Squared off tyre - replace?

[Dan505]

Daft question. My new bike has a squared rear tyre, with enthusiastic cornering can i unsquare it or bin it and get new boots all round?

Thanks

[Bibio]

no bin it. if it's that square then its more than likely bald in the middle. also the transition from upright to lean will have a step which will be a very narrow contact patch on the road and can result in slides.

[Red ones]

Replace it if not sure.
I will admit to riding with squared off rear, but given my mileage...

A new rear will feel so much better

[Dunn-y]

I'd just replace it. Especially with the winter weather coming in soon.

[Dan505]

Ok cheers guys, in theory tho could it be unsquared?

Any tyre recommendations? I don't track ride only commute and weekend twists

[NTECUK]

In a perfect world were empty smooth gripy corners you could .But we don,t.
So look how much you have to spend and short list some suitable types (sports touring?)
Then see of thoes whats in stock.
Pic the best value.
What your faviorit make may sway your desision.
Iv not bought a rubish tyre yet.

[Nutsinatin]

Any tyre recommendations? I don't track ride only commute and weekend twists

Sports touring are what I think you'll want then , my favourites are the the Pilot Road 3's and quite a few recomend the Avon Storm 2's, but I've never used those. There are others so have a read through some of the old threads and see what people say then decide what's appropriate for you.

[savage86]

Just get rid they really do ruin cornering.

[Phil 1]

I'd say replace too.

Just done mine which was badly squared off from the previous owner and it totally transforms handling and inspires much more confidence. I hated the feeling of it suddenly coming unstuck as it dropped off the side of the flat part.

[Jayneflakes]

To be honest, tyre wear is never fully even, so even if you could round it off again it would not wear perfectly anyway. Also, if it is squared off, it has worn through a lot of the rubber that gave it its original shape, so you would just be wearing more rubber off.

I tend to ride my tyres until I have to replace them because I am skint, but if you can afford new boots then do so. I replaced my last set with Continental Contimotions and have not looked back. They are grippy in every condition I have ridden in (although the rear span up nicely on the wet grass in my Aunts Garden! :thumbsup: ), have a responsive but not nervous feel to them and feel good even when loaded up with a pillion and full panniers.

[atassiedevil]

Get rid. The comfort and security you'll have is worth the cost. Tyres on bikes are consumables. Consider if you got a sidewall puncture, you'd bin the tyre anyway.

If money is an issue, get a good midrange tyre rather than top end sticky rubber that doesn't last long.

Had to do this to my VF750 the week i got it. Tyre was still legal, but felt like there was a car tyre on the rear. Massive improvement now.

Alternatively scan ebay for something that'll do, thats semi decent and cheap, and have it fitted locally.

C.

[Dan505]

Currently got Avons on it but not happy with them, Pirelli sport demons on my last bike were good.

Thanks for the advice peeps

[Dunn-y]

I would recommend the Pilot Road 2 or 3s. I've got the Pilot Road 2 on my ZX9 and they must have roughly ~7000 miles on them. They still have quite a bit of tread left and haven't really squared off much either and 75% of them miles are dual carriage way. They're doing better than the RoadSmarts I had on the SV.

[Steve_God]

Depends how tight you are...
I've kept tyres on that have been 'really' square before now until they were on the edge of legal in the middle, and as long as you ride accordingly, you'll have no issues - but I'd rather get as much moneys worth out of it as I can.

A simple adjustment of riding style is all that's needed, with the main two aspects being (as many have mentioned):
- The odd 'tip in' feeling you get going into a corner (it feels like you're on the edge of the tyre, and for a short duration you have less grip while on the 'corner' [of the tyre], yet if you're committed and stable, you can tip it past the 'corner' and get decent grip levels again on the rest of the tyre)
- Being really boring as soon as it gets wet when it comes to cornering (as you can't rely on the higher grip levels from the larger surface contact past on the point 'past' the tyre corner at a larger tilt angle in the wet as you can in the dry)

If you'd prefer not to compensate riding style, or money simple isn't an issue, then always go for a new tyre.
End of the day, if it makes you feel uncomfortable to ride, or you simply loose confidence in the bike when riding, change it. One persons feel of a bike is always different to another.

[Citizen]

I had the same problem, put some Pilot Road 3`s on this week and the difference is like night and day....unbelievable, once scrubbed in it swoops into corners rather that twitching and rocking!!

[Dan505]

Guess its new tyre time as (like above) i'm not happy with the way it handles at the minute

[Matt-EUC]

THIS!
Is a squared off tyre...
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=204059

[Dan505]

#COUGH# thread hi-jack #COUGH# 0_o

[jambo]

As above, while you can run a tyre until it's down to 1mm over the centre 2/3 of the tyre legally, you've reached a point where the profile is affecting how the bike handles, and would prefer a new tyre.

You can replace just a rear or do the pair, this will come down to budget and condition of the front tyre.

Any Sports Touring tyre will be just fine. The Michelin Pilot Road 2's and Dunlop Roadsmarts both got very good reviews when they came out, and have been superseded by the PR3 and Roadsmart2 meaning there can be good deals to be had on them. Others have rated the Avon Storm's highly and Bridgestone's Sports Touring 023 was recently replaced in the lineup with the T30 I believe. There's loads of choice, talk to your local motorcycle trye fitter about options and budget!

Jambo