| Author | Message | ||
     Contrarian |
Okay, so we've all heard 'bout taking it easy on fresh tires. Or at least I had, which gives me no excuse for laying my bike out in the middle of the street today. First time down in 15 years of street riding. Went out from under me so fast, I was surfing it down the street before realizing something was amiss. Daves, check your e-mail; I'll be orderin' some stuff! | ||
| Koz5150 |
I just bought 2 new Dunlop 220's. I was a little parinoid about breaking them in, but all I can say is ride like an angel for the first 100 miles! | ||
| M1combat |
Wash them a couple time with Dawn dish washing soap... (Before you mount them  ). | ||
| Contrarian |
I'll try the Dawn, thanks. That, & replace all the stuff I broke AFTER the tire's broke in. | ||
| Vegasbueller |
Now for stupid question: What does the Dawn do to the tires?? My son and I raced go karts and we used a commercial tire softener before the race. Has anyone tried any of these products to help break in? Nick | ||
| Daves |
Contraian, Got your email, I'll get on the list and email you with prices on Tuesday when I get back to work. Is that soon enough for you? Dave | ||
| Darthane |
Dishwashing soaps 'break down' greases. Who knows if it really helps with the mold release agents. I've always scrubbed mine with some after putting new tires on. Never gone down due to that, but maybe I'm just lucky and/or not pushing it hard enough during those first few heat cycles to cause a problem. | ||
| Aztec12r |
guess no one uses sand paper anymore huh? | ||
| Contrarian |
Thanks, Dave! | ||
| Outrider |
Aztec...Looks like it is you and me on the sandpaper thing. Doesn't take much effort or time but the peace of mind is wonderful. However, I still scrub them in for the first 50 to 100 miles until I feel confident on them. Heck,I even do it to new shoes. Got that tip from a friend that is an Attorney that hated slipping in front of a jury with new shoes. LOL | ||
| Wambo |
For what it's worth (and if you protect your skin), acetone or MEK can remove and soften the outer layer of rubber (wash off residue with rubbing alcohol). I've done this to two of my bikes without any problems afterward (so far). On my second bike which I picked up the day after Mt. St. Helens blew in '80, which had elements of ash and rain, I used this technique and got home in one piece with no problems. Because of the chemicals, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!  | ||
| Jlnance |
There are some interesting suggestions here. But wouldn't it be faster, easier, and more fun to just go for a 100 mile ride?  | ||
| Koz5150 |
That's what I did... | ||
| Trenchtractor |
Hmmm... The pilot power I fitted were copping a caining at 40k's old... At 50k's old they were getting more work than the dunlops ever did. That's just how good the tyres are. I haven't had a drift yet... Considering they work harder than the dunlops, and they used to drift everywhere. After a couple of hundred k's I'd removed the little michelin men that used to reside around the edge of the tread... Well, it was like a dare... I'm sure they put the michelin man there delibarately... 'Go on, I bet you can't wear him off...' | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Cont' - I'm sorry I didn't impress you enough with my identical story a few weeks ago. The huge scab on my knee is finally starting to heal up. I have most of the messed up bike parts replaced now. I washed my tires off with acetone after my low side. I'm just now starting to trust the tires again. I worked a chopper show this weekend and made a point to touch all the new tires. Many of them had this greasy stuff on them, just like my Metzlers had. One of the guys from DC Cruisers said he thought it was a protective covering. I know I should have known better, but I really think there should be a warning sticker for dummies. Lucky for me it was a low speed crash in my parking lot and not on my favorite 60 MPH sweeper. | ||
| Jeremyh |
when i got my pilots i believe the dealer had sanded the tires because they were scuffed when i got the bike back and went out that day and rode pretty hard and no slip and havent since. PILOTS | ||
| Xb9er |
I used Jlnance's tire run-in method when I put on my Sportec's. I posted what Metzeler recommends in another thread but here it is again: I rode straight roads for a while to heat up the tires then gradually worked in some curves at slower speeds to scrub the tires. It's a decent 100 mile ride where all I was focused on was scrubbing the tires. It seemed to work for me except I still have chicken strips even after a few thousand miles now! Mike. | ||
| Budo |
Just my experience but I sprayed the tread with brake cleaning fluid, you know in the spary can that evaporates without leaving a residue. Seemed to make a difference. | ||
| Starter |
If your real nice to the guys at the shop they'll throw a set of warmers on for you then take it for a ride on your behalf and they'll be fine. | ||
| Streetbueller |
I just ride the bike, when I am riding totally upright I will accelerate on and off several times and brake the same way to scrub in the middle and then start turning with a steadily increasing lean angle as not to put too much brand new rubber down at one time and within 50 mi. the tires are ready. Rubbing alcohol will help remove the really slick release compound. And I have sanded tires with an orbital sander. | ||
| Rooster2168 |
Hey Jersey, I don't know about you but my Dunlop208's did have a warning sticker. | ||
| Glitch |
Aren't ya'll worried about what those chemicals would do to the compounds in the tire? One of the reasons a tire needs a couple of heat cycles is because the compounds in the tire need to react together, heat makes this happen. Ever wonder why race bikes can just hop out of the pits and race? Tire warmers, they've already got the compounds in the tire talking to each other. Tire warmers, not chemicals, for those of us the quickest way to get the tire hot is to ride out on the interstate. Not weaving back and forth, that don't heat nuthin' up. | ||
| Contrarian |
Hey Jersey, glad to hear you're healing. Yours wasn't the first release-compound story I'd heard, but was in mind shortly before throwing the thing down the street. Really thought I was being careful enough. On a brighter note, the nice people where I work just paved the very twisty entrance road... | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Cont' - It really felt just like ice. I entered the very first turn at a moderate speed and the next thing I knew was that I was sitting on the side if the bike spinning horizontally down the parking lot, titanium sparks flying. My first thought was WTF was that about!?? LOL, live & learn (even at 55). |
