Wet Weather Tyres

[John the Monkey]

Are Michelin Krylion Carbon's still being made/sold? Excellent winter/wet weather tyre IMO. I bought the last pair of 25mm's Wiggle had some time ago, though they're like gold dust now.

The story I heard was that the Pro Race is made on the line that used to manufacture the Carbon, so they weren't being produced at all for a while. The Krylion is due back in some time in November, I think, but given current conditions in the UK, that might be a bit late for people's winter tyres!

 

[Hugo15]

I managed to find a Krylion Carbon in my LBS the other day. Ok, so it was black and yellow but my rear tyre was looking thin!

 

[Graham O]

I've got Conti Gator Skins on the commuter and am very pleased with them. Have ridden in the dry and the wet without even a hint of them sliding. And then yesterday I read this thread!

Coming to work this morning, 30mph downhill, fast bendy bits and a cm of water on the road. All I can think of is "Will the tyres hold?" Aaaaaaaaaargh, couldn't enjoy the ride and rode like a right wuss all the way down.

No twitching or evidence of anything other than perfect grip, but the thought has been put in my brain! I suppose I'll just have to change them for something without even a hint of a blemish on their character.

 

[John the Monkey]

Graham, I think there are two Gators, tbh - mine are shite in the wet, and I wouldn't trust them to stop me quickly at speeds much above 12mph when the road is damp. However, read reviews on roadbikereview, and you'll find pages of praise for their grip in wet and dry...

Speaking of the Krylions, Decathlon have an offer on where they do two for £30 (their normal price being £20 each) - my local branch (Stockport) only had one tyre in stock though.

Bikebitsuk.com do have them in at £14.95 each (+£3.25 postage)

Fossy - I can't justify running pro-race on my commuting wheels mate!

 

[Graham O]

Just a follow up to yesterdays post, but all(?) the posts about poor grip with Gatorskins seem to be the 25's and 23's. I've got Ultra 28's at 85psi on my commuter. On the way home shifted my weight forward and tried to spin the back wheel, but even on smooth tarmac, it refused to budge and gripped well. Perhaps I've just got a good set!

Yesterday set a new record. Wet on the way to work, wet when I went to the Post Office at lunchtime and wet on the way home.

Came in the car today

 

[Paulus]

Graham, I think there are two Gators, tbh - mine are shite in the wet, and I wouldn't trust them to stop me quickly at speeds much above 12mph when the road is damp. However, read reviews on roadbikereview, and you'll find pages of praise for their grip in wet and dry...


Fossy - I can't justify running pro-race on my commuting wheels mate!

I have run on 25 gators for years and have not had any slipping problems at all. I run them at 100psi. The only problem I find is that when they wear down they do become a bit puncture prone, but this is after a couple of years and a few thousand miles use.

 

[John the Monkey]

I have run on 25 gators for years and have not had any slipping problems at all. I run them at 100psi. The only problem I find is that when they wear down they do become a bit puncture prone, but this is after a couple of years and a few thousand miles use.

This is what I find really hard to figure - your review tallies with lots of others on the web about wet grip for these tyres, and yet these are easily the worst, least confidence inspiring tyres I've ever ridden in poor conditions (out of the Schwalbe Stelvio, Kenda Kontender[1], Panaracer Pasela[2] and Bontrager Racelite Hardcase (all in 25C, apart from the 26C Kendas and all wire on)).

As I say, I don't expect miracles, but I do live in Manchester, and I do ride year 'round - the Stelvios were last winter's tyres, and far better in terms of grip than (my) 'Gators.

[1] In terms of Grip - these tyres were so puncture prone that 300 miles saw them changed for something tougher.

[2] Only rode these for a 100 miles or so (they were on a bike that I sold)