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Out and out wet weather tyres

So I'll be doing the Le Mans 24h next year. Yay.

One of the luxuries of this type of event is being able to adapt your equipment during the event to best suit the conditions. Given that in years gone by, the weather during the race has gone from sun to torrential rain, I'll be taking a second set of wheels for use in wet weather (clinchers, probably 25c).

As such, I'm looking for recommendations for a no-compromise grippy-in-the-wet tyre, with the aim of picking up a set now and getting used to them as conditions present themselves. This year's TdF must have presented many opportunities for mechanics to make such a choice, but I'm struggling to find accurate reports on who used what on such days.

Over to you - what are your favourites?

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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3 comments

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mike the bike | 10 years ago
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I have never heard of a tyre being marketed purely as a wet-weather specialist, probably because the huge majority of buyers won't or can't keep swapping their wheels to match today's weather. But many tyres are suitable for extended racing with all the major brands, and a few smaller companies, offering high-end rubber. Almost without exception they will give good grip in the rain, by which I mean good grip for the tiny size of the contact patch.
That nice Mr Google provides a long list of reviews so you can read some relatively unbiased opinions about hundreds of tyres. I always ignore the fairy stories told by friends and acquaintances, people only recommend what they have just bought and tales of a million miles without a single puncture soon begin to pall.
Best of luck.

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movingtarget | 10 years ago
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Rode all winter (over 1000 miles) on 25mm Continental GP 4-Season's and they gave me excellent traction, especially cornering, even with wet cobbles and brick. Got my first flat on them at 1400 miles from an industrial staple. The roads I ride are urban with lots of glass and rough tarmac. Currently using 25mm Vredestein Senso All Weather's as they were on sale and are supposed to have good performance in cold, wet conditions but we've been having a series of heat waves so can't comment on their wet weather traction yet.

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glynr36 | 10 years ago
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I find my Open Paves fine on the winter bike in all weathers.
Though so were my open corsas (25)on Sundays 70 in the wet.

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