many years for their cheap cotton training tubulars. Palo Alto Bikes always had them in stock with all sorts of labeling on them; Vittoria seemingly made them for everybody. I completely took that ribbed tread for granted. It wasn't until the mid-'80s when it disappeared that I realized just how good it was. Then ~ 7 years ago, Vittoria brought it back with the Graphene. And I am back in love. Best all around tread ever in my opinion. Good cornering, even in the wet. Best ever for climbing out of cracks, ruts and up shoulders to get back on the pavement. The tread with no surprises.
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Be sure to look for a tire that is certified to not hydroplane below 100mph.
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You have a bike that is specifically used to ride in the rain?
Damn, I need to up my bike segmentation game!
As for tire suggestions, the tires I ride on my bikes work on dry ground as well as wet ground- Conti GP5k in 32mm, Panaracer GK slick in 32mm, Panaracer GK SS in 43mm, and more. I just dont take corners leaning over 60deg.
Damn, I need to up my bike segmentation game!
As for tire suggestions, the tires I ride on my bikes work on dry ground as well as wet ground- Conti GP5k in 32mm, Panaracer GK slick in 32mm, Panaracer GK SS in 43mm, and more. I just dont take corners leaning over 60deg.
But cornering safety in the wet I believe could most definitely be improved upon. Apparently I will need to move forward with my tire choices and report back here.
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Re: tires, sorry, no experience with tubeless. Although I'd say limiting your selection to <$50 leaves out a lot of tires these days.
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The topic of seeking out tires that inspire confidence while cornering in the wet (anyone else thinking "risk compensation"?) reminds me of a story that Davis Phinney of the 1980's 7-Eleven cycling team once told in an interview.
One of their first races in Europe was a criterium in a Belgian town on a rainy day. Davis said that all the team members joked to each other about how the European riders were taking the corners like timid grandmothers while warming up.
Then the race started. After a few laps, all of the 7-Eleven riders, who were not used to racing on roads that saw a lot of use by diesel-powered cars and trucks, had crashed out of the race. None of European pros had.
That story isn't about tires: it's about confidence. You can have the best rain tires ever made (assuming there's a genuine, significant difference between bike tires in that regard), but don't ride them blithely. The faster you corner on wet roads, the more instantaneously and the harder you go down.
One of their first races in Europe was a criterium in a Belgian town on a rainy day. Davis said that all the team members joked to each other about how the European riders were taking the corners like timid grandmothers while warming up.
Then the race started. After a few laps, all of the 7-Eleven riders, who were not used to racing on roads that saw a lot of use by diesel-powered cars and trucks, had crashed out of the race. None of European pros had.
That story isn't about tires: it's about confidence. You can have the best rain tires ever made (assuming there's a genuine, significant difference between bike tires in that regard), but don't ride them blithely. The faster you corner on wet roads, the more instantaneously and the harder you go down.
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Maybe my Sector 28's bald tread has lost its grip. I don't remember it being so shiny when I started using it a little over a year ago. Strangely, the tire does not appear have become squared off in the tread like a lot of clincher rear tires do. Instead, It has kept a nice round curve to it. My older titanium Veritas frame barely clears a 28, the front has a Ritchey Carbon fork and the max tire size there is a 25.
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Maybe my Sector 28's bald tread has lost its grip. I don't remember it being so shiny when I started using it a little over a year ago. Strangely, the tire does not appear have become squared off in the tread like a lot of clincher rear tires do. Instead, It has kept a nice round curve to it. My older titanium Veritas frame barely clears a 28, the front has a Ritchey Carbon fork and the max tire size there is a 25.
Maybe the increased slipperiness indicates that you've worn through the grippy tread formulation and are now down to a layer that's less slippery but tougher/more durable. Just guessing.
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Never heard of a Sector 28 tire; had to look it up. Sounds like a great tire from the description. I always liked Hutchinson's tires.
Maybe the increased slipperiness indicates that you've worn through the grippy tread formulation and are now down to a layer that's less slippery but tougher/more durable. Just guessing.
Maybe the increased slipperiness indicates that you've worn through the grippy tread formulation and are now down to a layer that's less slippery but tougher/more durable. Just guessing.
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I saw this tire and I was intrigued: https://cambriabike.com/products/sch...ding-road-tire
Not sure what "Wet Star Compound" is.
Not sure what "Wet Star Compound" is.
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Continental GP4S and newer / recent GPAS appear to work well on wet pavement
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I usually don’t ride when the roads are ‘soaked’, but it’s been raining here a lot and I went out twice this week and my GKSS did great. Mine are 43mm but they have smaller sizes.
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It's always good to have balance and quick reflexes, though.
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However, this is the Gravel Forum, so if not slicks, then something with a near-smooth center strip would be best. I'd go with something like a Specialize Pathfinder Pro--primarily for the puncture protection. Flats when it's wet suck!
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#18
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Year-round Seattle bike commuter here. I ride in the rain a lot. Conti GP5K 32c tubeless tires. Very happy with the grip on wet roads (and dry ones too).
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28 mm GP4S on bike in top pic
32 mm GP4S on bike in bottom pic
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As shelby implied, what you really want for rain are slicks. Tread would be for hydroplaning (cars) which is not a problem with bikes because the speeds are low and the contact patch is very small. The more material within the contact patch contacting the pavement, the better = slicks.
However, this is the Gravel Forum, so if not slicks, then something with a near-smooth center strip would be best. I'd go with something like a Specialize Pathfinder Pro--primarily for the puncture protection. Flats when it's wet suck!
However, this is the Gravel Forum, so if not slicks, then something with a near-smooth center strip would be best. I'd go with something like a Specialize Pathfinder Pro--primarily for the puncture protection. Flats when it's wet suck!
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Anyway, that 11Storm compound may be making all the difference between Fusion5 and Sector.
I see the appeal of the Ultremo Aqua— I think some tread like that to mechanically interlock with the chipseal surface sounds good— but the link showed 23c only, and really, I’d want 25mm at least for rain/winter, preferring 28 for better grip, stability, comfort and protection against hazard impacts . Also, the Ultremo Aqua probably has a super soft compound which will probably wear really fast, particularly in dry conditions. I haven’t used it though.
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hey that looks like a sweet bike … and maybe my size … and I don’t mind bikes that suffer from slippage … just sayin
observation … is the rear brake pad holder / brake pad (in picture above) oriented in the correct direction ?
observation … is the rear brake pad holder / brake pad (in picture above) oriented in the correct direction ?
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It was raining in Watopia when I Zwifted today.
I confidently took hairpin turns on a long descent at 35mph, despite being virtually soaked.
The tire I have on the front wheel of my trainer bike is a 25mm gp5k, so clearly that is the best rain tire available.**
I confidently took hairpin turns on a long descent at 35mph, despite being virtually soaked.
The tire I have on the front wheel of my trainer bike is a 25mm gp5k, so clearly that is the best rain tire available.**
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