New tires on my VFR today

[SerraMesaBill]

I've had Michelin Pilot 2 on my VFR sense I bought it a year ago. I put about 4000 miles on it and I liked the way it handled and rode. Today I had 2 new Michelin Pilot Power 5 tires on and I had no clue my VFR could ride and handle so good. Seriously, though no way I could keep up with those little rice rocket in the twisties. But damn, this is like I'm riding an entirely different machine, Very impressed with these tires.

 

[dduelin]

The Road series of tires are top shelf. On the other hand the PR2 hasn't been current for maybe 9 or 10 years so I'm not surprised you can tell a difference. I wonder how old the PR2s you replaced were.

 

[Obo]

Don't forget those new puppies likely still have mold release agent on them and are more slippery than normal!!

You need to break them in cautiously

 

[Sadlsor]

While it is still prudent to scrub in new tyres for 100 or so miles, before cutting loose, it's my understanding that fewer manufacturers are actually using "mold release" today.
I don't know which specific hoop-makers may still use it, but either way I will continue to be easier in my riding styles until they are scuffed-looking.
Not saying I'm an expert on new tyres. Or much of anything, really.
The feel of new quality shoes IS a delight, is it not?

 

[paulcb]

While it is still prudent to scrub in new tyres for 100 or so miles, before cutting loose, it's my understanding that fewer manufacturers are actually using "mold release" today.
I don't know which specific hoop-makers may still use it, but either way I will continue to be easier in my riding styles until they are scuffed-looking.
Not saying I'm an expert on new tyres. Or much of anything, really.
The feel of new quality shoes IS a delight, is it not?

I've read the same... no major tire manufacturer uses mold release anymore, and hasn't for many years. None of the new tires I've ordered in the past 8 years have had anything noticeable on them either. I still gradually scrub them in though.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

From what I have read, most of the major brand manufacturers no longer use any release agent or they use so little that it is irrelevant. A break-in period is still required however. It seems that what goes on when breaking in a tire is a more complex than we are aware of and it is still required, presence a release agent or not, to generate sufficient heat to complete the chemical process of curing the tire.

From the manufacturers.

 

[OkieRider]

Yup - it's heat cycles now.

 

[Obo]

OK, so I sit corrected. Maybe it's the shiny ArmourAll based tire lube they put on them to make them all purdy lookin'...

 

[SerraMesaBill]

The Road series of tires are top shelf. On the other hand the PR2 hasn't been current for maybe 9 or 10 years so I'm not surprised you can tell a difference. I wonder how old the PR2s you replaced were.

haven't a clue, but the owner of the shop who replace them commented that they were older tires. They didn't appear to be that old.

 

[SerraMesaBill]

It also told me to make sure I break them in or they with leave me rubbing my ass. So There awesome and I really haven't given them a fair run yet.

 

[OkieRider]

haven't a clue, but the owner of the shop who replace them commented that they were older tires. They didn't appear to be that old.

There's actually a date of manufacture on the side wall. Year and week in which it was made in a 4 digit code. Google it for examples and placement.

 

[Larry Fine]

It will say DOT, maybe a couple of letters, then a four-digit code.

The first two digits are the week of the year the second two are the year.

Example: 2719 would be the 27th week of 2019.