I’m getting a second set of wheels off craigslist mainly so I can keep the trainer tire on the rear wheel during the winter and I can swap the rear wheels quickly if i want to go ride outside.
I’m using Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks, which I really like for a dry weather road tire. However, they get a little sketchy in the rain.
I was thinking of switching the other wheels to rain tires during the summer. Do many people do this? Also, any recomendations on a good rain tire?
I really like the Continental Ultra Gatorskin tires, especially in the 700x25 width. I thought they did great in the rain, even when biking in a total downpour during a training trip to Lake Placid last June. Plus, they seem to be pretty puncture resistant, which is a good thing because having to stop to change a tire in the rain is not much fun.
I’ve also used and like the conti UGs, and besides those I’m using a set of fairly cheap Serfas tires in a 25f/28r that have worked well. Since it’s just for training, the added weight is acceptable, and I like the extra width for more/better contact. Puncture resistance is a big plus as well since road crap clings to your tire more when it’s wet which increases the chances of something sticking in.
Slightly tangential but lower your tire pressure some from dry conditions. Helps the handling greatly and can reduce punctures some.
I think the important thing to note on rain tires is that tread doesn’t really help, but width does. Several others mentioned using 25s for rain tires. You can run lower pressure and get a much larger contact patch than on the 21s or 23s that most people ride on a regular basis. The Conti Gatorskins that several others mentioned have been great tires for me as well, and when I actually had a rain specific wheelset, those were what I used.