Best rain tire?

[Thulsa Doom]

Just curious to know what Valkyrie tires work the best in rain.
I won't be switching to the dark side, so car tires are out. I currently have Dunlop E3's on there now and I find the big wide strip in the center of the tire to be slick in the wet.

Maybe something with more cross grooves?
So what tires do you all like best?

[Gavin_Sons]

I never ride that slick oil strip. Just to one side. If im the only bike I ride to the left of that strip. If your following a car it is easier for them to see you in the mirrors if your to one side. I find most drivers only check their drivers side mirror. Just the way I do it, answeres may vary. For the best tire I have no clue, im a darksider.

[3W-lonerider]

when mine was 2 wheels. i ran dunflops, avons and metzlers.. by far i found the metz to be the best on my bike for wet roads.

[Jess from VA]

Metzler 880s kicks everyone's ass in the wet (steel, no experience with bias) (and at 45psi rear and 44 front).  Total confidence.  Shortest life of any too.  Ran many sets on two valks, still run fronts.  Avon Venoms were a close second, I do not know about Avon Cobras.  Some swear by them, but more have said E3s are the slipperiest of all in any weather than any other (and the longest wearing bar none).

Of course, old worn tires all suck.

[Len]

So far the Avon Cobra has performed well for me in the rain (city, back roads and Interstate).

[Chiefy]

I recently rode in the rain with a very good Metz 880 in front, and a worn out Metz 880 in rear.  I took it nice and easy, and the tires felt like the road was dry.  Can't comment on "best" though.  All I had were Metz until I changed the rear to an Avon Cobra recently.  Haven't been caught in the rain with it yet.

[BonS]

If you ride behind someone with a CT in the rain you'll be amazed by the wide, dry stripe it puts down. Excellent!

[X Ring]

If you ride behind someone with a CT in the rain you'll be amazed by the wide, dry stripe it puts down. Excellent!

It will also soak your  .  I went DarkSide several years ago after riding behind Punisher in the rain and getting soaked by his Bridgestone Potenza.

Marty

[fudgie]

Metz.

[Oss]

+1 what BonS said

I went darkside after following Misfit and Lilbit on a ride to the UpsandDowns ranch (HB&LD)
and in the rain back to Johnson CIty it always left a nice line to follow

Never had a MC tire like that but the Battleaxe is pretty darn good, even better than the Metz which IMHO is the best of the MC tires in normal width in the rain,   ran the front at 42 with the Metz

YMMV

[Kunkies]

I've mounted and ridden all three brands.  Although I have landed on the E3's due to long life and stability on dry pavement, the Metz's have a softer rubber compound and therefore would be best on wet surfaced.  You pay the price in longevity though.

Hope this helps.

p.s.  any tire with a center straight or zagged groove down the center of the tire will provide the best traction on wet roads for it disperses (hydroplaning) water better than a solid strip of rubber (no strip). The drawback here would be center grooves have a tendency to track to grooves in the road, yielding some drifting/instability.

 

[R J]

If you do not want to die a fiery death, do not run a CT.   NOT.

In 242 +K  I have run each brand and several car tires.   In my opinion, the Good Year Triple Tread Car Tire running 36# of air holds up best for me on wet roads.

A few years ago, our group, took off for a lunch ride.    Weather was just overcast when we left.    Got to our destination, ate, and we all headed separate ways for home, as it was raining Cats and Poodles..

I had asked if anyone wanted to follow me.   no one spoke up, and I took off for the Super Slab about 5 miles South of our current location.

It started raining, so I pulled under an overpass and put on rain suit.   

I took off, just as a Corvette went past.   I took out and hoped to catch him so as to run in his super wide tire track.   I could catch him,    I was getting wet cause when I put the rain pants on a ripped  a nice big tear in the crotch.   Yup everything was gettin wet and irritating.    I pulled out and passed the Corvette.   He stuck pretty well on my rear.

I got into DSM and pulled into a Truck stop for gas.   The Vette followed me in and parked right behind me.  He came walking up and asked all kind of questions about the Valk.   I answered them all to the best of my ability.  He asked if I was going to get back on the Slab, told him for 7 miles South to the bypass.  He asked if I would stop at an overpass when we got there.  Said yes and we took off, me in front.   I was running at 3 bits and above.   Just before the exit, I kicked it up to a dollar.    Vette fell back, I don't know if he didn't see me turn off or what, but he was no longer behind me.

At the gas stop, he told me even though I had a rear flap, that I was kicking up a hell of a rooster tail.    Bike never slipped once on the 70 miles back to the Truck stop and I know I passed several vehicles.

I know that doesn't help you in selecting a MT, but it is your call on which tire anyway.    What works for me might now work to you.   

[Thulsa Doom]

If you do not want to die a fiery death, do not run a CT.   NOT...

... At the gas stop, he told me even though I had a rear flap, that I was kicking up a hell of a rooster tail.    Bike never slipped once on the 70 miles back to the Truck stop and I know I passed several vehicles.

I know that doesn't help you in selecting a MT, but it is your call on which tire anyway.    What works for me might now work to you. 

That's an excellent endorsement for the CT. I had considered it but I changed the bearings last year and I went with the stock size bearings instead of the double row. It was just a financial issue. Maybe I'll do one more MC tire and consider it again. The E3 I have now should last the rest of this year but for sure I'll be replacing it with something better in foul weather. I've had knobbies that were better in rain than the E3.