Wet tyres? Pressures?

[ttmadness]

hey fellas,

considering getting a set of wets. are they worth it and what are they like?

in water, how much better are they than say a decent road tyre like a Pilot road or Pilot power 2ct?

do you run low pressures in them (20's?) to get them to heat up in the water?

how hot do they get in a rain race?

Cheers.

[Mental Trousers]

There's no comparison between wets and road tyres. Wets are so much better in the wet, but road tyres last longer than 2 laps when it dries up.

I run my wets anywhere between 2-4 psi higher than the slicks because wets generate significantly more heat due to their tread pattern. I also don't use tyre warmers with them because of how quickly they heat up.

You won't regret getting some.

However, you then need a 2nd set of rims cos it's arse changing tyres then finding out the conditions have changed again

[Tony.OK]

So much better than a road tyre you wouldn't believe, almost like riding in the dry when ridin smoothly.

Pressure wise it depends on brand, Metz for eg run about 34 front, 30 rear cold.

If its proper wet they dont heat up much, but in drying cond they tear up pretty quick.

[ttmadness]

one thing I notice with road tyre when locking the front in the wet is that it slides very violently and quickly. It makes finding the outright amount you can brake a little scary. I don't mind the amount of outright grip though.

do the wet tyres make this sliding feeling more comparable to the dry? like you can feel them just before locking?

[Tony.OK]

one thing I notice with road tyre when locking the front in the wet is that it slides very violently and quickly. It makes finding the outright amount you can brake a little scary. I don't mind the amount of outright grip though.

do the wet tyres make this sliding feeling more comparable to the dry? like you can feel them just before locking?

They dont lock up like a roadie, saying that though braking should be smooth in the wet. Let off the brake before tipping in and they're fantastic. Knee down in the rain.............no probs at all

Ya really just gotta try them for yourself.

[NinjaBoy]

In a straight line and upright I can brake as hard as I do with dry tyres.

[ttmadness]

sounds pretty fun, i love hooning in the rain on road tyres as it is.

is it the tread or the compound that gives it the grip? I think the tread just acts as a safety measure for aquaplaning and cuts through the water so the compound can actually provide the grip is that right?

or does the tread mainly act as a mechanism to heat the tyre up as the blocks squish and move about?

[Tony.OK]

sounds pretty fun, i love hooning in the rain on road tyres as it is.

is it the tread or the compound that gives it the grip? I think the tread just acts as a safety measure for aquaplaning and cuts through the water so the compound actually provides the grip is that right?

Both......

[ttmadness]

In a straight line and upright I can brake as hard as I do with dry tyres.

that's a pretty strong statement right there... can you get the rear wheel in the air on braking at high speed?

[k14]

that's a pretty strong statement right there... can you get the rear wheel in the air on braking at high speed?

Yep sure is

[ttmadness]

gotta try these tyres i think!

[CHOPPA]

It would be sick going out on wets on the road!! You should be close to 10% off your normal dry speed

[lostinflyz]

Yep sure is

yep, ive got a recurring dislocating shoulder that says its a bit stupid.

The tread serves two functions, to prevent aquaplaning and generate heat.

Wets are a much softer tyre all around. Running them even in the high 20's makes them feel like there flat.

[k14]

yep, ive got a recurring dislocating shoulder that says its a bit stupid.

The tread serves two functions, to prevent aquaplaning and generate heat.

Wets are a much softer tyre all around. Running them even in the high 20's makes them feel like there flat.

Yeah as said already in this thread the pressures depend on the brand. I run my dunlops around 33-34psi and did ok on them on Sunday at Teretonga.

Is the original poster asking about them for road riding? It seems to come across as though that could be a possibility. If so then don't even consider it. Wets are for racing in the wet only and that's it!

[wharfy]

It would be sick going out on wets on the road!! You should be close to 10% off your normal dry speed

Even though they are illegal (I think ?) I used an old set of wets on my Hornet for a couple of weeks to ride to work, obviously didn't push them (I don't even do that on the track ) but they were great ! They were very confidence inspiring (even for a sook like me in the wet).

I need another Hornet so I can have one as a "wet" bike