Cycling during cold, wet weather is never quite as appealing for most of us as it is for the rest of the year. However, there are plenty of things you can do to make the experience more enjoyable.
We don’t recommend riding your bike during extremely cold, snowy conditions as specialist equipment is needed for this (as well as experience and expertise!) However, if you’re looking to cycle during typical cold and rainy British weather, choosing the right bike tyres is a must.
In this blog, we’ll look at the best bike tyres for cold and wet conditions and general tips to help you get the most out of your rainy cycling adventures.
Best bike tyres for wet conditions
The right bike tyres are essential when cycling in wet weather. Here are a few aspects to consider:
Larger tyre width
Consider choosing a bike tyre with a larger width. This allows lower pressure to be run improving the contact patch area and increasing damping and comfort. However, you should only fit wider tyres where you know you have sufficient clearance in the frame.
If the tyre rubs on the frame or mudguard this can not only cause permanent damage to the bike, but also potentially compromise the safety of the tyre if the tread or sidewall is worn down and this damage goes unnoticed.
Tyre tread depth
The amount of tread depth and type of tread pattern is often an area of concern during cold and wet weather. Tread depth can offer benefits in cold conditions but doesn’t function like a car tyre, which disperses water through grooves to prevent aquaplaning.
The speed required to aquaplane on a relatively narrow bicycle tyre would be well beyond that achievable by any human being on a bike, even an e-bike. Therefore, having a tread groove or pattern on a bike tyre isn’t essential for grip in the wet, the rubber compound does all the work. However, even a fine tread can help the tyre hook up on rougher asphalt or when fine dust or grit is present.
Be wary of tyre punctures
Winter riding can carry an increased risk of tyre punctures due to additional debris being washed out on to the roads. Therefore, the level of puncture protection should also be carefully considered as, whilst tyres with higher levels of protection are often heavier and slower, they offer additional reliability that can be more of a priority – especially on an early morning commute.
The Schwalbe Marathon Plus is a well-known example of this type of tyre. It’s one of Schwalbe’s best-selling bike tyres due to its excellent puncture protection, rolling resistance and high durability.
Tubeless tyres
If you don’t have a tubeless set-up and you have suitably compatible wheels, then this is another option to consider. The self-sealing ability of well-maintained sealant in a tubeless tyre can often seal small punctures without you even being aware of them. For larger holes that the sealant alone can’t seal, then there some very conveniently packaged repair plug kits available that can provide an effective repair solution in this situation.
Schwalbe have a number of tubeless offerings from the Magic Mary Folding Bike Tyre, the Hans Dampf TLR Addix Performance Bike Tyre and the Schwalbe G-One Allround TLE Performance Folding Tyre. All provide high performance, better efficiency and enhanced safety.
Winter bike tyres
There is also now an increasingly wide range of ‘all-season’ or winter specific tyres, as with automotive tyres, available across a range of types and sizes. These feature a compound that is specifically formulated to offer additional grip at lower temperatures and on wet surfaces.
They will often have a more aggressive tread pattern which often feature small ‘sipes’ or slits in the tread blocks. This allows the tread block to deform more readily to the road surface and thus increase the effective contact patch and mechanical grip with the road surface. There are a range of tyres in the Schwalbe ‘365’ range which variously feature rubber compounds and tread patterns designed specifically for improved grip in winter conditions, but which can also be ridden all year round.
The Schwalbe One Plus Wired Bike Tyre features SmartGuard technology to provide ultimate puncture protection as well as superior grip and durability – perfect for cycling in wet weather.
Cycling tips for wet weather
As with driving a car, riding in cold wet conditions requires additional caution. Braking distances will be longer (particularly with rim brakes when they are wet) and cornering speeds reduced. It may seem obvious, but it’s always worth reiterating the hazards presented by wet drain gratings, inspection covers and road markings.
Wet tram lines present a particular hazard and should be treated with extreme caution; cross at right angles as much as possible and straight without any cornering lean. Spilled diesel in the wet can be a similar hazard, with extra vigilance needed where there are high concentrations of trucks and buses or near construction sites.
One thing that can be easily done, regardless of the existing tyres on your bike, is to reduce the tyre pressures slightly from what you would normally run during the summer. Despite slightly increasing the rolling resistance of the tyre, this has two main benefits in wet conditions. The contact patch area of the tyre is increased thus increasing the available grip.
The other benefit is slightly improved damping in the tyre so it’s less likely to lose contact with the road surface when it hits bumps or irregularities. However, some caution is required as reducing the pressure too much can lead to an increased risk of pinch-flat (Snake Bite) punctures.
Some experimentation will be required in reducing the pressure, but a reduction of 10 – 15% would be a good starting point. Also, reduced pressure should only be run for as long as the cold wet conditions prevail, as permanently running your tyres under inflated can cause them to degrade prematurely.
And that concludes our recommendations for the best bike tyres for wet roads. Remember to be prepared and cycle carefully to ensure your rides are safe and enjoyable.
