I hit the floor this morning

[CopperCyclist]

Like people say, tyres with tread don't help on hard road surfaces. Wider tyres will give more grip, but they'll slow you down too. Unless this is a regular occurrence for you, I'd chalk it up to experience if I were you and stick with what you've got!

 

[HLaB]

I was riding to work along Archers Rd in Soton, approaching the junction with Banister Rd here

There was a big queue heading in my direction so I slip down the RHS and merge in when the traffic starts moving again. The lights go red and I take a position second in the queue. Now I notice there is something wrong with the bike at this point, felt a bit like I was holding it on ice.

Anyhoo I set off from the lights, try to turn left and bang I hit the floor. Front wheel had slid out. Not hurt too much but embarassing. someone asked if I was ok which was nice.

So I check the tyres and they are covered in some kind of greasy stuff, maybe oil from someones old banger, dont know. I'm sure it couldn't have been ice and the leaves have not turned sludgy yet. I give the tyres a wipe with mygloves and set off again but now I'm very timid

tyres are new vitorria rubino tyres with not much tread, 700 by 23. would tread or wider tyres have helped???

Be careful what you ride thru!

Ouch! Sounds like you hit diesel or the like. Wider tyres may have helped but tbh probably nothing would, better handling or better observation may have helped too but thats easy to say in hindsight. More tread certainly won't have, the more tread the less rubber in contact with the ground and hence less grip.