Choosing the right tires for a rainy road bike ride
Posted at: Feb. 13, 2022
Road bikes are often used for riding in the rain. In this article, we summarize tire selection for riding in the rain on a road bike.
Table of contents
Sponsored Link
Slick tires are fine
Slick tires for road bikes without grooves
Wearing slick tires without grooves on a rainy day gives the image of slipping, but this is because it is associated with a phenomenon called “hydroplane” that can cause loss of control.
However, hydroplaning is a phenomenon that tends to occur when cars are riding at high speeds on highways, so if you are riding a bicycle at normal speeds, you should have no problem wearing slick tires on a rainy day.
Keep the tire pressure low
On the other hand, the road surface is still slippery on a rainy day.
Therefore, it is a good idea to keep the tire pressure lower than usual so that the tires can grip the road. Lower tire pressure increases the grip and prevents you from falling due to driving errors.
Even professional road teams lower the air pressure of their entire team’s road bikes when the road surface is wet, and this wisdom should be used by hobby riders as well.
If you’re going to use it for commuting, etc., you’d better get bigger tires like 28C
Since road bikes are designed for high-speed cruising, they are usually equipped with narrow tires such as 25C or 23C. If you are cycling or training, you can choose not to go if it is raining, which is fine, but if you are commuting to work or school, it is hard to choose not to go.
If it should rain on the way to work or school, or if you need to ride your road bike to work or school even on a rainy day, you should wear larger tires (28C or larger) so that you have more grip even when it rains.
In the past, thicker tires were thought to be heavier and slower, but today’s tires for road bikes weigh only about 50g between 23C and 28C for the higher grades. For example, for Panaracer’s Race A Evo4, there is only a 40g difference between the 23C tire (200g) and the 28C tire (240g).
It is said that even a 100g weight reduction is important for a road bike, but for commuting purposes, a 100g difference between the front and rear tires is hardly noticeable.
Driving skill is more important than tires
Of course it is important to choose the right tires for a rainy day, but it is said that driving skill is even more important.
The following four points are important to keep in mind on rainy days. 1.
Do not brake at manholes or white lines.
Always anticipate danger.
Don’t drive too fast.
Always follow the traffic rules more strictly than usual.
If you are late, you can always start over, but if you are in a traffic accident, you may not be able to start over.
Tires and other equipment are important, but the most important thing is to remember to drive safely.
The booster simplifies bead raising, which is the most difficult part of tubeless installation. We have compiled a list of air pumps with booster(boost functions) that are reassuring to have one.
Many "hookless rim" wheels are lightweight and cost-effective. What is hookless? We have compiled a list of advantages and disadvantages of hookless, as well as points to keep in mind when choosing.
Tubeless tires have seen a dramatic increase in the number of users over the past few years. Even with tubeless and tubeless ready tires, punctures cannot be reduced to zero. The following is a summary of the causes of punctures and how to deal with them.
When trying to change tire thickness on a road bike or other sport bicycle, it is important to know what tire size the wheel will allow. In this article, we will show you how to find out which tires are compatible with your wheel based on its specifications.
We have compiled a list of 12-speed chains that can be used with Shimano road bike and MTB components. Also about chain compatibility with chains from manufacturers other than Shimano.
Mounting adapters for bicycle disc brakes are essential when changing calipers with different standards or rotor sizes. This section explains the types of mount adapters, how to recognize them, and the model numbers of Shimano's mount adapters.
There are two types of lock rings for center locking disc brakes, inner serration and outer serration. The following is a summary of the differences and how to select the right one.
Mechanical (mechanical) disc brake calipers are ideal for ease of maintenance and as an upgrade from rim brake components. Models from major manufacturers are listed below.
With the popularity of gravel road bikes and the spread of disc brakes, the choice of road bike wheel size has become not only the standard 700C, but also 650B. In this issue, we will look at the differences between 700C and 650B, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Disc brake rotors are an unassuming part, but they have a significant impact on the effectiveness of disc brakes. We have compiled a list of the different types of rotors, how to select one, and the lineup of rotors from major manufacturers.
Brake pads are installed on the calipers of disc brakes. In fact, there are multiple types in terms of material and shape. The following is a summary of disc brake pad types and how to select the right one.
For those who will be servicing their road bikes, we have compiled a list of hex wrench sizes that are commonly used for road bike maintenance and that you should have available.
There are two types of bicycle tire tubes, latex tubing and butyl tubing. The following is a summary of the differences between the two and which one you should choose.
Binding pedals allow you to ride faster and more efficiently on your road bike. In this article, we will thoroughly explain what to look for when choosing binding pedals.
Cleats are the parts that connect binding pedals to shoes. Cleats are only one part, but each manufacturer has its own characteristics and differences. They are actually important parts that are linked to usability and their merits and demerits.