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Best way to break in new tires.

argonsagas

argonsagas

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I just got my Metzeler 550 mounted on the back of my 1100GK today. The mechanic who mounted and balanced it had washed the tire and gave it back to me clean, no shine at all.


I brought it home and scrubbed it again, using a very rough scrub brush with a strong mixture of soap and water, rinsed it well, and let it dry before putting it back on the bike.

After that, I took it out for a brief ride....two minutes from home to the nearest gravel road.


Drive for about a mile, then stop to wait for traffic to clear.....one mini-van.
:roll:

Stop in about two inches of gravel. Put it in first...open the throttle, let it spin down to solid stuff and then carry on a little way. Stop again. Put it in first...roll the bike, then open the throttle.

Funny, it actually hops. 8O The tire spins, catches, lifts the front wheel, runs out of traction, front wheel drops, rear wheel can't decide what to do as it hits a hole on the washboard road and jumps up in the air as well. Rear tire spins again and then the front comes up and repeats. Does all this in seconds.

Never knew that. In fact, I never before saw any bike actually hop.

Anyone watching would surely have thought I was insane. (withheld comments will be appreciated)

I just found the hopping to be one of the funniest things I have done on a bike in years.

Back onto paved road and head back home.

Total driving time...fifteen minutes. The tire is FULLY broken in.

What do you do?
 
I'm too lazy to go look for a gravel/dirt road. :-) :-)
Before mounting the tires, I take my orbital sander, clip some #60 grit sandpaper to it and rough up all treaded areas. Takes about 10 minutes to do both tires.

Earl
 
I just ride it for about 50 miles, basically soiling myself the entire time. Maybe I should try your guys methods (the wife will appreciate your suggestions come laundry day) :oops:
 
I ride the bike. Have not had any problems with slipping as long as you ride sensibly. Then again, perhaps I am getting old and sensible :)

Last front tyre (ME33) the wheel first turned going on a weekend trip riding in the rain! No complaints.
 
I wish this post was about 6 months newer, it would have kept my pants clean? I had just gotten new tires on my bike and was pulling outta the dealers on to a busy road, so I hit the gas to get on to the road. :oops: Little did I know that new tires can be slippery and my back end fish tailed bad enough for some guy at the shop to loudly state what I was thinking. My bike and I came out fine, we didn't crash or scare/crash any cars, it just scared the b jesus outa me. Oh well now I have learned my lesson, chalk one up to inexperience. Now I am very cautious with new tires and even cold ones. I guess what I am sayin is every new rider out there getting new tires, be very careful and take it easy until you get those tire cleaned off of all that slippery crap.

Ryan
 
As the big, fierce biker launched into the traffic stream screaming OH FUDGE!!!! :-) :-) :-)

Earl


first timer said:
Little did I know that new tires can be slippery and my back end fish tailed bad enough for some guy at the shop to loudly state what I was thinking.
Click to expand...
 
I havent tried this but i think it will work ok. Its kinda like a pottery wheel approach. On the center stand put the bike in gear and let the rear wheel spin. Get some fine sand paper, sit behind the bike, hold the sandpaper in place and proceed to move left/right to get an even scuff across the tire.
Ive been consitering trying it out on the edges i cant reach by my limited cornering abilities. So when i do get out there on the tire it will be nice and scuffed for some added traction and no suprises! :)
 
I ride the bike. Have not had any problems with slipping as long as you ride sensibly. Then again, perhaps I am getting old and sensible

Same here. 33 years of riding. All I ever do after installing a new tire is to go out and enjoy the ride. Never a problem.

And no one has ever accused me of being too slow. Right, Attila?
:wink:
Nick
 
I also do the dirtroad thing, leaning the bike over a bit to get the edges of the tires but be carefull with that on a heavy bike. I always go to the same bikeshop for my tires and even after allmost seven years and about 15 tires or so they still tell me to be carefull with them even though I know it, they do this to everyone.
 
Getting new Metzlers Tuesday in the mail, getting them mounted hopefully Wednesday. I'll keep this info in mind as I never got new tires before...didn't know they were that slippery... :oops:
 
77gs550 said:
Getting new Metzlers Tuesday in the mail, getting them mounted hopefully Wednesday. I'll keep this info in mind as I never got new tires before...didn't know they were that slippery... :oops:
Click to expand...

unfortunately a great deal of people don't know about the risk of new tires.
the release agent used to keep the tire from sticking in the mold (pam?) causes them to have poor traction.
A good dealer will wash the tire good before sending you off on your bike, the mechanic yelled the word you were thinking because at that moment he realized what he forgot to do and knew he would have been liable if you had crashed!
 
Jus850 said:
I havent tried this but i think it will work ok. Its kinda like a pottery wheel approach. On the center stand put the bike in gear and let the rear wheel spin. Get some fine sand paper, sit behind the bike, hold the sandpaper in place and proceed to move left/right to get an even scuff across the tire.
Ive been consitering trying it out on the edges i cant reach by my limited cornering abilities. So when i do get out there on the tire it will be nice and scuffed for some added traction and no suprises! :)
Click to expand...



Dont forget to hold your open mouth, hold it close to the exhaust, and breath deeply and rapidly. Sounds like a really quick way to get high....or die.


If you want to mount the tire on the bike and turn it, be sure to do so when the engine is NOT running.

Do it by hand!



Why is there a temptation here to say something about marriage? :? :wink:
 
Well Nick, sometimes some of us lean the bike. :-) :-)

Earl

Nick Diaz said:

Same here. 33 years of riding. All I ever do after installing a new tire is to go out and enjoy the ride. Never a problem.

And no one has ever accused me of being too slow. Right, Attila?
:wink:
Nick
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, Earl. Leaning the bike is what you get to do so often on those beautiful, curvy mountain roads in Florida.
:wink:
Nick
 
I lean the bike enough to go off the edge at the back in normal riding...so I suppose if you have to specially scrub in new tyres some of you guys must be really radical!
 
argonsagas said:
Jus850 said:
I havent tried this but i think it will work ok. Its kinda like a pottery wheel approach. On the center stand put the bike in gear and let the rear wheel spin. Get some fine sand paper, sit behind the bike, hold the sandpaper in place and proceed to move left/right to get an even scuff across the tire.
Ive been consitering trying it out on the edges i cant reach by my limited cornering abilities. So when i do get out there on the tire it will be nice and scuffed for some added traction and no suprises! :)
Click to expand...



Dont forget to hold your open mouth, hold it close to the exhaust, and breath deeply and rapidly. Sounds like a really quick way to get high....or die.


If you want to mount the tire on the bike and turn it, be sure to do so when the engine is NOT running.

Do it by hand!



Why is there a temptation here to say something about marriage? :? :wink:
Click to expand...

By hand or on idle as long as you dont do it a closed garage its fine. btw thats not how you get high is it? there are much more fun and interesting ways to do that. If you need any tips dont be afraid to ask. :lol:
 
The front I wash, use paint thinner... and have been known to use sand paper.

The rear gets blazed... while laying it side to side. :D:D:D


Jim
 
I would be hesitant to use any liquid chemicals and as much as I pay for new rubber, I don't know if I want to sand them down. All jokes aside, I have always just ridden them in-and no, I do not purposely seek out gravel roads to get my bike and boots filthy. I never change both at the same time, if replacing both I stagger them about 100 miles apart, so you only break in one at a time. Easy riding with moderate lean angles for app. 50 miles is all it takes. Just put a new set of Dunlop 208ZR's on the TL1000 and at $260 a set I am going squeeze these puppies for all they are worth. Ride On, Ed.
 
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