[Yak] slick tires and lousy surfaces

[Harvey Sachs]

Lee Lloyd argues that tread matters, saying:
"Tread gives the water a path out from under the contact patch,
and channels it away from the contact surface. A slick does not. Of 
course don't take my word for it. Go put a hose on a patch of smooth 
concrete, and then try walking on it with a smooth soled shoe, and a 
hiking boot, and see which one gives you better traction, then do the 
same thing with a slick tire, and a treaded tire, and see which one 
gives you better traction.

"Tread on motorcycle, scooter and bicycle tires aren't just there for
decoration."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm not sure what Lee means by "smooth concrete." If he means the 
surface I have in my garage, I'd think that the example is not relevant, 
because it doesn't resemble asphalt or concrete road pavement at all. 
What interests me is getting down and looking closely at pavement. 
Pavement generally has "roughness" comparable in scale and amount to the 
"tread" on most bike tires (maybe knobbies excepted). Of course, in some 
areas, pavement is much worse than that. So, for real roads, a tire is 
contacting a surface with a lot of roughness and ways for water to move 
out. Then the question is whether twice as many ways for water to move 
make a difference. I don't pretend to know. Now, where Lee does have a 
point, I think, is slick tire on true slick, smooth, surface, such as 
manhole covers and some kinds of lane paint.  I think you could argue 
that the really cautious who think they will encounter such surfaces 
will be happier with tires with tread.


just my 2c.
harvey sachs