Why slick tires don’t stick well?
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earth wrote:Generally when people say "aquaplaning" they mean dynamic aquaplaning where a tyre rises onto the surface of the water. This is highly unlikely on a bicycle due to pressure, and tread in this case is irrelevant. However if you are referring to viscous aquaplaning which relies on the film strength of water trapped between two smooth surfaces (lubrication) then tread does make a difference. Two very smooth surfaces will produce viscous aquaplaning at very low speeds and very high pressures. Generally the road surface is not all that smooth, but in cases where there are lines painted or metal road furniture or even very old coarse aggregate that has been polished over time even slightly treaded tyres are less smooth than the road surface, so will improve grip. As an example of how much tread is needed, your finger prints are sufficient to allow you to pick up a wet glass. Without fingerprints you become a clutz and randomly drop things at the slightest hint of moisture.
You know, I think you are right with this.
Run your finger down a dry window pain and your finger sticks to it. Run said finger down a window pain with condensation and the water lubricates the surfaces. Any cyclist must be aware that friction between the road and the tyre is reduced in wet because the wheels lock easier when breaking in the wet.
But it is mainly a problem in the situations you mention - white lines, metal gratings - I slipped off on railway lines in the rain once. On normal road the rough surface provides all the tread necessary.
This sounds right to me too. So, does a tyre with e.g. a file tread work better on those white lines, polished road, gratings etc...? Those are the bits that are the problem, where lubricating film happens.0
