Silicone on tyres

**Flashman** · 24th May 2009, 21:27

Hi all.
Just got back into biking after a good 15 year layoff!
Picked up a mint VFR400 to play on but the young guy selling it had kindly sprayed a silicone tyre dresser over both tyres to make it look good before I picked it up!

Any ideas how to remove the silicone? Its slippery as hell and I'd like to stay upright a bit longer!
I tried a degreaser but it didn't seem to do a great deal.

Love to hear some ideas...

**CookMySock** · 24th May 2009, 21:31

Try some handcleaner - that one that smells like lemons. Or else just hot soapy water.

It does look bad, but my guess is it's only a few micron thick and you can probably quite safely ride it off. Just don't lean the fucker hard right away.

Steve

**Conquiztador** · 24th May 2009, 21:40

Do some riding in dirt/sand/on a beach and it should wear of quickly.

**p.dath** · 24th May 2009, 21:53

I had this problem once. I used a solvent to remove it (either turps or methylated spirits, don't remember which and doubt it will make a difference).

Took three applications to get it all off. I'd do a small test spot first, and only on the tyre rubber (will probably remove paint or damage plastic).

**caseye** · 24th May 2009, 22:00

"It does look bad, but my guess is it's only a few micron thick and you can probably quite safely ride it off. Just don't lean the fucker hard right away"
Is the best advice so far.
Just don't be like the last wally and use anything like it on her again.

**hayd3n** · 24th May 2009, 22:04

do a skid in the dirt/gravel and use a bit of sandpaper on the front tyre

**discotex** · 25th May 2009, 08:02

Should make it easier to start a burnout

**cowpoos** · 25th May 2009, 08:09

Originally Posted by Flashman

Hi all.
Just got back into biking after a good 15 year layoff!
Picked up a mint VFR400 to play on but the young guy selling it had kindly sprayed a silicone tyre dresser over both tyres to make it look good before I picked it up!

Any ideas how to remove the silicone? Its slippery as hell and I'd like to stay upright a bit longer!
I tried a degreaser but it didn't seem to do a great deal.

Love to hear some ideas...

Wipe it off with some brake cleaner on the surface only...then go for a ride.

**Flashman** · 25th May 2009, 23:51

Cheers guys. I'll give some of these ideas a go.

**YellowDog** · 26th May 2009, 06:32

I suspect this is not a case of attempted murder by the bike shop. Don't put anything on there that will mess your tyres up. The alcohol based wipe down suggestion followed by hot soapy water has got to be the safest way to go.

Congrats on the new bike and good luck.

**vifferman** · 26th May 2009, 09:18

A short ride on an unsealed road will fix it. While brakecleaner may work, the problem is twofold: it may just spread the silicon around more, and it may suck some of the good juices out of the rubber. No - I'm not (just) being silly: rubber has some volatile compounds in the rubber that help to make it stick to the road. Suck too much of these out, and the tyre will be hard and less sticky. (See for yourself - spray some brake cleaner on the tyre, and wipe it with a rag, and see how much 'goop' ends up on the rag).

**Ixion** · 26th May 2009, 09:23

Gravel road or sandy beach

**Conquiztador** · 26th May 2009, 09:31

Originally Posted by Conquiztador

Do some riding in dirt/sand/on a beach and it should wear of quickly.

Originally Posted by hayd3n

do a skid in the dirt/gravel and use a bit of sandpaper on the front tyre

Originally Posted by vifferman

A short ride on an unsealed road will fix it.

Originally Posted by Ixion

Gravel road or sandy beach

Strong echo in here...

**JayRacer37** · 26th May 2009, 09:39

Originally Posted by vifferman

A short ride on an unsealed road will fix it. While brakecleaner may work, the problem is twofold: it may just spread the silicon around more, and it may suck some of the good juices out of the rubber. No - I'm not (just) being silly: rubber has some volatile compounds in the rubber that help to make it stick to the road. Suck too much of these out, and the tyre will be hard and less sticky. (See for yourself - spray some brake cleaner on the tyre, and wipe it with a rag, and see how much 'goop' ends up on the rag).

We use brakecleen to get the mold release off new tyres, its ok so long as you dont let it sit before you ride it.

Take it back to the shop and have them fit the tyres on said shop boys bike so he can scrub it off for you....that way it won't happen again and it won't hurt your bike when he crashes!