"Scrubbing in" new tyres?

**slofox** · 3rd November 2011, 11:38

Fact or fiction?

We all know that you have to "scrub in" new tyres, yes? Every time I get new hoops fitted the FOH dude says "Take it easy on those new tyres". They even have a sticker to apply to the bike "Beware! New tyres fitted!"

Now the first time I rode on new tyres in recent history was on the brand new SV and the handbook advised quite a high number of km's before the tyre was "scrubbed in". So I rode whiteknuckled for the first several days, wondering just how much lean would send me hurtling into that oncoming semi-trailer with the 96 wheels to run over my mangled carcase.

These days, I can't say that I bother too much about the new tyres. I usually start out a little diffident and just slowly increase the lean over about 20 minutes worth of riding. Second day out I have usually forgotten that the tyres are new anyway and just treat 'em as normal. So far so good - no busted arses yet.

THIS article makes for an interesting read.

Your thoughts and experiences anyone?

**White trash** · 3rd November 2011, 11:46

Different brands offer different "wearing in" procedures.

Take a look at at a new Metzeler parked next to a new Continetal and tell me which you'd feel more confident feeding the message through when newly fitted.

**sugilite:Me** · 3rd November 2011, 13:06

In my book, km's have nothing to do with it. I like to just do the same bit of road a few times, leaning a bit more on each run until no chicken strips (or where ever you feel comfortable leaning to). Job done

**Gremlin** · 3rd November 2011, 13:13

I run in all sets of tyres the same.

Start off gentle, many of them are skitterish for the first few km. I'm focussed on getting rid of the new surface, the one that disappears once you've ridden on it a bit. Even down the road, I'm zig zagging, using the sides, but only relative to how I feel. Once the centre is scrubbed of the new surface, it's simply slowly leaning more and more every time to scrub a little more. I consider them Ok after less than 50km usually, but then I don't ride like a mad man.

**bluninja** · 3rd November 2011, 14:25

I usually find a nice twisty bit of road and go out and ride it, gently at first and then building up the tempo.

There used to be something about tyres needing heat cycles for secondary vulcanisation, but I don't know if that ever was, or is still true. I thought full race tyres grip deteriorated after a few heat cycles, even when there's plenty of rubber left. Is this also a myth?

**Mad-V2** · 3rd November 2011, 15:00

When I last had new rubber put on, the bike shop dude said it's not so much the shiny look you have to scrub off these days.
There is a chemical of some type in the rubber to prolong shelf life. The only way to get it out is to get them nice and hot.
He warned me that going side to side only takes the shine off but there is still more of that shiny shit in the rubber which requires heat to get it out properly

But I'm no expert.

**The Singing Chef** · 3rd November 2011, 15:09

Originally Posted by bluninja

I usually find a nice twisty bit of road and go out and ride it, gently at first and then building up the tempo.

There used to be something about tyres needing heat cycles for secondary vulcanisation, but I don't know if that ever was, or is still true. I thought full race tyres grip deteriorated after a few heat cycles, even when there's plenty of rubber left. Is this also a myth?

I have been told the same in regards to heat cycles. The compound breaks down best after a few hot/cold cycles. With race slicks I would say the Tyre gets shredded so fast it wouldn't matter, and the fact that the compound is different so you already have a lot of grip already.

**The Singing Chef** · 3rd November 2011, 15:10

Talk to Outforaduck. He knows alot about it, could be on his website as well. Abbiss.Co.nz

**glegge** · 3rd November 2011, 15:52

Funny, i just got a new 'rear' last week, and was told 'these modern tires don't really need scrubbing in', so perhaps things have changed a bit.
I was still gentle on it for a wee while...

**steve_t** · 3rd November 2011, 16:02

Originally Posted by Mad-V2

When I last had new rubber put on, the bike shop dude said it's not so much the shiny look you have to scrub off these days.
There is a chemical of some type in the rubber to prolong shelf life. The only way to get it out is to get them nice and hot.
He warned me that going side to side only takes the shine off but there is still more of that shiny shit in the rubber which requires heat to get it out properly

But I'm no expert.

Yeah, I think I wrote in a previous thread about how all motorcycle tyre manufacturers except Michelin stopped using mould release compounds in 2006, HOWEVER, there is an antioxidant that stops the rubber perishing in storage that also needs to be accounted for and careful about.

**sugilite:Me** · 3rd November 2011, 17:22

Originally Posted by bluninja

I thought full race tyres grip deteriorated after a few heat cycles, even when there's plenty of rubber left. Is this also a myth?

I use Dunlops. 1st they went on the superbike, then when they started to slide around at race pace, I'd put them on my 750 postie, then I'd groove them and run them on the road where they performed better than any steet tyre I've ever used. Once the initial grip waned, they stayed consistent (still pretty grippy) down to near canvas. Other brands, I'm not so sure about.

**Autech** · 5th March 2015, 11:36

Hi all

Recently started racing on my VFR and want to know how to go about scrubbing in brand new rubber on the track.

Running them on the road isn't an option so how does one wear off the slippery stuff quickly and without binning it?

Cheers

**haydes55** · 5th March 2015, 11:44

Originally Posted by Autech

Hi all

Recently started racing on my VFR and want to know how to go about scrubbing in brand new rubber on the track.

Running them on the road isn't an option so how does one wear off the slippery stuff quickly and without binning it?

Cheers

are you running a race slick? or sport/road tires? tire warmers or not?

tire warmers on race slicks, just go hard from lap 2. street tires will take a bit longer, but track surfaces are abrasive and will scrub a tire in pretty quick, go should be scrubbed in after the sighting lap and 2 laps into the race. only way to know for sure is to push the bike til you feel the tires sliding. You should be sweet to be knee down pretty quickly though.

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