playboy Posted October 7, 2011 #1 Posted October 7, 2011 Dealer suppose to have my new tires mounted by tomorrow. Whats the best method of scuffing them in a 4inch grinder with a wire brush attachment or just some sand paper.
LilBeaver Posted October 7, 2011 #2 Posted October 7, 2011 I don't know if it makes a difference or not but I like to give mine a good scrubbing/cleaning with a tire brush and car wash and then just make sure I take it real easy for the first couple hundred miles. This takes care of some of the surface stuff but also allows a reasonable amount of time to get the tires nice and warm to get anything of the latent chemicals or gases out of the tires before really riding hard. Again, I don't know if it really makes a difference or not but I have not put much, in the way of a conscious effort, into rigorously determining the best way to 'scuff' in the set of tires. My guess is that you are going to get a very wide range of responses to this... Stay tuned http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/10172/thumb_smiley-face-popcorn.gif
Venturous Randy Posted October 7, 2011 #3 Posted October 7, 2011 Drifting works. RandyA Or, find you a gravel road. Or do what I do, just make a conscious effort to do some swaying back and forth at low speeds to scuff them a little on the side. I don't think I would want to attack a new tire with a sander or side grinder.
darthandy Posted October 7, 2011 #4 Posted October 7, 2011 A light sanding by hand with a coarse grit sanding paper will do for a good start. You're trying to "scuff" the rubber, not remove a layer. After that, 50 to 60 miles of riding (The coarser the surface the better) with as many turns as you can get, will help finish the job... just don't be too aggressive at first! The purpose of break-in on tires is not just to "scuff" them. It's also to heat them up to normal operating temperatures so that the rubber compound reaches the maximum "pliability" for which it was designed. Racers get around this problem by using tire warmers that heat up the tire to these temps without having to use the tires when they may still be a bit "slippery". Another purpose for break-in used to be to wear off any remaining mould release compound from the tread, but most major tire manufacturers no longer use these compounds on the tread area thanks to new technology for the "dies". Andy
MiCarl Posted October 7, 2011 #5 Posted October 7, 2011 Part of the break in period is also for you to get used to the new edge. Just ride 100 miles without really laying into the throttle or any sudden cornering.
Flyinfool Posted October 7, 2011 #6 Posted October 7, 2011 Part of the break in period is also for you to get used to the new edge. Just ride 100 miles without really laying into the throttle or any sudden cornering. It's tough to go 100 miles around here without having to take evasive action of swerving and/or braking, at least a couple of times.
playboy Posted October 7, 2011 Author #7 Posted October 7, 2011 Thanks I was just being a smart a@# about the grinder an sand paper. Will be leaving for Tenn. on the 14th going to hit the big slab for the first several hundred miles so that ought to take care of it if that's all there is to it. Thanks
LilBeaver Posted October 7, 2011 #8 Posted October 7, 2011 Thanks I was just being a smart a@# about the grinder an sand paper. Will be leaving for Tenn. on the 14th going to hit the big slab for the first several hundred miles so that ought to take care of it if that's all there is to it. Thanks I would still be careful In the first several hard turns - the slab will only help for part of the tire. I certainly hoped you weren't thinking about taking a grinder to the rubber although my guess is that someone out there has done it...
FuzzyRSTD Posted October 7, 2011 #9 Posted October 7, 2011 (edited) Thanks I was just being a smart a@# about the grinder an sand paper. Will be leaving for Tenn. on the 14th going to hit the big slab for the first several hundred miles so that ought to take care of it if that's all there is to it. Thanks Well, Mmmm, testing people I guess. Hope you have a safe trip. Take it easy at first and kinda get used to them. This is coming from a guy whom put on a new set of Avon Venom tires and rode easy for about 10 mile, then hitting the hammer road (I-64), and running it up to 110 mph. Smooth as silk. Don't forget about the sheep herder who cried "Wolf".... Fuzzy Edited October 7, 2011 by FuzzyRSTD
rod Posted October 7, 2011 #10 Posted October 7, 2011 Not a good idea to take a power tool to the tire!!! A good washing with soap and a 3M pad and ride careful for the first 50-100 miles depending on the road surface. Braking and lean angles are gonna be where you will notice it most. Ride careful and safe Rod
RandyR Posted October 8, 2011 #11 Posted October 8, 2011 About 10 miles of gravel road scuffs them up real good.
camos Posted October 8, 2011 #12 Posted October 8, 2011 A couple of years ago I put a new E3 on the front of my Virago and rode it as normal during my commute, not pushing it but not holding back then 4 months later put a new E3 on the rear and did the same. Didn't do anything special to break it in or scrub it. Did not notice any problems. This summer put a new E3 on the front of my Venture while at the Cody Rally and rode around there for a week without noticing anything awkward either. Doesn't seem there is too much to worry about with new tires unless you really feel the need for speed and are driven to dragging your parts through the twisties.
Condor Posted October 8, 2011 #14 Posted October 8, 2011 I don't do anything special to a new tire. Avon's or E3's. Never thought much about it, and just ride. I imagine a few right and left hand turns around the block will scuff them up a lot more than using sand paper.
LilBeaver Posted October 8, 2011 #15 Posted October 8, 2011 I guess maybe my experience has been a little different than some of yours that have posted in this thread. My first brand new set of Avons on the RSV broke traction on me several times in the first 75 miles. Felt very 'greasy'. Almost completely lost it going up an on-ramp. So maybe I am just a little paranoid about it now. I am extra careful now for the first several rides. But, that is how I ride, ya'll can ride however you want.
Guest Posted October 8, 2011 #16 Posted October 8, 2011 Part of the break in period is also for you to get used to the new edge. Just ride 100 miles without really laying into the throttle or any sudden cornering. Thats what I have done with dozens of tire changes. Just go out for an easy ride, a little back and forth to scrub the tires with no fancy maneuvers and you should be good to go. 100 miles is about right.
BoomerCPO Posted October 8, 2011 #17 Posted October 8, 2011 I ran 2 sets of Michelin Commanders on my scoot last year....Found them to be very greasy the first 100 miles or so. This year I switched to the Dunlop E-3's.....Hardly noticable greasiness for the first 50 miles. I'm sold on the E-3's for all aspects of riding! Boomer.....who sez hard stops at Dairy Queen are easy wit dem E-3's too.
playboy Posted October 9, 2011 Author #18 Posted October 9, 2011 Thanks for all the tips guys picked my bike up this morning an eased it home about 40 miles had the dealer put 3 psi in each fork air up the rear and a few more checks an we will be ready to leave on the 14th.
Yammer Dan Posted October 9, 2011 #19 Posted October 9, 2011 (edited) Not supposed to use the grinder?? No wonder I don't get any miles out of a back tire!!! Edited October 10, 2011 by Yammer Dan
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