| Author | Message | ||
     Ksfirebolt |
First here's the deal with my tires. I get them from an acquaintance who roadraces. He uses them in one main event and then the next weekend uses that set as his practice tires and uses a new set for the main event. I've used his take off's for the past year(several sets) with no problems. I rode on them all last winter, including a lot of sub-freezing temps and well below that. I rode to work about an hour away and back every night. They work great in the warmer temps, but after it gets cold in October, I ride pretty careful because they don't stick real well. Now I work in town and ride 6 miles to work and back for lunch and back to work every day. I never saw any abnormal wear/cracking last year, but this year with my short trips, they crack like in the picture after a few months. This is the second front tire to do that. Is it the short trips and never really warming up that causes this, has anyone seen anything like it before? Or is it the cold weather? It hasn't really even been that cold this year. The tires crack like that in multiple places. They hold air and don't leak. I run them at about 25psi. Any thoughts?  | ||
| Mtnmason |
YIKES! I wouldnt even sit on my bike if the tires looked like that. Wish I had some insight for you but I would highly recommend not riding on that. Front tire blowouts are scaaary! | ||
| Ksfirebolt |
Yeah, it's kind of scary to see when you are getting ready to head out and ride. Those cracks look REALLY deep in person. I wish I knew what caused it so that I could be sure to get some tires that won't do that. I'd hate to spend $200 on a set of new tires and have the front do that again in two months. | ||
| Boney95 |
The tires are old and the rubber is dried up. Don't buy old tires. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Too many heat cycles, running at very low pressure and in cold temps are probably all playing against you in making your tires brittle... I'm no engineer but I'd guess that's what you're up against. Track tires like to be warm. I suggest getting some Cheng Shin's or something something else that is at least designed for the road if you are on a tight budget. Today's modern sport touring tires are really good too, long life an great grip can be found from many manufacturers, so your dollar goes further per mile, so to speak. | ||
| Slaughter |
Do you have a set of stands? This looks like what happens when tires are cold-soaked (like overnight) and then dropped onto the rubber off the stands and then ridden. Race rubber is especially vulnerable. It's kind of a brittle failure of the rubber. At the Winter races out here they ALWAYS mention taking it easy on cold rubber and they will mention over the PA system to remember to SET the tires on the pavement, not DROP them on the pavement. Last weekend dropped to 17(F) overnight. (Message edited by slaughter on January 21, 2012) | ||
| Ksfirebolt |
I leaning towards it more related to never warming up and the short trips, since that is the only thing different from last year. I don't put it on stands at night and my garage isn't heated so when I head out in the mornings it's in the teens. As far as PSI, 26 is what Dunlop recommends for them, at least that's what the guy says who gets them from Dunlop. The tires are one year old by the date stamp on them. Sometimes I have noticed that they flat spot after sitting a long time, a lot like bias ply offroad tires. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Tires will never get up to proper track temps riding in the teens from a cold garage. Slaughter's advice and comments carry a lot of weight, he's spent plenty of time on the track. No wonder you are taking it easy, those things probably ride all kinds of funny at such low temps and pressure on the street. Several considerations for riding them on the track at low pressure just never come into play on the street. You will never reach the kind of lean angles that require the tires to be so soft and compliant riding in the winter. Your short rides won't get them up to operating temp, they just don't go under the loads on the street that you put them through on the track. Personally, I completely understand not wanting to spend much on tires for such a short commute. I only live 4.5 miles from work. Half the time it's not worth the effort to gear up for such a short ride for me, especially if I'm running late... that said if you can come up with the $$$ for a new set of sport touring tires like the the Michelin Pilot Road 2's, The Continental Road Attacks, even the Pirelli Scorpion Sync's have good stock on the track but will last you several years, and actually, you might like those in particular for your winter riding for the traction benefits. Avon and Bridgestone make some interesting looking sport touring tires that you can find at clearance prices on older tire designs that are good all weather tires too... There have been many discussions on tire recommendations over the years here, and your current tires are obviously not working out. Try something new, you'll probably be pleased at the improved traction and handling to make it worth the money you spent, especially if you can get a good price n line or in the store from Cycle Gear or a local shop clearing out last years stuff. Ride safe brother | ||
| Ourdee |
New tires just wont have that cool look of being ridden to the edge. | ||
| Doz |
Don't be so cheap and especially taking chances with your life on used tires! My suggestion would be to go to the track with your friend and buy a set there. Last time I went, NEW Q-2's were $200 a set including mounting. Typical street use you should get about 3000 miles out of them. | ||
| Syonyk |
Commuting and touring use, you can get nearly 7k miles out of a set of Q2s, on an 1125R.  Depends on how you ride. If you're just commuting and light canyon carving, get yourself a set of Road 3s & forget about tires for the next 15k miles. | ||
| Ksfirebolt |
Thanks for all the good info and replies, I really appreciate the tire recomendations. I figured it had something to do with not warming up etc. I used them all last year, and really enjoyed the tires, they felt really stable and stuck like crazy after a bit of riding, but I was riding 20-30miles at a pop and doing a couple of pretty good sets of what passes for twisties in Kansas. I got about 3k or so out of set depending on how a rode or how long I let them go. What would you guys think about older tires that are brand new? I ran into a guy who has some new old stock tires that are about five years old. To iffy??? | ||
| Fast1075 |
Stay away from old stock tires. They outgas and harden, especially race rubber. You need fresh tires. As for race take-offs, you takes your chances. The more heat cycles the tire has, the harder it gets, and this is on top of the natural age hardening. | ||
| Starter |
25psi on the street is too low. You should be 32-36psi according to the tyre reps I work with. 25psi would be a low pressure for a track tyre but it may be hotter where you are racing then here. | ||
| Terrys1980 |
36 psi front, 38 psi rear. Your gas mileage suffers big time with anything below 30 psi. | ||
| Syonyk |
What would you guys think about older tires that are brand new? Just no. They might be OK for cruiser-style riding, but anything older than 2-3 years is too old for sportbike rubber. | ||
| U4euh |
25 psi is Dunlop telling him the recommended track day pressures. yes you should running close to 36 in the front on the street. I bet you will be amazed at the handling difference. I use to get track day take offs till riding in the cold "once". I was told that the heat cycles from being on the track tend to bring the oils in the rubber out, hence the blueing effect. If you bring the oils out, all that is left is dry brittle rubber. Couple that with natural drying and cold temps making them hard, lucky I didn't wreck, you too. Try some Conti's or Michilens. Had really great stick, and got really good life out of either pair. Just my 2cents | ||
| Ksfirebolt |
I really appreciate all the replies, I have been learning a lot with this bike. Has anyone had any experience with the Shinko Raven tires? They are very affordable and for the 6 mile in town riding I'll be doing all summer, I could put up with some lower quality tires. | ||
| Xb12randy |
You have a total of 2 1/2" of rubber between you and sliding down the pavement. I tell people the same thing applies to helmets. Don't skimp on safety gear or rubber. Suck it up one time and buy a set Michelin Pilot Roads. You may be able to find a good discount on the PR2's not that the 3's are out. Great tire and with your short commute will last a LONG LONG time. | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
I've been running Shinkos for YEARS on my 12R. Never let me down. I ran a few sets of the Stealth Model but I dont ride in the rain. I've had a set of Advanced Radials for a year and several thousand miles, they still look great. I've gotten my $$ out of them for sure. | ||
| Nik |
I've been using Shinko Ravens for the past couple years. Most of my riding is commuting and they work great for that. I get about 10k out of a rear, and change out the fronts with every two rear tires. They're not super great in the twisties, but they've never let me down or made me loose confidence either. | ||
| Al_lighton |
My motto: Good tires are cheaper than doctor bills. Al | ||
| Ksfirebolt |
Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply about my tires. I got some Shinko 009's from Pinwall Cycle Parts for $178 shipped to my door. Put about 50 miles on them today and they seem to work pretty nice, but I didn't do any agressive riding yet. What I'm looking for mostly out of these tires is decent life, so we'll see how they go. Partway through my ride, something broke in my clutch engagement mechanism so I'll be taking that apart and seeing what the deal is there and probably making a post about that. | ||
| Terrys1980 |
My last Corsa 3's cracked around the entire side wall on both sides of the front tire.  | ||
| Ksfirebolt |
Wow, what's the deal with that? Are those regular street tires and they just got tired and gave up? | ||
| Terrys1980 |
That's Pirelli Corsa 3's. They should be able to handle anything and even a track day every now and again. All Pirelli said was it is where they joined the compounds together and there is nothing they can do about it. Tires had less than 1k miles. I have Pilot Road 3's now and that will be my tire of choice from now on. |
