Learned something new yesterday... Antenna Tread on tires

paulcb

paulcb

- - - Tetelestai - - - R.I.P. - 2022/05/26
Rest In Peace
Joined
Jun 4, 2013
Messages
4,638
Location
Celina, TX
Bike
'97/'01 ST1100 ABSII
STOC #
8735
Antenna Tread... this little bit of tire technology has somehow escaped me all these years...

www.motorcyclistonline.com

What Is Antenna Tread?

Have you noticed that thin line around the circumference of the rear tire, right in the middle of the tread? READ MORE...
www.motorcyclistonline.com www.motorcyclistonline.com

www.revzilla.com

Ari’s answers: All about tires, part II - RevZilla

Did you know tires have something called “antenna tread”? And expiration dates?
www.revzilla.com www.revzilla.com

1633441396195.png
 
Thank you! I had no idea and just assumed that this line was somehow where the mold had a seam in the manufacturing process. Fascinating!
 
Tire manufacturers should explain/educate customers better (and their customer service reps) about this. I've seen threads where neither the customer nor the customer service representative for the tire manufacturer knew about this feature and thought the tire was defective. They often end up scrapping perfectly good tires.
 
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I've seen more than that one line on many tires. That particular line I've known about for a long time. Working in computers all my career I am very well aware of static and know a little about how it builds up and is discharged. Some older cars I've had as well as many older cars my parents had didn't have this line on their tires and when climbing out of the car and your leg just barely touches the rocker panel you would get slight shock as you also touch the ground.

As I said there are often more than just this one line on a new tire. Sometimes you will see color line that is a little bit wider, maybe 1/8 inch or 1/4 inch (.3 cm to .6 cm) that is yellow-ish or tan or red-ish or some other color that is usually located off the center of the tread. This is sometimes how a tire maker identifies the tire size or type or some other such thing and used by the maker to identify tires as they are stacked in the warehouse since they cannot see the sidewall.
 
Oh goody, now I can cancel the anti-static straps I have ordered.

Actually, we would probably be complaining if they weren't there.
 
In the tire compound they have added silica to give us the amazing traction that we have today. But there is also carbon which is evenly distributed through out the compound. This carbon is the conductor that dissipates any static buildup. So that if any point of the tire is touching the ground the bike is fully grounded. Who would think that a joke would later become the truth....
So you learned that somethings you read may not be true.... Where are the fact checkers....
 
paulcb said:
Antenna Tread... this little bit of tire technology has somehow escaped me all these years...

www.motorcyclistonline.com

What Is Antenna Tread?

Have you noticed that thin line around the circumference of the rear tire, right in the middle of the tread? READ MORE...
www.motorcyclistonline.com www.motorcyclistonline.com

www.revzilla.com

Ari’s answers: All about tires, part II - RevZilla

Did you know tires have something called “antenna tread”? And expiration dates?
www.revzilla.com www.revzilla.com

1633441396195.png
Click to expand...
Wow learned something new today.
Very interesting.
 
I had no idea! In the 60's we had rubberized straps that would drag on the ground under cars to prevent static electric shocks when entering and exiting the car.
 
When I was growing up, they claimed grounding straps on vehicles prevented car sickness. No idea if it works.

RT
 
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