New tyres are really slippy.

Originally Posted by flymo

Which tyres are they Andy?

Just had them replaced with the bog standard ones that it came with, Pirelli Diablos. Lasted me 7.5K, and had enough grip.
However, I'm really glad you asked that as I just went out to inspect them closely and it looks like they have been leaded (for balancing) wrong. Not that I really know what I'm talking about here, so I'll post a picy or 3 of it when I get home tonight so someone more knowledgable can comment.


http://www.pirelli.co.uk/web/fitment...#fitmentanchor

Originally Posted by Jamiebridges123

AFAIK It's the heat that chemically "readies" the tyre for use.

It's a lot simpler than that. The slimy coating on new rubber is the chemical release agent used to make the newly-made tyre easy to extract from the blanks used during the moulding process. 'Scrubbing in' a new tyre is exactly that - rubbing off the thin coating of release agent left on the tyre after manufacture by virtue of friction between tyre and running surface.

You can scrub in a new tyre without heat being generated - the only two times I've ever had brand-new tyres fitted to my bikes I've had to do it in the pouring rain - which makes the process even more interesting.

Avon (and possibly others) use a water based release agent, not an oil based one. Theoretically they need very little scrubbing in. My storms did seem instantly sticky, even in the wet.

Originally Posted by Dan

It's a lot simpler than that. The slimy coating on new rubber is the chemical release agent used to make the newly-made tyre easy to extract from the blanks used during the moulding process. 'Scrubbing in' a new tyre is exactly that - rubbing off the thin coating of release agent left on the tyre after manufacture by virtue of friction between tyre and running surface.

You can scrub in a new tyre without heat being generated - the only two times I've ever had brand-new tyres fitted to my bikes I've had to do it in the pouring rain - which makes the process even more interesting.

I'm not debating your point, I've just seen that on the internet (I know, #1 source for correct information), that if you just spin the tyres on some stands and use some abrasive paper or the like to remove the release agent, you will still need to scrub the tyre in as the heat does something to the chemical makeup of the tyre.. any truth in that?

Oh, apparently some manufacturers don't use slippy release agents, I hear Avons dont need "scrubbing in"

Originally Posted by AndyW

Just had them replaced with the bog standard ones that it came with, Pirelli Diablos. Lasted me 7.5K, and had enough grip.

I got some of them recently and they had pretty good grip from new which surprised me. I actually went on the twisties and did a lot more leaning than i thought i would straight out of the shop.

Originally Posted by Jamiebridges123

I'm not debating your point, I've just seen that on the internet (I know, #1 source for correct information), that if you just spin the tyres on some stands and use some abrasive paper or the like to remove the release agent, you will still need to scrub the tyre in as the heat does something to the chemical makeup of the tyre.. any truth in that?

Some truth - rubbing the release agent off with an abrasive would help with initial adhesion - really we should call it 'running in' as opposed to 'scrubbing in' a new tyre.

Scrubbing the surface assists with mechanical adhesion between tyre and road surface, but the running in process as a whole allows the entire tyre/wheel combination to become one - allowing the beads to properly seat, for example, and even allowing the various components of the tyre (rubber, belts, etc) to 'settle'.

The whole thing is the same for car tyres, but it is much less noticeable as there's four of them and no leaning involved.

Source for this info is my mate JB, who for many years has worked on bike and car race teams - back in the day, he built works Audi rally car engines back in the days of proper 'Group B' rallying. Interesting chap.

I had to ride my new bike 150 miles in the rain, with the OEM tyres on, and I didn't notice either.

Link to piccies for weights on rear, front is the same more or less.
Should the weights be that close to the edge? Or that close to the valve? Or even shiny silver on a black wheel (grumble).

http://img231.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=tyreweights1.jpg

I got my new tyres yesterday! I did find they felt slippery but I am pretty sure that was caused by me believing that they would be slippery. They feel very good today now that I have done 50 miles or so.

Originally Posted by Dan

Some truth - rubbing the release agent off with an abrasive would help with initial adhesion - really we should call it 'running in' as opposed to 'scrubbing in' a new tyre.

Scrubbing the surface assists with mechanical adhesion between tyre and road surface, but the running in process as a whole allows the entire tyre/wheel combination to become one - allowing the beads to properly seat, for example, and even allowing the various components of the tyre (rubber, belts, etc) to 'settle'.

The whole thing is the same for car tyres, but it is much less noticeable as there's four of them and no leaning involved.

Source for this info is my mate JB, who for many years has worked on bike and car race teams - back in the day, he built works Audi rally car engines back in the days of proper 'Group B' rallying. Interesting chap.

I gues there are heat and expansion cycles that the tyre has to go through...bit like an engine in a way.

your mate sounds like an interesting chap, bring him to AR09