Tyres on the wrong way for over two years

[Yellow Saddle]

It does not push the water to the sides. LOL

Where do you propose the water goes?

 

[Randomnerd]

I've had my helmet on back to front all day today, and had to cycle home in reverse to avoid aquaplaning...

 

[Yellow Saddle]

'On a normal, smooth road, even in wet conditions, a slick tyre actually provides better grip than a tyre with a tread, because the contact area is larger.'
Didn't you read the Schwalbe information?

I'm afraid Schwalbe has it right, but for the wrong reason. In friction, the contact area is irrelevant. Fr= mu x Fn There is no provision for area in the formula.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

It remains on the road?


I can't see a road tyre providing enough force to completely displace water thus leaving the road which the tyre has just gone over dry.

Then you have never ridden behind someone in the rain and noticed the trail of dry road behind the wheel that closes up as the water flows back.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Yes indeed, there's always a microscopic thin layer of water left, and it's the irregularities in the road surface at that scale that penetrate it and 'key' with the deforming rubber of the tyre. And, of course, the microscopic layer of water is there under a treaded tyre just as much as a slick - but there's less rubber to key with the road surface.

You got it wrong there. There is no mechanical interlocking of shapes creating a mechanical resistance of sorts.

The rest is sound. The microscopic layer you refer to is the boundary layer and it increases grip over that of a bulk water layer. That's why you lick your fingers to open a plastic bag and not run it under the tap. However sticky, the boundary layer is still less grippy than the road irregularities it isolates from the rubber. These irregularities adhere to the tyre through Van der Waals forces, a chemical phenomena, not physical as "key" suggests.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

IIRC there was an argument between the followers of the late Sheldon Brown and those of Chris Boardman

Boardman stated that in the Tour de France in wet conditions riders used wider tyres with tread, whereas Sheldon Brown argued that the tread limited the contact area and was therefore the wrong decision.

There was no categorical answer

Boardman was wrong. He's no scientist.

 

[davidphilips]

I've had my helmet on back to front all day today, and had to cycle home in reverse to avoid aquaplaning...

Thought i seen you at the roundabout looked fun i waved but dont think you seen me because i waved in the direction you had been cycling from.

 

[ColinJ]

Boardman stated that in the Tour de France in wet conditions riders used wider tyres with tread ...

 

[Alan O]

You got it wrong there. There is no mechanical interlocking of shapes creating a mechanical resistance of sorts.

The rest is sound. The microscopic layer you refer to is the boundary layer and it increases grip over that of a bulk water layer. That's why you lick your fingers to open a plastic bag and not run it under the tap. However sticky, the boundary layer is still less grippy than the road irregularities it isolates from the rubber. These irregularities adhere to the tyre through Van der Waals forces, a chemical phenomena, not physical as "key" suggests.

Ah, got you, thanks.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Unless you can alter the molecular structure of water the pretty pattern that passes for a tread on a cycle tyre will shift bugger all.

Depends on the depth and design. An M+ will work well, a GP4000sII, not so much.

 

[ufkacbln]

Should have listened to Sheldon?
\

 

[Randomnerd]

Thought i seen you at the roundabout looked fun i waved but dont think you seen me because i waved in the direction you had been cycling from.

Next time, davidphilips, wave at where I'm going and I'll see you. I wasn't trying to avoid you, or being rude; had to get home quick so I could have the spare time to read all the bull on here.

 

[smutchin]

I don't have any evidence

The cornerstone of any argument on the internet. And proof that you are trolling.

By reversing the tyres you can get double the life out of them

Much like underpants.

[QUOTE 4837315, member: 45"]So, can you flesh it out a bit?....[/QUOTE]

He doesn't do flesh, he's a vegan.

 

[Ajax Bay]

At least the tyres had decent tread so they gripped well.

Please note that I whistled - and am gratified that an enthusiast responded - and away we went - 9 pages!

I initially responded regarding a tread pattern on a tyre displacing water.

Well actually you can see that I didn't say anything about displacing water.

I don't think a slick tyre would displace water in the same way that a treaded tyre would.

Rubber presses down: water is squeezed away.

This is better than a helmet thread.

Thank you for the implicit cheer.

The tyre's are directional for either the tread pattern to disperse water away from the tyre's centre, then away from the shoulders most efficiently, or because that's the direction in which the tread / rubber was laid on the carcass. You probably won't notice too much difference in performance unless you are braking very hard, riding with standing water, or cornering at high speed. Doing any of those things with the tyre on the wrong way round, will mean the tyre is not doing it's job as efficiently as it could, it could lead to a de lamination ( not good at speed, or cornering / braking hard) and the tyre will wear out more quickly ( whether you notice or not is a different story).

I will just assume you are just trolling - please put a smiley in so we know this. What treaded tyres do you run on your road bike, or are they treadless?

 

[Bollo]

... What treaded tyres do you run on your road bike, or are they treadless?

Roadkill. Tyres. Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!