Check Your Rubber

[kballowe]

There are a lot of tires out there with weather cracked sidewalls.
Yesterday's all time winner had a date code of 11-01. 

Now off to the recycle

[bigbikerrick]

Good advice, Sir. Any bike feels much better with fresh , sticky rubber.   I have found that keeping the tires sidewalls scrubbed clean, and with a careful application of "Formula 303 Aerospace" it keeps the sidewalls "fresh" for about 5-6 years. I am very careful ,not to get any on the tread portion, and always wipe off any excess. The sidewalls stay looking like new. I would NOT recommend armor all, as it seems to exacerbate the eventual cracking, on tire sidewalls.
Rick.

[JJ]

There is an old motorcycle expression...

"Your LIFE rides on your tires...NEVER skimp or disregard this segment..."

 

[Moda253]

“That’s What” - She

[Chuck in Indiana]

(Guzzi Guy snapping suspenders) Them's brand new tars. Still got the tits on em.

[mechanicsavant]

First , tires are much cheaper than plaster of paris (although fiberglass seems to be all the rage in orthopedic wards these days). Michlien recomends dismounting any tire over 5 years old to inspect inside for cracking . But what do they know ! I personally love the folks who install Car tires on the rear of heavyweight cruisers & brag about the high mileage achieved

[Texas Turnip]

I used to send my old tars to Belize and get them recapped. Only the back as I believe in safety and didn't do the front.

[Rower30]

Sidewalls of rubber tires should usually not be scrubbed. The "bloom" that comes through on rubber protects the part. Sure, we don't like how it looks but the rubber self protects itself. Once you scrub it off, it is exposed to UV again, and you are in an endless application of UV protectants that aren't so great on the tread area. I DO NOT apply additives to my tire sidewalls for that reason. Most modern road spec tire compounds have UV stabilizers built-in.

"While it may cause the rubber to look dirty or unattractive, Rubber Bloom is common and is not considered defective as it does not inhibit proper function of the rubber. In some cases, bloom can be used intentionally to help protect the component as a modified bloom.

[Perazzimx14]

First , tires are much cheaper than plaster of paris (although fiberglass seems to be all the rage in orthopedic wards these days). Michlien recomends dismounting any tire over 5 years old to inspect inside for cracking . But what do they know ! I personally love the folks who install Car tires on the rear of heavyweight cruisers & brag about the high mileage achieved

I personally love the folks who have never seen a bike running a car tire let alone rode one then telling the world about all it's ills.

I have use a car tire on one of my R1200GS's. I didn't do it for tire longevity or cost I ran it because I wanted real would the experience and to find out for myself if it's as good/bad as the internet claims. Turn out it's pretty drama free and I would have no problem doing it again. 

[tazio]

Not advocating anything, but this guy was on Cheaha Mountain in Alabama (highest point) and ripping it pretty good with this crazy tire..

[Vagrant]

I ran several on my 2012 Goldwing. They work great on heavy bikes.

[mrrick]

Using this thread to see if anyone knows where to find the Avon Roadrider MK2 in 100/90-18. Everybody seems to be out of stock!
I need to replace the 1970's era Dunlop K91 that came with the Sport's drum brake front wheel.
I planned to use 100/90 on the WM-2 front rim and 110/90 on the WM-3 rear.
And if the Avon is simply gone for good, which alternative(s) might be recommended?
TIA
Rick



And by the way, these wheels are an absolute devil to clean!!  If anyone has tips, please send them.

[Perazzimx14]

Using this thread to see if anyone knows where to find the Avon Roadrider MK2 in 100/90-18. Everybody seems to be out of stock!
I need to replace the 1970's era Dunlop K91 that came with the Sport's drum brake front wheel.
I planned to use 100/90 on the WM-2 front rim and 110/90 on the WM-3 rear.
And if the Avon is simply gone for good, which alternative(s) might be recommended?
TIA
Rick



And by the way, these wheels are an absolute devil to clean!!  If anyone has tips, please send them.

I googled Avon Roadrider MK2 in 100/90-18 and the 1st site that popped up is MotoSport and they show one instock. Didn't bother looking at any other sites

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwj9sqr39c6EAxVkW0cBHfVAA1oYABAMGgJxdQ&ase=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_bKq9_XOhAMVZFtHAR31QANaEAQYASABEgI--_D_BwE&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAASJORokcinjdApntyo0YnLcSBVXWZBMXnGujv3TeXLez6XT9gbTg&sig=AOD64_0tCJRtOrqrt-AFT1Ps0SDeqRxPmg&ctype=5&q=&nis=4&ved=2ahUKEwi3r6D39c6EAxUal4kEHQEPCY0Q9aACKAB6BAgCEA8&adurl=

[Dirk_S]

You guys got me quite concerned about my Sputnik sidecar tire (factory tire that was on the sidecar when I bought it still in the crate), so I went outside to check it. Sidewall is still gummy bear smooth after 2 full years outside in New England weather.

I don’t know how the Russians date-stamped their tires, but I believe this picture shows the tire is from 1986. If so, that’s some slippery vodka they must mix in with the rubber:

[slopokes]

Went to a tire seminar at the BMW national rally in Vermont many years ago and the Dunlop and Bridgestone reps said only clean the sidewalls with soap/water—- nothing else..

[Tom]

I personally love the folks who have never seen a bike running a car tire let alone rode one then telling the world about all it's ills.

I have use a car tire on one of my R1200GS's. I didn't do it for tire longevity or cost I ran it because I wanted real would the experience and to find out for myself if it's as good/bad as the internet claims. Turn out it's pretty drama free and I would have no problem doing it again.

I have no problems with running a car tire on the rear of my Cal 1400 Touring.  The tire came with the bike when I bought it.  No degradation in handling either.  That's going up South Mountain and to Tortilla Flats.  South Mountain in Phoenix is like an Alpine mountain pass road and riding to Tortilla Flats is going to a lake in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix.