Scrubbing new tyres, yay or nay?

**tigertim20** · 19th July 2009, 17:44

sorry if this is a dumb question. but here goes.
getting me bike a nice new shiney tyre in a few days. Now I hear all the time about people who go tits-up cos their new tyre is slippery from the silicon or whatever they spray in the moulds.
So, scrubbing the tyre in. There any reason why I cant put the bitch on centre stand, chack it in gear, have someone hold the throttle so the tyre is rotating, and hold some 80 odd grit sand-paper gently to the tyre surface as it rotates to scrub the fucker in? thoughts? is it gonna fuck my new tyre? I dont wanna wait a few hundy k's riding round in dunedins ice everyday to scrub the bastard in.....

**h_tron** · 19th July 2009, 18:29

hmmm not too sure if thats reccomended practise, i know when i got my new bike both front and rear were new and ended up scrubbing them in the rain cause i was to excited to ride

. in saying this im up in auck where you would be very pressed to get ice. in saying that, im sure not even a scrubed in tyre could save you on ice

**sil3nt** · 19th July 2009, 18:36

from what i have read around here just go out and ride as the tyres are not as slippery as you think. But i can't speak from experience. Just think about how many people here buy new tyres and how many of them crash on them. Can't think of anyone in the short time i have been here.

**AllanB** · 19th July 2009, 18:43

I's say NO for a couple of reasons.

80 grit is way too coarse if you go down that road - rub some across the existing tyre - see the extra grooves it makes

150 would be my pick (but I'd not do it anyway.

The main reason not to is I foresee your hand holding the grippy sandpaper getting pulled up under the tail due to the rotating grippy tyre and shredding a lot of skin if not worse

If you really want to sand it leave the engine off and just slowly rotate the wheel by hand.

I'm presuming you are taking the wheels in and then fitting them to the bike yourself otherwise they will scrub in on the way home anyway!

My advise with new tyres is to go for a gentle long ride and get them heated, gently turning into corners etc. I believe heat removes any residue. I have never had any issues using this method.

Many recommend a ride on a unsealed road to rough them up.

**mossy1200** · 19th July 2009, 18:45

Originally Posted by tigertim20

sorry if this is a dumb question. but here goes.
getting me bike a nice new shiney tyre in a few days. Now I hear all the time about people who go tits-up cos their new tyre is slippery from the silicon or whatever they spray in the moulds.
So, scrubbing the tyre in. There any reason why I cant put the bitch on centre stand, chack it in gear, have someone hold the throttle so the tyre is rotating, and hold some 80 odd grit sand-paper gently to the tyre surface as it rotates to scrub the fucker in? thoughts? is it gonna fuck my new tyre? I dont wanna wait a few hundy k's riding round in dunedins ice everyday to scrub the bastard in.....

sanding will help but not very much because heat cycles are required to get the componds mixed and working.Run it around on roads you know are in good condition and ride like your in the wet.
Get it lent over bit by bit so that your mixing some new surface with some scuffed surface.
If your real worried find a race rider and borrow his tyre warmers for a few short heat cycles.Then head out with them warmed up.

**Jantar** · 19th July 2009, 18:49

Ride gently over Three Mile Hill and down to Whare Flat like its all black ice. Then once you hit the gravel give it heaps. Within 5 kms your tyres will be nicely scrubbed in.

**kiwifruit** · 19th July 2009, 18:49

No, it may give you a false sense of security

**YellowDog** · 19th July 2009, 18:56

Sandpaper won't do much at all. It is the rounded parts that need to be clear of the residue as you need these for cornering.

Just take it easy for couple of days. They will bed in in a very short time. Not such a big deal.

**Sidewinder** · 19th July 2009, 19:01

if you want to yea but just dont be a pussy, far only takes like a lap or two on the track to scrub in a new tyre, and the 1st bit of the rubber has the best grip

**tigertim20** · 19th July 2009, 19:10

sweet cheers people. never had a brand new tyre before, I dont usually keep a bike long enough to need one!!

**Sidewinder** · 19th July 2009, 19:12

Originally Posted by tigertim20

sweet cheers people. never had a brand new tyre before, I dont usually keep a bike long enough to need one!!

put it this way, they wont kill you just have some respect for them

**grusomhat** · 19th July 2009, 20:39

Do a search and you'll quickly realise that doing something on a bike while it's in gear is a bad idea. Certainly worse when sticking your hand near moving wheels.

**PirateJafa** · 19th July 2009, 20:43

What the FUCK?

You've just paid GOOD MONEY for those tyres - don't go sodding wasting both your rubber AND sandpaper. I seem to recall some retard was advocating doing this to some learner riders - don't listen to them, it's a waste of time and effort.

Plus sandpaper will do sod all anyway - the oils and shit are well into the rubber already - the only way to scrub tyres in is by RIDING on them. It's not hard too - just don't ride like a *complete* tool for all of maybe 100km, and then you can take it for a good hard thrash.

It really isn't rocket science!