New Roadsmart Tires

[bigred]

I just put on a new set of Roadsmart tires, and the parts guy told me to take it real easy for 50 miles, and the service guy said a couple of hundred. He said they need to get "scuffed up" before they'll grab good. So my question is, how do i get them scuffed up if i have to take it easy? I am a bit nervous about the corners, but how else will i get my edges "scuffed up" unless i get up on the edges? They certainly don't feel slick, they actually feel quite tacky...so how careful do i need to be with these new tires?

 

[Ignacio]

From a person with 140,000 miles on his FJR and been threw a few tires to say the least....this is the best advice I've seen. It's worked for the 72,000 paltry miles and 15 or so tires I've had.

 

[twowheelnut]

Yer kiddin', right? Please say you just want to roust the roost on a Friday. :huh:

If your not kidding, park the bike. NOW!

/Shakes head in complete wonderment <_<

Since you prolly won't listen to me about parking it... Just take it easy on the tires for the first few miles. No hard throttle inputs, ease on the brakes, no knee dragging. Ride it like it's raining out and just take it easy. New tires are a bit slippery right out of the box, hence the need for scrubbing-in.

Oy.

/Shudders, again.

 

[FZ/FJR Mike]

The weaving to scuff new tires is the solution. The 200 mile easy riding came from comments about from oils used in the release of the tires from the molds during manufacturing. The Roadsmarts are mounted on my 06 & other than getting used to how they respond, I've paid them no nevermind. BTW, I've found wet weather response to be excellent & turn-in much better than the stock Metzlers. Ride more, worry less.

 

[Rondo777]

I think he meant to take it easy for the first 50 mile until you have the chance to get some sand paper and rough them up a bit. :dribble:

 

[r1byker]

Really? People use wire brushes to scuff the tires? I think that's totally pointless. I don't think they need "scuffing" at all. From my track day experience, the best way to break in a new tire is to get heat into it and the best way to do that is to accelerate and brake "briskly", but not stupidly. There was an article in Roadracing World a couple years back that demonstrated that weaving only added a nominal amount of heat. When I go out with a brand new set of tires (my tires only last for 2 or 3 track days, so they're almost always new), the first lap (2 or 3 miles, depending on the track) is spent getting the tires warmed up. After that I'm free to play; full throttle coming out of the corners, stoppies into corners, knee dragging, etc.

With street riding, whether the tires are new or old, just take it easy for a couple miles until some heat gets into them. That means that on hot days it'll happen sooner, and on freezing days, it may take 2 or 3 times longer. Okay, so if you're worried about new tires having "oils" on them, take it easy for a bit longer, but I don't think even that is necessary.

And that's my 2 cents that's worked for me.

 

[odot]

he he....................hook, line and sinker...............

 

[r1byker]

he he....................hook, line and sinker...............

Naw, you didn't do that to me, did you? I feel, like, so so like ..... loved.

 

[Old Michael]

Is the break-in time longer if you've converted your FJR to chain drive?

Sincerely,

Dr. Rich

 

[FJRBluesman]

It's only longer if it's a belt drive.