New Tires are SLIIIIIIIIPPERY!!!!

[lancelotvt]

First some back ground info. I have used Metzler Sportec M3 tires for the last couple of sets on my Suzuki Bandit 1200. Even when they were new and still had the slick compound on them they gripped like crazy. The only downfall was I couldn't get more than 5500 to 6000 miles out of them, and for the price of them I can't afford it. So this time I'm trying the Bridgestone Battleaxe BT 021, which is supposed to be a dual compound tire and give the tire a longer life. Now I new from the start that this tire is probably not going to grip quite as well as the sportecs, but I didn't realize how much different these tires were until last evening. I Left work last evening, and was trying to do a couple of errands after work before a massive rain storm hit then I was going to meet my fiance at the local resturant for dinner and wait out the passing storm before heading home. Well I leave the parking lot and head up the street to the gas station around the corner where I usually fill up. I'm not horsing the bike, but I'm moving just a touch faster than the traffic around me. At the intersection where I was supposed to turn there is a little exit ramp type shortcut so you can bypass the traffic lights. I'm rolling up on this thing pretty quickly so I roll of the throttle and get on the brakes before I start heading in to the corner, well I was still carrying a bit more speed than I felt comfortable with for the corner and the new tires so I backed of the brakes slightly, and trail braked it slightly as I started rolling in to the corner, and the back wheel all of a sudden just locked . No warning that it was close to locking or anything, one moment it was turning, a split second later it's locked up, and the back end comes out about 35 degrees. This is with the road dry. Thank god I'm used to riding dirt bikes and sliding the back wheel around some. I immediately started rolling gently off the back brake and the bike straightened out without snapping back too violently. Then about 5 minutes later I got caught in a monsoon like downpour (Without my rain gear. ), and discovered that it's like driving on ice with these new tires when the roads are wet. I've never been so nervous in my life. I guess I have a bit of adjusting to do.

Sorry for the long story.

Be safe out there folks. (Especially when trying out different tires than what you're used to)

[Box]

New rubber takes about 100 miles to break in, until then it will be slippery no matter what type of tire it is.

[lancelotvt]

Hey Box,

Yeah, I'm well aware of that. It seems that these tires are taking a bit longer than the 100 miles to break in as I had about 200 miles on them when this happened.

[Box]

Sorry about that, I thought you were saying you just put them on, my mistake.

[janeika1]

I tell you what, you did much better than I ever would have. I'd have had to lay it down and file a claim! LOL!! Good job on your quick thinking!

[lancelotvt]

Originally Posted by janeika1

I tell you what, you did much better than I ever would have. I'd have had to lay it down and file a claim! LOL!! Good job on your quick thinking!

No problem. I wasn't trying to be retaliatory or anything. I just can't believe how slippery these tires still are at this point. Guess I'll have to carve a few more twisties, and break them in. I love having an excuse to ride harder.

[sbg8r]

well I know in cars tires the stickier they are, they will not last long, same in a sport bike, I rather have them sticky when I need than to have them last 10,000 miles

[sbg8r]

oh great save by the way

[Saleenguy]

Scuffing them up all over with sandpaper really helps.

[lancelotvt]

When I was running the Sportecs I didn't worry about the tires so much even when new, because they gripped like mad due to the softer compound. But I've never ridden on a dedicated sport touring tire with the harder rubber compound so it's just taking me a bit more time to adjust.

[soc_monki]

harder tires are never going to grip as well as the softer ones. laws of physics! take your time with them and youll learn how they respond and handle. you may just decide that they arent worth it and go back to the other ones. 5500 miles sounds pretty good, seeing as a lot of people wear theirs out in about 2500-3000! ive got the stock BT015's on my bike (i think theyre 15's...) and they seem just fine, rain or shine. dont know if ill put a different set on after i wear them out, but im not too worried about that right now!

[KevyzToy]

From what my tire guy tells me, Metzler doesn't use a releasing agent in their tire molds. If you look at at new M3, their are little round spots that look like water drops all around the tire. They blow air into them to release them from the molds.

Getting 5500 - 6000 from an M3 is good. I usually get about 6k from them on my ZRX. I'm all for stickiness over mileage. If you want a good "sport touring" tire, try the Metzler Z6. They stick fantastic and you get high miles from them. I'm not a big fan of Bridgestone. The 020's that came on my ZRX were hard as rocks.

[DammitMike]

I just replaced my 600r's rear tire with a battlax bt45 and the exact same thing happened. I had maybe 40 miles on it and I was following my buddy on a ride this past weekend. The connection to his brake light has been a little touchy lately and I didn't notice that it had gone out during the ride. All of a sudden I am coming up on him pretty quickly and I start to apply the brakes, nothing too drastic and I even felt as though I was especially light on the rear brake. Rear wheel locks up and starts sliding out around 45mph! Luckily after soiling myself I was able to ride it out and come to a stop. We then proceeded to tack on another 60 miles to round out the 100 mile break in (although after reading this I will continue to take it easy on this tire for a couple hundred more miles). Glad to hear you didn't lay her down.

[B.O.A.T.]

I've seen guys take a propane torch to new tires. I've never done it myself but I hear it really works.

[lancelotvt]

Update on the slippery tires.

I have about 400 miles on the tires now since I've installed them, and just finally got a chance to start seeing how they will handle in the corners. They are gripping much better than they were in the first 200 miles. They still don't feel as grippy as the metzlers, but I was expecting that anyways. However I'm still able to lean the bike over to the point where I'm almost scraping my boots on the pavement, so it's all good.

[92NinjaZX6]

Originally Posted by B.O.A.T.

I've seen guys take a propane torch to new tires. I've never done it myself but I hear it really works.

I think its more fun to do a burnout instead dont ya think? hehe On a another note, i too heard somewhere Metzeler doesnt use mold release agent oil on their tires which is why it isnt all that slippery like most other tires.

[Nightwisher]

5500 to 6000 actually sounds pretty good for miles on a tire. Personally I will pay a little extra for more grip, even if it means sacrificing some tread life. I want to feel confident in the grip I have on corners.

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by Nightwisher

5500 to 6000 actually sounds pretty good for miles on a tire. Personally I will pay a little extra for more grip, even if it means sacrificing some tread life. I want to feel confident in the grip I have on corners.

Agreed.....I wish mine would last that long....one day of hard riding on twisty roads and the tires are done.

My last trip to the kootenays had me looking for new tires on the ride home, despite fresh rubber the day before i left.

[92NinjaZX6]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

Agreed.....I wish mine would last that long....one day of hard riding on twisty roads and the tires are done.

My last trip to the kootenays had me looking for new tires on the ride home, despite fresh rubber the day before i left.

How many miles did this happen in? Eating up tires in 1-2 days without burnouts sounds near impossible to do on street tires. I dont ride my bike much so i guess the tires would last me alot longer. I too would rather have a stickier faster wearing tire because i would rather have that extra grip available just in case. I guess the only way id consider a longer wear tire is if i commuted alot on the bike in which i dont.

[KevyzToy]

Originally Posted by 92NinjaZX6

On a another note, i too heard somewhere Metzeler doesnt use mold release agent oil on their tires which is why it isnt all that slippery like most other tires.

If ya read about 4 posts above yours, you will see I said the same thing.