700c tyres for max grip

[tincaman]

My commute covers a lot of rural lanes, which are now covered in leaves, mud, rain, gravel and general farm crap, oh and some of it is 14% downhill as well. I have a Boardman CX and a choice of tyres to use.

Which would give the better grip?

The original Ritchey Escavader Cross Pro 700x35 which came with the bike, CX tyres,
Marathon Racers in 700x30 or Conti Sport Contact in 700x28? I have all of these available.

The downhill steep sections end in hairpins and some nights in the dark I am cr**ping myself, I want to brake but too scared but have to to make the corners

 

[black'n'yellow]

assuming the mud/gravel/leaves etc are over a tarmac base, then tyre choice won't make any difference. The best you can do is ride within the limits of the conditions.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

My conit gatorskin hardshell cope well on the 14% downhills on my commute but others hate them.

 

[numbnuts]

Panaracer Crosstown and very good, all my rides are on country lanes and covered with mud, cow poo, flint and leaves and only had one puncture this year

 

[tincaman]

My conit gatorskin hardshell cope well on the 14% downhills on my commute but others hate them.

Have a set of Gatorskins as well, but the general consensus seems to be that they are a bit skittish in the wet?

 

[Jdratcliffe]

used gp4000s very sure footed about to change them out this weekend for 4 seasons for great p protection as dont wanna be change tubes in the cold so we shall see how they fair next week

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Have a set of Gatorskins as well, but the general consensus seems to be that they are a bit skittish in the wet?

Yer, I hear that a lot. My take; there is more general consensus as to the likely solutions of the Arab-Israel conflict than there is amongst cyclists as to what makes a good tyre. In winter doubly so.

I've not encountered any skittishness on my 28c hardshells. Maybe my bike handling skillz are different. Maybe I ride slower in the wet and mess. Maybe the peculiarities of my route play to the hardshell's strengths. I got them because I asked the bloke who owned the bike shop I got my best bike from what he rode figuring he could basically have any tyre he wanted. He was in Oldham where it rains a lot.

Anyway I'm using them daily on a 20km rural commute. Have used them on various FNRttC and on the Fridays LonJOG. The mileage of others, on other routes, will vary.

(and the one week I used luganos I got three punctures!)

 

[scotbiker]

I have the same bike. The excavaders P'd the first time I used them. Wasn't a happy bunny, so replaced them with Schwalbe Marathon Supremes. They are pure awesome but can get slidey in mud as they are mostly slick.

 

[tigger]

My commute covers a lot of rural lanes, which are now covered in leaves, mud, rain, gravel and general farm crap, oh and some of it is 14% downhill as well. I have a Boardman CX and a choice of tyres to use.

Which would give the better grip?

The original Ritchey Escavader Cross Pro 700x35 which came with the bike, CX tyres,
Marathon Racers in 700x30 or Conti Sport Contact in 700x28? I have all of these available.

The downhill steep sections end in hairpins and some nights in the dark I am cr**ping myself, I want to brake but too scared but have to to make the corners

Don't use the Excavader's out of the 3! Horrible on wet roads in my experience. Knobbles are for off road mud and nothing else! I have the same bike and switched to Marathon Racers and I'm very happy with these. Whatever you do go slick but you will need to adjust your speed for the conditions regardless of what tyres you use!