scrubbing in your new tyre

ok after thinking about it I've never had to scrub a new tyre in over the winter (cold wet slippery roads) until now had a new rear tyre fitted about three weeks ago from the time it got fitted the roads have been wet cold and slippery apart from a couple of days when I was at work   seemed like no matter how much I got out and tried to gently lean the bike into corners it hit the waxy oily part of tyre and start to kick the back wheel out as it was spinning it has been made worse by the roads being gritted I was starting to get very frustrated and uncomfortable as I did not feel safe going round bends a couple of people said have you thought of using some sand paper? no I hadn't and no I wont one it's cheating and secondly I don't think it would get the waxy oily shit of anyway this normally happens by tacking your tyre through different speed ranges cornering so on. Cut a long story short (yeh right lol)  woke up Sunday roads where dry yes I thought went out side to give my bike a good clean to get all the salt and crap of it see me mate across the road tinkering with his 4by4 so went to say hi and smoke a fag (cigarette to you yanks)   before I started  told him my problem and asked what I could use  to get the shit of my tyre as he fits and sells  tyres he went in his van and came out with some brake cleaner bit harsh I thought but gave it a go cut up a tea towel put plenty on it and rubbed all round the tyre then washed my bike and washed the tyre with plenty of soap and water let the tyre dry yep took of all the shit leaving nice new rubber minus the waxy shit    took the bike out and fuck yeh took it easy but bike stuck to the road nuther day with a dry road and i'll have the all the tyre rubed in sweet.

Anyone else ever tried using it?

Nope, never tried it but can see a small benefit in it to some extent, however as much as you can use an “abrasive material” to a certain degree, running tyres in is not just scrubbing in the compound & loosing the initial slippery fluids that they bleed out slowly. You must consider why your scrubbing in the new tyre, you have to give the components on the tyre time to settle into one another. "For example, if you loaded a van full of boxes and forced the last box in and it was touching the roof and then proceeded to drive down the road for a while, when you checked the boxes you will find they have settled down and that last box you forced in will now come out very easily as the boxes have settled down". It is the same with tyres, the plies and belts have to settle down too. Also as the tyres are fitted with a slippery paste the tyre could move on the rim if the rider was to accelerate or brake with any degree of vigour , especially at first. Personally I have never scrubbed a new tyre in out of the spring/summer & autumn months so good luck and I will try to keep my fingers crossed for you as well as my legs & eyes.

I had to scrub in 2 new tyres this week. First 2 days the roads were wettish so no real progress at all. Finally dried out and today, although took time to warm up I hammered them a bit! Up to 140 miles now and nicely worn with strips getting narrower. In the winter - really dry days are rare unless it's windy - the dew takes a long time to go and returns early by 4 pm. One good thing about new tyres in the bad weather - you will appreciate maximum grip from the deep treads. However I don't expect too much from a tyre when the roads are wet - I cut speeds and watch corners, drain covers, road paint etc like a hawk! There is no reason why you should not ride safe in the winter (unless it's icy) - just use a bit of common sense. Oh yes, and be doubly vigilant of other riders/drivers - they might not be so thoughtful!

thanks for the fingers crossed Dave and totally agree blues roads at the mo just seem to stay damp to wet more so on the country roads one more dry road day and I'll be happy with the tyre then it will probally bloody snow hahahahaha
 ride safe mate

fat intruder wrote:

Anyone else ever tried using it?

No, lol ,I just take it easy for about 100 mile and then all is good  Usually 

If I needed to scrub a tyre in fast I would go to a ruff surface car park or similar and spend an hour or so throwing the bike about from one side to the other. I don't believe speed is required to brake a tyre in, just lean angle combined with directional force.

Mr Intruder wrote:

If I needed to scrub a tyre in fast I would go to a ruff surface car park or similar and spend an hour or so throwing the bike about from one side to the other. I don't believe speed is required to brake a tyre in, just lean angle combined with directional force.

Never thought of that, crackin idea  

I just went round the local trading estate a few times - lots of left and right handers. If I were in a car park I'd be afraid someone might see me if I fell off 

I normally just go to Harlow (town near me) the whole thing is just strait roundabout, strait roundabout......... tried to ride there back wheel just kept spinning  and trying to twitch out, roads just seemed to be greasy wet and slippery soon as I cleaned it I could start to corner strait away rubbing the tyre in. anyway in the future think I will get tyres fitted ride home then wash the tyre have it rubbed in quick in a day,  then spend the next few days cranking on the power and get it bedding in