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Tyre grip when it gets cold…

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  • December 8, 2014 at 11:07 pm #22837
    Shades

    When the temperature gets down to 5 degrees(ish) do some tyres lose grip, perhaps because the rubber is cold? I run Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres (32s) on my winter commuter/hybrid but they seem particularly ‘slippy’ in cold weather, even at 80psi. They’re great for puncture protection but were a complete nightmare on a cold commute this morning. I ‘hit the deck’ on a slightly frosty bit of cycle path (apologies to chap behind me who also went down avoiding me). Carried on cautiously feeling like I was on a skid pan only to have 2 chaps on road bikes steam past at 20mph. Might have been some ‘mind over matter’ going on with my brain telling me I was about to fall off when there wasn’t anything to worry about. Even though it isn’t freezing, tarmac does get that ‘greasy’ feel at 5 degrees.

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  • December 9, 2014 at 7:05 pm #822941
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    Bikeylikey

    When you say tyres ‘feel’ or
    When you say tyres ‘feel’ or ‘seem’ slippery, as a few have here, it would be helpful if you could be more specific – have you actually skidded, or is it more just an impression that you might?

    I went out a couple of weeks ago on some Vittoria Rubino 25s at 95 and 90psi and slipped three times, one of them the front. I changed them next day for Conti 4 season 28s at 80 and 85psi, did the same route with wet leaves, a steep wet slope, trying to make it skid in places, and found them rock solid. I’ve also got some Vredestein Fortezza Senso (not the ‘extreme’ version) 25mm on another bike. They have slipped once, which was a disappointment as I’d bought them for what was advertised as their grip. I’m thinking of getting some 27mm Vittoria Roubaix, which are advertised as sticking to wet greasy cobbles – any experience of these? Are they slow on dry sections of smooth tarmac?

    December 9, 2014 at 6:39 pm #822939
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    gmehje1

    Just csme back from quick
    Just csme back from quick hours ride using these for first time:

    Vredestein Fortezza Senso Xtreme Weather

    £25 each from ribble.

    Their description:

    Competition tyre for extremely cold and wet weather conditions
    Features Vredestein’s newly developed XWS compound
    Low rolling resistance and outstanding grip
    Vredestein’s Curve Control System guarantees durability and exceptional ride quality

    First impressions.
    4degrees, slippery wet sections of road – one particular bit was 15 % incline with streaming water and many leaves. Rock solid tyres with truly excellent grip and great feel.
    I have the Vredestein red senso all weather on my race wheels and they too are excellent.

    Worth looking ad.
    Cheers, G

    December 9, 2014 at 4:43 pm #822937
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    Roberj4

    I running Conti Gatorskins
    I running Conti Gatorskins 25mm 95psi and take it easy on corners. Best tyre I’ve ever used in winter/all year round is from Panaracer ‘EVO’ but they are an expensive tyres with amazing grip in the wet. These where recommended to me by other club mates but they do eventually cut and blister from wear hense why I believe they are not a popular stock item by dealers, Wiggle being one of them due to the returns they must have had.

    December 9, 2014 at 4:27 pm #822935
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    hampstead_bandit

    I’ve just got back from a
    I’ve just got back from a 100km ride starting in Milton Keynes then onto Buckingham, to Stewkley and berkhamstead and to Watford. Early morning it was -3 degrees and my conti 4 seasons in 25mm at 90psi still felt slippery on the country lanes.

    By the middle of the day grip was better, but still not great compared to rides during warmer days. I cannot blame leaf debris or wet as the roads were clean enough that my bike looks as clean as when I cleaned it yesterday.

    Rubber durometer is definitely affected by ambient temperature, but then I wonder about the affect of temperature on macadam (tarmac)? Any highway engineers about?

    December 9, 2014 at 4:15 pm #822933
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    Rod Marton

    I too run Marathon Plus my
    I too run Marathon Plus my winter bike and also find them slippy. Unfortunately there is no tyre that does everything and what you gain on puncture resistance and durability you lose on grip and performance. If you want more grip you will have to sacrifice one of these. Personally I just accept their limitations and take it gently on the corners in the frost – they aren’t exactly high performance racing tyres after all.

    December 9, 2014 at 3:54 pm #822931
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    David Arthur @davearthur

    The roads are really slippery
    The roads are really slippery at the moment, a result of the conditions, salt spreading and a lack of rain to clean the road surfaces.

    There’s no point blaming your tyres, because even the best tyres struggle in such conditions – I’ve crashed in such conditions on expensive Vittoria, because quite simply it doesn’t take much speed and lean angle to overcome the limits of traction provided by a very narrow racing tyre

    The best advice is to just take it really easy, scrub of more speed before heading through corners, and try and avoid leaning the bike over too much, especially on roundabouts or where the road is slightly cambered. Let a bit of pressure out of the tyres too, that helps, I run my tyres at about 85psi front and rear

    December 9, 2014 at 3:47 pm #822929
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    gdmor10

    I also hit the deck this
    I also hit the deck this morning, my own fault really and a gash on my knee and a stiff shoulder to show for it.

    What I feel more sad about though is that I did it in front of a queue or cars and not one of them rolled down their window to ask if I was okay.

    December 9, 2014 at 12:51 pm #822927
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    dafyddp

    Summer bike has Conti
    Summer bike has Conti GP4000s, Winter bike has Conti GatorSkins – both are 25mm.
    When it’s just wet and slippy, a bit of token tread won’t really make much difference, IMO. Ive found that lowering the pressure helps a little but then you risk pinch punctures (I managed to pinch-puncture both wheels recently going over a flooded cattle grid). I suspect the best option is probably a propper grippy cyclocross tubless run at really low pressure – so long as you don’t mind a serious drop in speed?
    Right number of wheel/tyres? n+1, of course, just like bikes.

    December 9, 2014 at 12:31 pm #822925
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    le Bidon

    I run my Conti GP4000s IIs
    I run my Conti GP4000s IIs all year round – unbeatable grip. I always feel stable and confident – why change them? I suppose the slightly softer rubber helps a great deal.

    December 9, 2014 at 12:02 pm #822923
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    Jimmy Ray Will

    Yep… rubber gets harder
    Yep… rubber gets harder when it gets cold, and therefore will have less grip.

    However, the main difference is the grease on the road at this time of year. It is very slippery, so the simple answer is to take it easy on the bends.

    Personally speaking I leave winter tyres alone, preferring to use a ‘race’ tyre all year round… My experience is that winter tyres gain puncture resistance and longevity at the cost of grip… something that is lacking in winter anyway.

    December 9, 2014 at 11:34 am #822921
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    amazon22

    I’m running Conti Grand Prix
    I’m running Conti Grand Prix 4 Season 25c’s, but for the last couple of weeks my bike hasn’t felt properly ‘grounded’ – the roads seem very greasy and this mixed in with leaves and mud means I’m going round corners very gingerly. I’ve got some 28c’s I can swap to but I’m not sure they’ll make that much difference. Dropping the pressure on the 25’s didn’t seem to make a lot of difference to grip or speed.

    December 9, 2014 at 11:17 am #822919
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    arfa

    I ride gp4000’s 25 cm all
    I ride gp4000’s 25 cm all year round but as soon as there is a hint of ice/mulchy leaves I ride the MTB. Only studded tyres really help on proper ice so I am not sure changing tyres ro anything else will help.

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