I can't get on Sheldon Brown to ask this, but I am curious as to why one would lover tire pressure by 10lbs, say from 120 to 110, for a wet ride.
Thanks for the input.
- I have read that slicks are as good as treaded tires in wet weather because the contact patch is so small that a slick won't hydroplane.
- And because of that very "focused" contact patch, slicks have as as good a grip on the road surface as treaded tires, since the grip you gain from the tread is offset by the lack of contact in the voids.
- Does a (slight?) reduction in tire pressure make a big difference in the size of the contact patch?
- Is the goal of lowering tire pressure to make the sidewall more flexible, giving the rider more leeway before breaking the road grip/sliding the tires out?
- Or does 1&2 make it unneccessary to reduce tire pressure?
Thanks for the input.