Wet winter tyres

check_six

Another vote here for the continental GP5000 tyres. I usually get them from bike-discount.de which usually has them at a competitive price. When I was purchasing my latest bike I had asked to get these tyres fitted from the off, but the shop were looking to charge me €150+ and I'd have to wait another two weeks. I (mostly) politely declined the offer!

The tyres that came with the bike (some kind of Bontrager summer only tyre, I think) were entirely unsuitable for Irish roads in the couple of times I used them. I was getting wheelspin while climbing a mildly damp hill... while seated! Made you go a lot slower when you realised that the bike could slide out from under you at any moment! I wonder how many people bought bikes with unsuitable tyres and had scares that put them off going out again?

Kaisr Sose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119706486#Comment_119706486

Somewhat off topic but sort of relevant

Surely on the NCT you mean Advisory, not Fail. A fail on tyres, say for a side wall cut, is a mandatory return for visual inspection to show you changed tyres. For tyres with the age advisory, you don't have to return. Its an advisory as there is more to the aging than just time, plus 8 yrs on premium tyres can be as good as some budget tyres with fresh rubber.

For tyres, you get what you pay for, be it car or bike variant. I am about to upgrade to 4 Seasons. Gatorskins are worn and never had good grip in wet.