Tire break in miles ?

New tires are slick. Until the compound gets "roughed up" a bit, you need to keep the gears up and the torque low. Just a little common sense.
I'd rethink the 404's on the Interstate. They are a little light in the load rating. I have 'em on my naked 1000, but I wouldn't run 'em on my Aspy.

A good idea is to have a piece of sand paper or other buffing abrasive to scuff the tires up a little before the first ride. There is usually a slight oil coating on them from the manufacturing process.

I've read rubbing alcohol works, I just ride them myself carefully at the beginning until they break in some.

Thanks, kinda had an idea that's what it was all about. Might try the ideas on roughing them up some before the ride.

New tires have a release compound on them to help them out of the mold when manufactured. All the bike shops I have used in the past that it is gone within 100 miles. Ride gently for those 100, gradually increasing lean.
I have heard of people using different compounds to clean it off, but I would be careful with anything that might adversely afect the rubber. I would just ride it out knowing you have a bit less traction out the door.
Rich

I slap on new tires and just go riding. Not a problem so far for me and I've gone through a few tires, about 6 now. 3 on 1100 and 3 on 1500

Ride them like you stoled them

JeffMayfield said:

I've read rubbing alcohol works, I just ride them myself carefully at the beginning until they break in some.

Click to expand...

I never drink and ride!!! :ROFL::ROFL:

I don't remember much trouble breaking in my 404's. Now my E3's took about 100-150 miles before they felt sticky, but man did they get sticky then. On a side note, if you're getting 404's because of cost, you gotta do what you gotta do (I did), but I can tell you mine only lasted 7000 miles before they were so bad I couldn't hardly ride it. I was VERY unsatisfied with those on my 1200.

rpeters549 said:

New tires have a release compound on them to help them out of the mold when manufactured. All the bike shops I have used in the past that it is gone within 100 miles. Ride gently for those 100, gradually increasing lean.
Rich

Click to expand...

It basically a silicon treatment that makes the tires slippery for a little while, this applies to new car tires as well. Last new tire I was a bit keen just up the road from the shop and it broke loose for a bit, it was just like being on a wet road. It wouldn't be much fun if it was raining on the way home after having new tires fitted. Normally the 20mile ride home is enough to clean them up.

Not a fan of the dun 404's I had..

hey, OP ask to see the manufacture date stamp when buying bike tires! if they older than a year....pass on them.

The new rear tire I recently installed didn't seem to have the slippery mold release compound on it (or that I could detect anyway), which surprised me. Maybe the that particular mfg runs them through a cleaning process before sale(?) Sending them out with badly diminished traction is a mega lawsuit waiting to happen.

I know one bike shop that told me they clean them first. I do not know if they still do.

Got the 404, vast improvement over the trash that was on the bike. We'll see how they do. Thanks for all the advice.

I have never had an issue with new tires. I put em on and ride, now I ride like an old man because well I am an old man

Tire break in? I've lost count of the numbers of tires I've went through, and until now have NEVER heard of such a thing even being mentioned...

NO matter what are the change to your vehicles... ALWAYS use caution whenever you make adjustments/changes, minimally until you have adapted to those changes. Then...? Just go enjoy the ride...

FWIW: In my experience, there is not sufficient mold parting materials remaining on new tires to cause a measurable traction loss on any road surfaces which I've seen tests conducted on. There is more variation in data from one run to the next than can be measured as attributable to mold coatings.

I usually take it easy in the twisties on new tires until I've logged 50 or so miles after that I consider them broke in.

When tyres are fitted to motorcycles in the UK the shop always issues a verbal warning to take it easy for the first 100 miles or so to allow the tyres to get scuffed up, because they advise that they will have reduced traction before then. They do not really give a reason, but they are definitely a bit slippery to start with.

I've never "broken in" tires on anything but a sport bike, and never had a problem. But I get the idea. I would just wash the tires first. I do my own tires, so I always clean the tires and wheels before putting them back on the bike.

The D404 is an economy tire. I would not expect great mileage out of it. The best thing about these tires is the wide range of sizes they come in. You can get them to fit many vintage bikes.