Knobbly VS Slick

[truslack]

To settle an argument, what would have more grip in the rain, on roads?

A motocross bike with knobbiles, or a sportsbike with slicks?

Cheers!

Mark
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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[GazzaThePiagg...]

Has to be knoblies. I know it is not real slick but the old tyres on my moped used to be all over the place in the rain. Then again, would not like to lean too much with MotoX tyres.
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[McGee]

Slicks in the rain

w00t drifting

Do you mean straight up slicks or real bike tyres ?
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[G]

Do you mean actual racing slicks with no tread at all?

Even so, I'd say the road tyres. They are more likely to aqua plane, but up until that point you'll have a lot more rubber in contact with the road.

On an off road tyre you get a few small bits of rubber, which move about as your corner etc.

A crosser will weigh less, but I'd still go with the sports bike.

I've ridden with supercorsas (closest thing you can get to a road legal slick) in damp/wet conditions on track at a pace that you couldn't get near with a crosser on knobblies.

Of course, stick yourself on some mud, and the off road bike will be kickin' arse .

[veeeffarr]

You'd be on your arse within 5 minutes on slicks?

[LeeR]

I'd go for something using a multi-purpose tyre like a Trail or Battle Wing, but the knobblies would win over a slick
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[Philious]

I voted slicks...

My MTX had proper off road knobblies when i owned it, and fuck me was it all over the place.

The XR isnt as bad but then the tyres are on road/ off road.
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[G]

[Finglonga]

Depends how much overbanding, drain covers and white lines on the road. Ridden with knobblies on the road in the rain and they just walk sideways around corners . . . More than they do in the dry. Been on slicks in the rain, but only on a track and there was loads more grip than you may expect.

I think on public roads I would opt for the knobblies though.
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[Kal]

Neither, I'd choose a decent set of touring tires designed for road use.
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[colin1]

i have an offroad bike with knobblies and its lethal on roads in the wet

very easy to lose the front end

my sportsbike has a front tyre of soft grippy rubber, with a big contact patch as there isnt much tread to speak of, and that sticks like glue
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[Ted]

I voted as if it is actual slicks, and therefore I would prefer knobblies, but if you mean normal sports tyres, and not real slicks (as in no tread at all), I would go for the sports tyres...

[truslack]

The argument was over proper racing slicks, or knobblies for road use (twisties).

Thanks to all who have posted! The votes are even now
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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[stinkwheel]

Proper racing slicks, on the road, in the wet. I would imagine you'd land on your arse fairly quickly on account of them being stone-cold and as a result having the consistancy of bakelite.

What you want are some of these bad boys:
https://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/images/tyres/big/av50_rain.jpg
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[G]

[SoND]

What about racing wets, how well do you think they would do in the winter?
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[G]

[deanoet]

The idea of wet tyres is to squash the water off the road into the grooves away from the rubber touching the road so increasing grip... The more efficiently the tyre does this the better grip it has in the wet.

Knobblies are made for physically gripping loose mud and gravel, not moving it out of the way.

I would go for road tyres. They are designed for general use. Which can be classed as jack of all trades, master of none. Assuming you mean road legal slick tyres of course. as they would have to pass grip tests in wet weather.. (i believe the top of the rabge elise has road legal slicks, still kick ass in the wet though. They are just awesome in the dry)

Slicks dont works in wet as there is a lot of rubber touching the road and not many grooves. Tyre tries to push the water out of the way on the road, no where for it to go, tyre rides up onto the wave of water at the front, and you aquaplane straight on. Which isnt fun.
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[stinkwheel]

[Luke_Retrofly]

which is why despite having superbold tyres I havnt binned it in the wet,

Tread?

Its overrated

[Kal]

[Stiffler]

[Syx]

Slightly off topic, but that reminds me of when I was riding in the wet and hit a patch of diesel on the approach to a roundabout. I skidded onto it whilst managing to turn the bike 90 degrees to the left (not intentionally!) and ended up on the inside lane, facing the right way.
Thank **** no-one was coming around at the time.

After this, I'm so cautious in the wet that you wouldn't think I was the same rider as in the dry!

[wikiwiki]

I'm going from "dual purpose" tyres that come with the bike, some people call them "death wings" to BT45s, simply to get better grip in the wet as it is far too easy to lock the rear of the bike in the wet.

I'm hoping it may improve my fuel consumption slightly too as there is less rolling resistance compared to a knobbled tyre.

HTH