[jonnypar]

My wife and I were riding the Big Bear Loop last weekend when, as we were going around a corner at about 30 MPH my front wheel hit a long thin stretch of tar. To my surprise my front tire felt like it had left me. :shock: It came back to me quickly but that feeling of not being in control sucks!
I have never experienced this happening quite like that before. We almost went down and I was barely on the throttle at all. Now maybe this has happened before and I didn't notice it but this time it gave me quite a scare. Anyone else come across this before and why does it happen?

 

[Ken Bergen]

What tires?
Some tires love to follow the tar snakes home, others just ignore them.

 

[rpeters549]

Those are often like hitting the painted lines on a roadway. They tend to be very smooth and slick compared to the rough roadway so there can be a significant traction change, especially if wet or hot.

 

[glhonda]

Those are often like hitting the painted lines on a roadway. They tend to be very smooth and slick compared to the rough roadway so there can be a significant traction change, especially if wet or hot.

It makes me real nervous. My doctor calls it "surface tension". (see what I did there?) But what does he know, he's not a mechanic!

 

[tricky]

That's why I like the tread design on my E3's I hardly feel the tar strips now

 

[Ansimp]

The main reason I believe motorcycle riders make better cage drivers is that you are constantly on the look out for road imperfections and of course other vehicles. Nothing worse than that sliding sensation and hoping that you get traction again. Good to hear it was only your undies that suffered.

 

[96aspencade]

Just an observation & I'm not getting involved in a debate but since I changed my rear tires on both bikes, I can and have rode Tar Snakes for as far as I can see without and handlebar shakes or un-natural movement.
I, like those who have never "experienced" the change would have never believed it but the "Proof's in the Pudin'" as they say.
Ride Safe .:waving:

 

[roscoepc]

That's why I like the tread design on my E3's I hardly feel the tar strips now

Ladies and Gentleman we have a BINGO!!!

 

[DaveO430]

Once on a road with a lot of tar shakes, too many to avoid and it was also very hot, on a gentle right hand curve the whole bike was slipping to the left like on ice and nothing I could do but just go where it went. Fortunately the curve straightened out before I got all the way into the oncoming lane or lost control completely.

 

[jonnypar]

I'm rolling with Dunlop Elite E3.

 

[newday777]

I'm rolling with Dunlop Elite E3.

How old are they? If they are 5 years old the rubber is hard and will slip in a corner.

There is a date code at the end of the tire VIN. It's a raised box with 4 numbers. First two are the week of the year, 01-52. Second two are the year of manufacturing.

 

[Mrbillmopar]

I can assure you that E 3's are NOT impervious to tar snakes. We have some around here that nothing but cleats would ignore.LOL

 

[newday777]

I can assure you that E 3's are NOT impervious to tar snakes. We have some around here that nothing but cleats would ignore.LOL

Just be sure you have your Gremlin bell in the bike to Ward them tar snakes off so they don't lay eggs inside your tires! Then they hatch in there and you will have a heck of a time riding!

 

[BrianInPA]

I read where someone once pick-up a patch of that tar on their front tire and it wrapped itself around almost the entire tire. Can you imagine trying to ride on that.

Around these parts my least favorite surface to ride on is a fresh layer of chip stone over oil. Nothing makes my seat adhere to my butt any tighter than spending a few miles on that stuff while riding two up.

 

[jaxn]

Tar snakes and sun really suck for sure. Gotta watch out for them.

 

[erwjww]

I have E3's on my 15 and it don't like them. Goes into convulsions and pucker factor jumps off the scale.

 

[Bike...and Dennis]

Around these parts my least favorite surface to ride on is a fresh layer of chip stone over oil. Nothing makes my seat adhere to my butt any tighter than spending a few miles on that stuff while riding two up.

Oh yeah, chip seal. Pea gravel floating in molten tar. A motorcylist's two favorite surfaces rolled into one.
And then, as an added bunus, you get to clean it off the bike, when and if you get home.

Tar strips are a fact of life here, and most of the time it's hot enough to make them nearly liquid.
What I like to do is lean over so far that the little feeler goody on the footpeg digs into the pavement. It acts as an anchor and helps keep the bike from sliding too far.

 

[FM]

Tar Snakes
Way back in the (good) old days they used to mix sand in that tar.
That gave tires some grip and some solidity.
I don't see why they can't, sand DON'T cost much.

The same went for painted roadways. Sand or reflective grip was added to the top of the paint.

I always wonder, "Is todays progress, actually going forward?"

:?

__________________
FM . aka:Floyd

 

[jonnypar]

The tires were on the bike when I bought it and the bike has close to 17,000 on it no. They look fairly new and have plenty of tread left but the PO didn't ride very much so the tires may need changing due to the bike sitting.
I plan on putting new tires on before my Colorado trip in late June. I like the tires, they feel a bit hard on some occasions but overall I'm happy after 4,000 miles with them.

 

[wilmo]

I have problems with tar snakes as well and the pea gravel. Around here they like to use both-a lot. The E3s do not handle the snakes well at all. Mine are new tires as well. Will not be getting them again. Hated the dunlops on my scooter as well, Pirellis rule. I just try to avoid them at all costs. Usually by riding in the portions that don't contain them even if it's in the middle of the road. I think the idiots that came up with that ought to have to ride on them on a motorcycle so they can see the errors of their ways.