Goo Gone - fixes slippery new tires

[500rider]

I was reading this months Cycle World service section and there was a tip about removing the mold release agent that makes new tires so slippery using Goo Gone.  I've never used this stuff before but I'm guessing it's some kind of de-greaser or solvent that works on the release agent but doesn't hurt the tire compound.  I think there are a number of other products you could use for this as well.

Most of us know that new tires are slippery but are usually content to ride it out until the tires are scrubbed in.  In another post I was complaining about how squirmy(greasy) my new metzlers were.  I will try to clean them up before riding again and see if it makes a difference.  (I have to wait 'till spring since it's -4F out right now).

I always thought the slippery-ness was just a characterisitic of the rubber surface and didn't realize it could be cleaned off.  I feel kind of dumb now.

Rob

[JeffD]

I've heard some people take some fine paper (like 600+grit) and just lightly sand the whole surface.

[70 Cam Guy]

Goo Gone also works great for getting old tape and sticker adhesive off of surfaces.  There's also a product called Goof off (i'm pretty sure that's the name) and that is a stronger version of Goo Gone.  Just be careful because goof off can take paint off.  Goo Gone does a little but not like goof off does.

[JLKasper]

I've also used WD-40 on sidewalls to good effect on brand new tires to clean them.  I sampled a little on the tread, and wiped it dry.  The area was really tacky, but I decuded that lacquer thinner was a more prudent choice.  

[dgyver]

Why waste your time and money cleaning your tire surface? In less than a couple of miles my tires have been scuffed in just fine. Usually get to full lean after the 3rd or 4th turn after both sides have been progressively scuffed more each turn. Never had a problem with slipping due to the mold release left on the tires. This goes for both street and race tires.

[500rider]

Maybe it's something else then but I put the tires on in August and road a few hundred miles.  I do like to lean into the turns (not too agressively) but the tires seem to feel like they are slipping a little when I get into the chicken strips and I have to make a sudden correction.  I didn't feel that when I still had the stock tires on.  Maybe I just need to have more faith that the tires will stick. :dunno:

Rob

[dgyver]

Air pressure of the tires will have something to do with how "slippery" the tires feel. Try lowering the pressure a little. The higher the pressure the smaller the contact patch. Which Metzelers are you running?

[The Buddha]

yes some people are too lazy to ride... but gasoline will get the mold release (similar to silicone spray) off. Use a towel soaked in gas and spin the tire, dont get it on the chain.
Cool.
Srinath.

[KevinC]

I wonder why the factories don't clean that crap off? Might save a few crashes.

[500rider]

I am running ME330 110/70 on the front and ME550 130/70 on the rear.  I've been riding for about three seasons so I may just lack some confidence that the tires will stick.  However it does sometimes feel like I rode over something slippery if I lean the bike over too far.  Like I wrote before, I didn't get that feeling on the stockers before I switched over. The old tires were scrubbed to within about 1/4" of the edge so I know I am not using the whole tire.  I still have about 1/2" on the Metzelers because of that slippery feeling.  

Rob

[pantablo]

if you've ridden a few hundred miles you've already burned/etc. off the mold release agent. You dont have to actually have every inch of the tires width physically scrubbed to release agent. it doesnt actually work that way. Any gentle riding more than highway riding will release the entire agent from the tire.

If you get a slippery feeling it could be various reasons ranging from you riding harder, bigger tread blocks "moving" under load, etc.

[JohNLA]

I am running a 140/70 ME550 on the rear and it took a good 500 or so miles before it seemed stable for me.
The good news is at 7k miles it looks looks like it will far out last the stocker. That went at 9K miles.

[KevinC]

Racers usually get one lap - maybe 2  to 3 km - to scrub in a set of tires. I can't imagine why it would take 500 miles.

[JohNLA]

Could have been my imagination or maybe I just wasn't used to the taller profile :dunno:

[Rich500]

I just do a sick burnout on the rear as soon as I leave the lot.
As for the front, I try not keep it on the ground anyway...