One of the access roads to our subdivision is plagued by tar snakes even though the surface seems good enough not to need them. On 85+ F days, I can feel my front wheels skid just enough to spook me even with negligible lean on the bike and low speeds. Question is whether the sense of foreboding is all in my head or whether there is a real danger of wrecking.

Tar snakes will put you on your arse. Some tires are worse than others for grip on the stuff.

+1!
Stock Stone BT-016's were far worse about slipping on them than PR2's and PR4's I've run.

I almost crashed on some coming off the Grand Staircase Escalante back when my bike was new!

It also depends on how fresh or old they are, and if there's any moisture on the road, too.

Tar Snakes are normally just a small area that you cross, so, the feeling is worse than the actual chance of falling over.

(ie: the bike slips a bit as it crosses the tar Snake, but regains traction after it moves past the tar)

But, it sure scares the heck out of ya!!!   

Ride safe, Ted

Yeah it is definitely a pucker moment! The microsecond as your rubber slips an inch over the snake! I have several exit ramps that have tar snakes all over them. I can't enjoy the ramps!!! LOL

Going on the road past NewspaperRock into the Needles District of Canyonlands NP this last June, there was a long section
of very web like snakes (Hwy 211), scared the bejesus out of me. I've been on tar snakes before but I guess these were extra hot
in the sun (I got a late start that day) because I've never had such a bad experience as that. It felt like someone had grabbed my front wheel and was shaking it left to right. It was an in and out (e.b.!) trip, and on the way back I think I was only doing 25mph or less across those demon snakes.

Going on the road past NewspaperRock into the Needles District of Canyonlands NP this last June, there was a long section
of very web like snakes (Hwy 211), scared the bejesus out of me. I've been on tar snakes before but ...

Understand.   It's the tar snakes that run parallel to your curve travel
that you have to worry about.  Others, perpendicular running across the road,
well - you're over them in a flash w/o worries. 

What the road outside my subdivision looks like... really... it's absolutely horrible!

What the road outside my subdivision looks like... really... it's absolutely horrible!

OMG!        

What the road outside my subdivision looks like... really... it's absolutely horrible!

Someone was trying to empty out their tar tank or something! I can imagine NO reason for them to be like that.

Someone was trying to empty out their tar tank or something! I can imagine NO reason for them to be like that.

It's called being cheap... cheaper to "caulk" a road than repave it!

They would have saved money if they had just seal coated it with a rock overlay.  Of course, riding on those little rocks is no fun either until they sweep them up.

Some places put sand or grit on the tar snake material to make them less slippery.  I think we need to get the AMA on this to make it a requirement.  Also, for those big painted crosswalk rectangles that are also slippery as snot when wet.

What the road outside my subdivision looks like... really... it's absolutely horrible!

Absolutely the case here in IN. Ridiculous

Multiple roads in the net 3 counties that look just like that. Not sure about the chip seal. They did a tar snake road (IN 103 ) with chip seal 16 months ago. Still unrideable.

Some places put sand or grit on the tar snake material to make them less slippery. 

Does that last very long? Even past the very first hot day? If so, then....

I think we need to get the AMA on this to make it a requirement. 

  Yes!..I totally agree, a lot more important than lane splitting legislation IMO.

Does that last very long? Even past the very first hot day? If so, then....

I don't know as I've only encountered it on road trips.  TX for instance on the three sisters roads.  Here in MN they profess to be super concerned about the motorcycle deaths but then make it almost impossible to stay upright with every chance they get.   

OMG!        

Done by some stupid ass in the DPW that saved about a $1.10 for the taxpayers-Yay!!

Understand.   It's the tar snakes that run parallel to your curve travel
that you have to worry about.  Others, perpendicular running across the road,
well - you're over them in a flash w/o worries.

Yup. I really try to avoid the wider tar snakes that run in the direction of my travel.

What the road outside my subdivision looks like... really... it's absolutely horrible!

LOL. That is tragic, yet funny. A road crew that was drunk and stoned perhaps.

هذا هو الكتابة العربية حقا، وأنه هو تعليمات تنظيم القاعدة / ISIS / ISIL لهذا الحدث القادم.
  لماذا وضع مدونة عندما يمكنك فقط استخدام الطريق العام والكتابة في سهل ENGL ... أيا كان؟
... ويعرف أيضا باسم: كيف يمكن الحصول على هذا المنتدى وزير الخارجية على الرادار وكالة الامن القومي؟
  أنت الآن كلها تحت المراقبة الاتحادية، يمكنك أن أشكر لي في وقت لاحق.


That is really Arabic writing and it is Al Qaeda/ISIS/ISIL  instructions for the next event.
 Why develop a code when you can just use a public roadway and write in plain Engl...whatever?
...aka: how can fm get this forum on the NSA's radar?
 You are now all under Federal surveillance, post carefully. You can thank me later.   

Why yes I am Joe King. Please don't use this post to start a religious/political/anti big government soap box spewing. If you must, please just quote me and take it to the arena!

You forgot to mention bomb, jihad, confederate, teaparty, etc.