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I saw some folks were talking about changing their own tires in another thread. Probably a lot of you are aware of what I'm saying here, but it bears mentioning for those who don't know.
New motorcycle tires may be coated with a substance that makes them slippery.
A friend of mine learned this the hard way, when a new rear tire ended his riding career. He called me and shared the story, an unexpected spin of the brand new rear tire leaving his own driveway, a side slip, a fall, and a planned surgery to replace his shattered hip. He asked me to research new tires to see if this was a contributing cause, and I found various confirmations of this issue in various forums on the internet.
It seems that, to preserve the rubber and prevent oxidization while on dealer shelves, such they maintain their pleasing NEW appearance, some tires may be factory coated with a protective substance. If left on the tire, it can cause surprises and even spills in the first few miles. Some riders said the stuff will wear off over a few miles, others said it can be washed off with hot soapy water. One person, as I recall, suggested riding on rough surfaces to wear off the coating. Another said he would take a file or wire brush to the tire to scuff it up prior to riding.
I don't know what manufacturer uses coatings like this, and I don't recall what make of tire my friend installed. I haven't experienced this personally, I just did some internet research for my disabled friend. He tried to get an attorney interested in suing at that time, but that went nowhere. He sold off his bikes and bought a Porsche, so life is still worth living.
Just wanted folks to be aware that this is a potential issue, and to take it easy on those new tires, or take a few minutes to make sure the tire is clean and ready for service.
New motorcycle tires may be coated with a substance that makes them slippery.
A friend of mine learned this the hard way, when a new rear tire ended his riding career. He called me and shared the story, an unexpected spin of the brand new rear tire leaving his own driveway, a side slip, a fall, and a planned surgery to replace his shattered hip. He asked me to research new tires to see if this was a contributing cause, and I found various confirmations of this issue in various forums on the internet.
It seems that, to preserve the rubber and prevent oxidization while on dealer shelves, such they maintain their pleasing NEW appearance, some tires may be factory coated with a protective substance. If left on the tire, it can cause surprises and even spills in the first few miles. Some riders said the stuff will wear off over a few miles, others said it can be washed off with hot soapy water. One person, as I recall, suggested riding on rough surfaces to wear off the coating. Another said he would take a file or wire brush to the tire to scuff it up prior to riding.
I don't know what manufacturer uses coatings like this, and I don't recall what make of tire my friend installed. I haven't experienced this personally, I just did some internet research for my disabled friend. He tried to get an attorney interested in suing at that time, but that went nowhere. He sold off his bikes and bought a Porsche, so life is still worth living.
Just wanted folks to be aware that this is a potential issue, and to take it easy on those new tires, or take a few minutes to make sure the tire is clean and ready for service.