Non Semi Slick wheels are downright dangerous.

[Suspense]

At the same time, if you are driving fast enough to test the limits of a basic road tyre...guess what? You're more likely than not breaking the road rules.

100%

There's no way I've come close to the grip limits of my star specs on the road and if I did, I'd be driving way too fast for the conditions given you never know what's around the bend.

If you're after safe, grippy tyres a set of KU31 or RE001 or 002 is more than plenty for the road.

[mazmad]

I like both

[Rasputin]

I believe you guys are missing the point.

I'm referring to poor quality tyres under performing in emergency situations.

The justification I made behind testing the limits of the stock tyres was so that in an emergency situation (if it were to arise), I could make an educated decision on what to do.



Also - I've not had any issues whatsoever with my semis in the wet. They grip extremely well and disperse water just fine.

You guys are confusing semi slick/road tyres with S/R compound tyres.

R compound tyres are not suitable on the road. They simply won't get enough heat in them.

Semi slick refers to the style if the tyre contact patch, not the compound.

[mazmad]

I think by definition - whatever they are called - a tyre which has less tread cut into it and a higher proportion of 'slick' surface will underperform in the wet and shouldn't be used on the road. (all other things like age of rubber etc being equal of course).

I run semis on the track, road tyres on the road.

[OurCognitiveSurplus]

I'm referring to poor quality tyres under performing in emergency situations.

And we are referring to semi slick tyres under performing in certain situations - like hitting standing water. That might result in creating an emergency situation where one would not otherwise exist.

[hks_kansei]

I hear retreads are the best.

[Rasputin]

Generally speaking, the S compound semi slicks on the market have more than enough grooving to vacate water.

If we are referring to tyres like the AO48 etc; yes, we can all agree that they are dangerous in the wet.


This is a good discussion with alot of great input!


Dan.

[StuwieP]

to paraphrase: answered my questions nicely

Cheers. I have re001s on my car now, and wouldn't consider swapping for a semi-slick for the road before or after those questions. Now I just have extra reasons to continue not considering that

The justification I made behind testing the limits of the stock tyres was so that in an emergency situation (if it were to arise), I could make an educated decision on what to do.

you're doing better than me if you can make an educated decision in a panic situation. I call it a panic situation because I doubt that there's an emergency situation that could arise in which I wouldn't experience panic.
YMMV I suppose, if you're a particularly brave person.
I'd rather pick a tyre I knew was going to perform as best as possible in all scenarios and just hope my reactions were quick enough and correct.

guns don't kill people...

but every now and then a situation could potentially arise on the road where even though you were driving to the conditions, not just the rules, etc, someone else does something outrageously stupid that creates a situation where the above comes into play.

I hear retreads are the best.

nah you just wear the tread down til you have a slick tyre, like a racecar bro.

[Rasputin]

Years and years of playing video games will grant you the ability to make educated split second decisions ;) while I do panic, there's still a level of intelligence rather than pure instinct/reflex.

Haha.


Dan.

[little decks]

Years and years of playing video games will grant you the ability to make educated split second decisions ;) while I do panic, there's still a level of intelligence rather than pure instinct/reflex.

Haha.


Dan.

The great thing about that theory is you can just re-start your drive to work if you have a head on collision right?

[NitroDann]

That was rather morbid, Im pretty sure he is just saying that he has good intellectual skills in high stress environments and puts some of it down to training that video games like survival horror genres give you.

Dann

[Pamex]

There is actually significant amounts of research that suggests the long-term computer game usage does improve instinct and reflex actions. Can cite and provide links to research should anyone wish. There is, however, no correlation of improved intelligence, just improve reflexes and decision making. This is purely research into actions in 'flight or fight' situations.

[Apu]

And no offence to Pamex, but there is the hypothesis (and I believe research) that men are generally better drivers because they have better reflexes, coordination and are better able to use their peripheral vision than women because men generally play more sports.

...that explains why Asian women are horrendous drivers...

[Magpie]

Computer games can not simulate a life/death decision as in the back of the mind people know it is not real and there are no consequences to a right or wrong decision. Try making a real life/death decision that involves your own children, then go through police investigations and coroners court and have your decisions pulled apart!

Pulling the trigger in a game is not the same as doing it in real life. Whilst games can help it does not have consequences nor does it create the stress of making a decision under pressure and only having limited information available. Yes doing the same thing over and over again will create a subconscious reaction however unless you are in the military it is not the same. Decision making without consequences is not the same as decisions have consequences the same as not making a decision has consequences.

[StanTheMan]

Well

Been there done that. I used to run S compound tyres on Patchy. Tearing up the tarmack on the old PAC & putty road.
I used to run the Old Falken RT215. That was the most exiting tyre I've ever dríven on. Slightly on the unrefined side of things but very exiting to drive on.
Used to take 2 or 3 corners to warm up. When warm even the stopping power was insane.

Not Mutch warning before you lost it. But if you knew the tyre intimately you could keep it there just before threshold.
But reality doing that sort of stuff is not good. People get killed doing that stuff.
I've done some serious stupid stuff but was lucky to get off unharmed.

These days I have the crappiest tyres on Patchy. Patchy hasn't been dríven in anger for some considerable time.

Tyres are tyres. You drive accordingly . Correct tyres don't kill people. Just like guns don't .
But just because the Op is of the opinion crappy tyres should be banned. Well. No. people just need to drive sanely. Just like guns need to be locked away. so insane people don't get hold of them.