Hydroplaining on tram tracks?

"Ollie Wigg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I've seen a few posts recently about slicks, grooves, and hydroplaining. I understand that bike
wheels are very different to car wheels, and do not hydroplane on wet roads, but when you slide on
wet tram tracks, what is that, if its not hydroplaining? And if it is hydroplaining then would
tread make even the smallest amount

of

Quoted message said:

difference?

Well if hydroplaning is flat contact patch car tyres skating "on" water(?) then bike tyre on tram
tracks just plain 'ol lose traction. There's no (or very little?) water between the tyre and the
tram track, you just slide along the track. Hydroplaning would mean hitting a patch of water and
trapping that water between tyre and road surface, not skidding on the tram tracks. Slight technical
difference I guess...? 🙂

sheldonbrown.comtyres.htmlOpen ↗

hippy

"Ollie Wigg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've seen a few posts recently about slicks, grooves, and hydroplaining. I understand that bike
wheels are very different to car wheels, and do not hydroplane on wet roads,

Correct.

Quoted message said:

but when you slide on wet tram tracks, what is that, if its not

hydroplaining?

Slipping on a low friction surface. Seen the kids sliding down the slide? Now try dragging them
along the bitumen. Did they like it? Which one has more friction? That's how your tyres grip the
tar. Rubber deforms around all the small surface irregularities and more rubber contact equals more
grip. Tread patterns reduce the contact area

Quoted message said:

And if it is hydroplaining then would tread make even the smallest amount

of

Quoted message said:

difference?

Not unless your tread is different to mine. The edges of a tread will only grip better than a slick
if they can hook onto some small surface irregularities (eg. cutting into a dirt surface), but steel
tram tracks don't have these.

Cheers Peter