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Best way to break in new tires.

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    #1

    Best way to break in new tires.

    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?
    A take-away:
    IF YOU TAKE AWAY S FROM SIX YOU HAVE NINE

    ​
    Tags: None
    #2
    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
    Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.

    I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.

    Comment

      #3
      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)
      Currently bikeless
      '81 GS 1100EX - "Peace, by superior fire power."
      '06 FZ1000 - "What we are dealing with here, is a COMPLETE lack of respect for the law."

      I ride, therefore I am.... constantly buying new tires.

      "Tell me what kind of an accident you are going to have, and I will tell you which helmet to wear." - Harry Hurt

      Comment

        #4
        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.

        Comment

          #5
          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. 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
          78 GS1000 Yosh replica racer project
          82 Kat 1000
          10 990 ADV-R The big dirt bike​
          Some dirt bikes

          Comment

            #6
            As the big, fierce biker launched into the traffic stream screaming OH FUDGE!!!! :-) :-) :-)

            Earl


            [quote="first timer"]
            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.
            Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.

            I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.

            Comment

              #7
              yeah all 150lb's of my bad a$$

              ryan
              78 GS1000 Yosh replica racer project
              82 Kat 1000
              10 990 ADV-R The big dirt bike​
              Some dirt bikes

              Comment

                #8
                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!

                Comment

                  #9
                  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?

                  Nick

                  Comment

                    #10
                    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.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      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...

                      Comment

                        #12
                        :-) :-) :-) :-)

                        Earl


                        Originally posted by first timer
                        yeah all 150lb's of my bad a$$

                        ryan
                        Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.

                        I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Originally posted by 77gs550
                          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...
                          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!

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Jus850
                            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!


                            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? :?
                            A take-away:
                            IF YOU TAKE AWAY S FROM SIX YOU HAVE NINE

                            ​

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Well Nick, sometimes some of us lean the bike. :-) :-)

                              Earl

                              Originally posted by Nick Diaz
                              [i]
                              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?

                              Nick
                              Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.

                              I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.

                              Comment

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