Riding in the wet: Pushing to the limits

Have you ever wondered how much tyre grip is compromised in the wet? Well, we have too, which is why we decided to put together this bespoke test, using Bridgestone’s T32 sports-touring tyres to find their limits and ours. From acceleration to deceleration, here’s what we learned…
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[@WDXash]

As an ex racer and track day instructor, it’s very dependent on the actual surface. Tyres are one factor but the texture, makeup and type of surface is another, with the final physical factor being whether there is anything on the surface. In the dry, providing there’s no unseen contaminants on the surface, the maximum amount of grip available on road surfaces is generally quite high and varies between maximum adhesion to letting go by a smaller margin, from surface to surface than wet roads. Some surfaces are terrible as soon as they become wet (you’ll know the ones), whilst other surfaces offer far more grip than you’d imagine. Unfortunately, you can’t always tell, just by looking! Not trying to teach anyone to suck eggs, but if it hasn’t rained for a good few weeks the roads can initially be very slippery, when it does rain. ABS and Dynamic Stability Control works best when upright and travelling in a straight line. Both of these systems have now been developed to incorporate cornering lean angle, with the use of a gyroscope and technology. Be aware that they will not save you in all cases. If you are banked over in the wet and the bike starts to slide, it might end in tears if momentum has overridden adhesion. Tyre technology has made huge advancements over the last couple of decades and most tyres are pretty good, although there are some that are still better than others. For wet weather and general road riding a good sport/touring tyre is the best choice, which most of you will already know and will probably have your personal favourites. Ride safe and watch out for greasy roundabouts when it’s raining!

[@steevmeister496]

Do one about cornering on wet greasy roads 😮

[@alexerioeduardo2844]

Riding in the wet is something every rider should do. Its so important to get comfortable in these conditions in the UK for obvious reasons!

[@cpuuk]

Riding in the wet, only on days that end in a Y ;-)

[@user-fv1576]

Good video. Cornering in wet? 😊

[@simonthomas5367]

Got these on my old ST1100. Brilliant tyres. Got Dunlop Mutants on my NC750X. Amazing wet grip. Pirelli Angels on my Bandit. Dry blasts only on that bad boy!

[@yahoodlums]

This is a good video guys, but it would be great to follow up with something closer to real world conditions. Having confidence in your tyres, electronics and riding skills are all good things but in real world conditions you need to be aware of other hazards in the road that will affect traction, wet leaves, diesel spillages, other vehicles braking suddenly, any kind of metal surface (e.g. manhole covers), painted lines in the road, etc. Stopping in a straight line on pristine tarmac with new tyres (that have huge rain grooves) may give you false confidence in your bikes handling and stopping abilities... I'm just concerned people will watch this and have unrealistic expectations from their tyres. The message should be that it still pays to be very cautious in the wet!

[@bigronvfr750]

Yes I agree, also gravel the rain has washed about

[@steve00alt70]

I ride in the wet on my 125cc all the time, all these fair weather riders need to watch this as your not developing your riding skills by avoiding the UK rain.

[@mark675]

Spot on

[@Achilles22]

Why??! It is no fun whatsoever, Bonkers!!😢😢

[@steve00alt70]

@@Achilles22 improving skills should be more of a priority then fun later

[@johnnyblue4799]

Great video... I always suspected that good tire have exceptional grip on the wet.

[@kentm111]

Worth remembering before you go out and try this, the conditions don't quite match our roads. They missed out Diesel, leaves, bits of branch, road kill to name a few. Ride within your limits not that of a video

[@dutchdryfly]

Like my instructor always said: Nat is niet glad. Translated it means: Wet is not slippery. You just need to stay on the tarmac. We were drilled to avoid white lines, manhole covers, etc both in the wet and in the dry.

[@RichardFrost-du7sc]

Very impressive ! Were the tyres warmed up prior to the test ?

[@yoorukhunt947]

Doesn’t look like it.

[@fabianrudzewski9027]

Now go trough some wet roundabouts quick like its dry and see the outcome. Where i live, they become extremely slippery. Like spinning the rear in second on a 690 duke slippery.

[@mojothejester9889]

Should do the same test with bikes that don't have traction control. Still plenty of those bikes out on the road

[@robertkacala]

wish to see the limit of the tyre when it is losing its grip especially at lean.

[@GunnerLinus01]

I know modern tyres are a good improvement over ten or twenty years ago, but I still believe electronic rider aids are doing most of the heavy lifting here. I’d be happy replicating those tests on a wet surface (full gas, hard braking, straight line), but only on a bike with ABS and TC. And I wouldn’t want to be over-confident on wet cornering, especially on a cold and dark commute with unknown other surface issues potentially lurking. I think the assertion in the video to not be nervous hitting the brakes in the wet assumes ABS, which a few old winter hacks that people use for winter commuting don’t have. In an emergency, idealised progressive braking doesn’t always go according to plan. That said, hopefully these Bridgestone T32 tyres provide some stiff competition for Michelin Road 6, which are the best I’ve used and seem to be very popular as an all-weather commuting / touring tyre. I look forward to some unsponsored reviews.

[@yoorukhunt947]

I’ve got the T32 on my bike after a friend recommended them. Very good. Happy so far.

[@GunnerLinus01]

@@yoorukhunt947 Any idea how they compare with the Road 6?

[@yoorukhunt947]

@@GunnerLinus01 equally as good IMO. and much cheaper.

[@GunnerLinus01]

@@yoorukhunt947 Good to have competitive products in this category; 95% of my riding is all-year commuting.

[@zyghom]

you were super unlucky - the rain in UK is 360 days a year yet you did not have it ;-)

[@graemesydney38]

The real problem in the wet is reading the surface, everything becomes shiny black. Slow down or better still, stay home.

[@steve00alt70]

And become a fair weather rider? No chance

[@daigriffiths399]

Stay at home? Not a chance!!!!!

[@mark675]

Stay home lol The mentality of an unconfident rider..

[@markholmes5695]

@@mark675I’m confident in the rain. I hate a dirty bike however, you’ve to change your riding behaviour in the rain , it’s not exactly fun. I’d rather stay home 😂

[@mark675]

@markholmes5695 I love riding in the rain as long as I'm dressed for it, it's actually really good fun cus it takes alot more concentration than riding in the dry (which also takes alot) To each their own though, I just like not being bothered if the weather ever turns while I'm out

[@NooBiker]

Very much what I've suspected for some time. Unless there's standing water, the drop off is smaller than people imagine. A lot of it is in the mind. Of course, ABS and TC help ensure you don't lose it, but the grip is there 👍

[@WDXash]

As an ex racer and track day instructor, it’s very dependent on the actual surface. Tyres are one factor but the texture, makeup and type of surface is another, with the final physical factor being whether there is anything on the surface. In the dry, providing there’s no unseen contaminants on the surface, the maximum amount of grip available is generally quite high and varies between maximum adhesion to "letting go" by a smaller margin from surface to surface, than wet roads. Some surfaces are terrible as soon as they become wet (you’ll know the ones), whilst other surfaces offer far more grip than you’d imagine. Unfortunately, you can’t always tell, just by looking! Not trying to teach anyone to suck eggs, but if it hasn’t rained for a good few weeks the roads can initially be very slippery once the rain comes down. ABS and Dynamic Stability Control works best when upright and travelling in a straight line. Both of these systems have now been developed to incorporate cornering lean angle, with the use of a gyroscope and technology, but be aware that they will not save you in all cases. If you are banked over in the wet and the bike starts to slide, it might end in tears if momentum has overridden adhesion. Tyre technology has made huge advancements over the last couple of decades and most tyres these days are pretty good, although there are some that are still a bit better than others. For wet weather and general road riding a good sport/touring tyre is the best choice, which most of you will already know and will probably have your personal favourites. Ride safe and watch out for greasy roundabouts when it’s raining!