Bald Tires

[Woodstock]

Possibly a troll letter, but this is word-for-word the letter to Paul Dean's "Service" column...

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My riding buddies continually hassle me about the nearly bald front tire on my Honda 1200 Gold Wing, but I tell them that it's not a problem. In fact, it actually has better traction than their deeply treaded tires. Look at the racers on their "slicks" with no tread at all. Wet-weather performance is also not a problem since, due to their round cross-section, motorcycle tires don't hyrdoplane. And as far as rubber goes, there is about a quarter-inch of rubber remaining below the tread, above the cords. Please tell these guys that I'm doing the right thing (and saving money) by riding on it until I see cords.

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Hmm...

 

[nusman68]

-sure it has better dry traction....but the bit about MC tires not hydroplaning is complete B/S; and slicks in the rain? Good luck...then you are asking for hydroplaning..and how did this guy 'measure' the thickness of his remaining rubber on the tire carcass? X-rays? Remove a bald tire, measure it, then remount it? Smacks of more B/S. Reminds me of a dude years back who I was trying to help fix up an old Corolla to get him to college:

'You get that carburetor adjusted correctly?"

'Yeah'

"Follow the service manual?"

'Nah, I just adjusted it 'til it smelled right'

Here's the best part....he became a political science major.......... :blink:

 

[snikr]

I wonder if the person who wrote that letter is FIRING on all cylinders.

 

[yanktar]

Proof yet again that DARWIN RULES!

 

[Woodstock]

I still think that it might be just a troll, though. I mean, I've never heard of anyone who thought like that. I know lots of people who don't replace rubber when they should (hell, I probably fall into that category at times), but it's not because they don't know any better.

The respose sort-of questioned whether it was a "prank". Part of the response was also "You're apparently one of those people who think the only job of the rubber is to keep the rims off the ground". :haha: I loved that.

 

[Centerline]

"Due to their round cross-section, M/C tires don't hydroplane" True, if you don't meet or exceed a tires' hydroplaning speed; around 8.33 X Sq. rt of tire pressure

 

[nusman68]

Okay, I'll play: you got me curious now....

So, following the formula:

let's say 36 psi (to keep it simple)

sq. root of 36 = 6

6 x 8.33 = 49.98 mph?

So I won't hydroplane under 49 mph? :huh:

What about the other variables? (i.e. type of surface, relative amount of water on surface, etc.)

Interesting.....unless of course you're trying to control our minds by occupying them with meaningless formulae!

 

[fastersilverfjr]

Was there a "Paul Dean" response? Did he write back that the guy is obviously too stupid and cheap to continue riding and should give it up immediately?

:blink:

 

[BrunDog]

Wait wait wait...

I do not believe that formula will work. The tire load (weight) must be involved.

A tire inflated to the same pressure will hydroplane sooner with less weight on it than it will with more weight on it. No?

-BD

 

[GunMD]

Let this guy keep riding...it's part of that whole natural selection thing.

PS: He's not riding near me!

 

[RTSR1/FJR]

Let this guy keep riding...it's part of that whole natural selection thing.

PS: He's not riding near me!

You don't know that! Next time you see a Wing, think of this!

 

[GunMD]

Let this guy keep riding...it's part of that whole natural selection thing. 

PS:  He's not riding near me!

You don't know that! Next time you see a Wing, think of this!

Very true...what I MEANT to say is that I HOPE he's not riding near me.

 

[TheRepairMan]

I don't know a whole lot about riding bike in the rain. I only did it handfull of

times and then rode as if I were on ice, but I rode bicycle a whole lot in all kinds

of weather when I was a kid and I remember trying to stop on wet roads with

worn out tires and I think I actually went FASTER with the back locked

up. ...and ended up on my butt more than a few times. :blink:

...and that's probably got nothing to do with anything now but I'd prefer to keep

some tread on my bike for now thanks.

RB in Tennessee

 

[jestal]

del

 

[radman]

Not for long he isn't. Another squid on his way to Statisticville,USA