Is my tyre goosed?? Help!!

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

The second best ever post on the forum ever.

FACT.

I gotta know, I really have. No1# is

Went for a ride today.

When I got back, I did a few jobs on the bike and noticed my rear has done exactly the same thing (Pirelli Diablo). So it looks like I'm in need of a new rear tyre too!

The front tyre's stil in very good condition, so I'm only going to replace the rear. I've decided to stick with the Diablo, but should I go for the normal Diablo or the Strada?



I think the obvious line is where I ran my finger down the centre of the tyre (and wiped dust away)

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by BigApe

I gotta know, I really have. No1# is

This one.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

The second best ever post on the forum ever.

FACT.

Thank you. I susbscribe to another forum where all the tyre threads seem to be centred around which tyre gave the best grip - there's long and lengthy discussion about warm-up times, pushing it to the limit through fast bends, squirming under hard acceleration out of corners etc. Now this would be a valid topic...if it wasn't for the fact that when you meet these guys their tyres have chicken strips about 3/4" wide each side. Most of them haven't even dared get to the limits of a sidecar tyre, let alone a sports one.

I've turned up at one of their meets on a borrowed 1991 CBR600 with squared off BT020s and demonstrated how good even a shagged set of sports/touring tyres will grip by doing knee-down laps of a large roundabout when we stopped for a fag. It's not difficult, even my daughter can do it and has done on occasion, all it takes is confidence, experience and a modicum of riding ability. The tyres are the least of your concerns.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

I laughed pretty hard a while back when someone suggested that Pilot Sports were too 'touring' for them, all modern tyres are ****ing brilliant, far far better than they get given credit for - there just aren't any duffers any more.

A short while ago I was sat chatting to John Baines who runs Baines Racing, the Ducati specialists in Northamptonshire. John's fast, a lot faster than he should be considering the Guzzi Brevia he rides. He noticed the PR2s on my Daytona and asked why I fitted them, so I said what I said here about racers and bar-room braggards. He laughed, told me I was bang on then showed me the PR2s he's fitted to the Guzzi - shredded right to the edges - and told me they're excellent tyres that have never given him cause for concern. He said that unless you're fast group trackday rider you'll never notice the difference on the road between sports rubber and sports/touring stuff - what you do notice is how often you have to change them.

Pilot Sports are fantastic tyres, and you can buy them dirt cheap at the moment from Universal Tyres (roundandblack) on ebay.

Originally Posted by jamessunhill

Went for a ride today.

When I got back, I did a few jobs on the bike and noticed my rear has done exactly the same thing (Pirelli Diablo). So it looks like I'm in need of a new rear tyre too!

The front tyre's stil in very good condition, so I'm only going to replace the rear. I've decided to stick with the Diablo, but should I go for the normal Diablo or the Strada?



I think the obvious line is where I ran my finger down the centre of the tyre (and wiped dust away)

How can you not notice the handling getting all out of shape before looking at the tyre to find that? Surely the bike is steering like a pregnant hippo on roller-skates when your tyre is that worn and squared off.

Does nobody look at their own bikes and maintain them themselves any more - or is that what dealers are for, to point out the obvious, like chains dragging on the floor and bald tyres?

Originally Posted by Lozzo

How can you not notice the handling getting all out of shape before looking at the tyre to find that? Surely the bike is steering like a pregnant hippo on roller-skates when your tyre is that worn and squared off.

Does nobody look at their own bikes and maintain them themselves any more - or is that what dealers are for, to point out the obvious, like chains dragging on the floor and bald tyres?

To answer that, I've only been riding for 3 weeks and I've done 1300 miles in that time. So I didn't notice any difference as my riding skill was improving all that time.

I came home yesterday, did a few jobs and thought OH S**T.

So I'll be having a new tyre fitted this week and the bike will feel different again!

Originally Posted by jamessunhill

To answer that, I've only been riding for 3 weeks and I've done 1300 miles in that time. So I didn't notice any difference as my riding skill was improving all that time.

I came home yesterday, did a few jobs and thought OH S**T.

So I'll be having a new tyre fitted this week and the bike will feel different again!

Fair play then, we all have to learn these things over time. I that guess being an old bugger who could never afford to use dealers I learned all this stuff myself a bit early on.

You'll notice the difference, but take it easy on the new tyre when you first put it on and make sure it's scrubbed in before trying to find out how nice it feels in corners.

As experienced as I am, a few years ago I still dropped a brand new Firestorm a mile from the dealers because I forgot I was on brand new tyres. Serves me right for not regularly buying new bikes, I'd only ever picked up used ones on pre-scrubbed in rubber before. Cost me £1000 to learn that vital lesson.

I'll take that into consideration (i'll be careful).

Just ordered a Pirelli Diablo Strada. Should be fitted tomorrow or Thursday

The tyre's a standard diablo. I was thinking of trying a more touring orientated tyre as they only go square too quickly otherwise.

I knew the tyre was going off before I noticed the cuts/tears. Took the pics as soon as I found them. I do all my own servicing as I can't begrudge paying someone loads of money for what are relatively simple jobs.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

This one.

Oh!

It does make sense doesn't it.