Hi Guys,
Is there any way to fix squared tires? Can a tire service scrub the edge somehow?
Otherwise I will train figures of 8 until it's good again :-)
Cheers
Safe riding
Ride on more twisty roads. :yes:
The other option is to change them to PR4 GT's :banana:
I saw a concave inverted file in a shop the other week.
You basically get the bike up on the centre stand and spin the wheel whilst apply light pressure with the file on the corner of the tread.
I tried it on mine and it works a treat. Hopefully get more miles out of me tyres now. :feedback:
Quote from: Débs on January 19, 2015, 11:20:56 AM
Ride on more twisty roads. :yes:
The other option is to change them to PR4 GT's :banana:
:agree:
Quote from: markmacd on January 19, 2015, 11:30:33 AM
I saw a concave inverted file in a shop the other week.
You basically get the bike up on the centre stand and spin the wheel whilst apply light pressure with the file on the corner of the tread.
I tried it on mine and it works a treat. Hopefully get more miles out of me tyres now. :feedback:
I'd like to see a vid of that...
Lizard, get yourself over to the Yorkshire Dales, ask for me. And I'll show how to round off your squares. It normally takes just one fine weekend. :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
If they are the OEM Bridge :shit: then bin them and fit some decent tyres. I rounded off my front BT021 and made it last 7k miles. Wish I'd binned them at 2500 miles.
Thanks guys! I am actually thinking about PR4 GTs. My rear tyre is BT021 but the front is Bridgestone T30 GT, which should not get the squaring.
Quote from: markmacd on January 19, 2015, 11:30:33 AM
I saw a concave inverted file in a shop the other week.
You basically get the bike up on the centre stand and spin the wheel whilst apply light pressure with the file on the corner of the tread.
I tried it on mine and it works a treat. Hopefully get more miles out of me tyres now. :feedback:
Hi, that sounds interesting. Could you please post a photo or name of its manufacturer? Is it a DIY solution or a motorcycle solution? Sorry, new to this completely. I actually hate the fact that the tires are expensive, do not last, slip, get squared which leads me to fear of cornering.
You can still corner, just makes a bit of noise.
So I looked again on the Michelins PR4 GTs and decided to purchase them. I still have a question - I am afraid of cornering on wet surface. I am afraid I will get a skid and fall. What is your experience with skidding on a wet surface? Would you for example corner cautiously or you do not think about it at all? I am quite afraid whenever the angle needs to be bigger - this is on wet surface. I was told also that the squared tyres do not help the confidence, as there is the edge. Do these tyres help on the wet surface during cornering? I read they have a softer surface on the sides to help cornering. Would you use some technique how to recognize the grip during current conditions when you ride?
I have had the PR4 tyres now twice on my GTR and will go again later this year, i have found even in the really wet i can be stable all the time, even on a smooth wet surface in Germany last year with diesel on the roundabout they not only gripped but when i lost traction opening the throttle to much the traction control kicked in and worked a treat.
Overall i can say I never manage to get the PR4 tyres to let go, ok i dont ride likea GP rider but when "up norf" with 100milesaway and OC who ride at a good pace all over the place i manage to keep up, so have no worries about the PR4 tyre.
Alan
Quote from: lizard555 on January 22, 2015, 09:28:47 AM
So I looked again on the Michelins PR4 GTs and decided to purchase them. I still have a question - I am afraid of cornering on wet surface. I am afraid I will get a skid and fall. What is your experience with skidding on a wet surface? Would you for example corner cautiously or you do not think about it at all? I am quite afraid whenever the angle needs to be bigger - this is on wet surface. I was told also that the squared tyres do not help the confidence, as there is the edge. Do these tyres help on the wet surface during cornering? I read they have a softer surface on the sides to help cornering. Would you use some technique how to recognize the grip during current conditions when you ride?
The only real issue is your in your head.
Modern tyres will grip almost as well in the wet as in the dry, all you need is confidence in them.
Best way to start to gain that confidence is to understand the physics.
Tyres have a tread pattern built into them. Daft as it is, the tread pattern isn't what creates the grip. Grip comes from the rubber compound gripping the road surface. The tread pattern is designed to allow the rubber bits to do their job in wet conditions.
What they do is channel the water away. As the solid rubber hits the water it would fail to adhere to the road as it would be a barrier (aquaplaning). The water is squeezed into the tread grooves and as this occurs the rubber then grips onto the surface. The edges of the tread effectively 'cut' through the water.
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r183/Hoody_photo/Tyre%20aqua_zpsffmglqtx.jpg) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/Hoody_photo/media/Tyre%20aqua_zpsffmglqtx.jpg.html)
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r183/Hoody_photo/tyre%20aqua%202_zpszalmt8bu.png) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/Hoody_photo/media/tyre%20aqua%202_zpszalmt8bu.png.html)
Tyres such as the PR series 3 & 4 have sipes in them. These are very fine grooves which feed the water out of the main tread so water doesn't get the opportunity when it's torrential to build up. The bonus of this is that it clear normal water more effectively, stops the water cooling the tyre, and gives a better feedback and grip. This is one of the reasons the PR's feel better in the wet. It's the same technology used on winter tyres for cars to disperse the water before it re-freezes.
Now about that head?!
Trust the tyres that they're doing their thing!
When riding in the wet make a conscious effort to relax. Drop your shoulders. Let your elbows flex. Gentle grip on the handlebar grips, think holding a bird type level of grip (I mean sparrow btw?!).
Make sure you get your speed down in a straight line before entering the bend/corner/hazard.
Use all three brakes.
Throttle off (engine brake).
Rear brake and front brake at 50/50%, again gently and not harshly.
Take the appropriate gear, bring revs up to match the road speed (blip or hold throttle slight open as you let the clutch out). Consider a gear higher than you normally would use as the idea is not to lose traction. Too low a gear make cause wheel spin.
As you take the hazard remain relaxed and drop the leading shoulder/elbow into it.
This will help balance the bike, keeping it slightly more upright.
Keep throttle feathered/slightly open through the hazard as this will generate grip using the torque, breaking the surface of the water allowing the tyres to work.
Best way to learn is to get out when it's raining and practice when you have no time constraints (i.e. not going to work when it starts raining).
Three point advice is understand what the tyres are doing, relax and be gentle with the controls.
T.R.UST. - Tyres - Relax - Use Suitable Traction
thanks you guys, you are very helpful
Chris,
One thing I've never understood though is the direction of the sipes on the front tyre of a PR4. Its as though they squirt the water inwards ! :eek:
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r183/Hoody_photo/MICHELIN%20Pilot%20Road%204_EMa0253_w387_h580_zpsbxwx1u4a.jpg) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/Hoody_photo/media/MICHELIN%20Pilot%20Road%204_EMa0253_w387_h580_zpsbxwx1u4a.jpg.html)
As the tyre rolls the rubber block in contact with the road will grip. This will open the sipe and give the water somewhere to go into as the bow wave is created (remember this is happening in a split nano second!)
As the next block touches the road it will replicate previous block opening it's leading edge. Obviously the rear edge will close squeezing whatever water is there either into the larger channels or backwards as the wheel rotates.
Channels alone wouldn't clear the water as well. On the sides of the tyre there are alternate channels and sipes, staggered that lead into either another channel or a small circle. When leaned over the water will dissapate in the sipes to the larger channels either toward the centre or out to the edge, alternately spredaing the water either way to ensure even dispersal and therefore even grip.
Quote from: Débs on January 19, 2015, 11:20:56 AM
Ride on more twisty roads. :yes:
The other option is to change them to PR4 GT's :banana:
debs , you are on fire today and I like it
Not sure Id feel happy by taking a file to my rear tyre, just buy new, even good ones are not expensive
Another vote for PR4 GT tyres here. They are without doubt the best tyres I've had on a road bike. In the wet they give lots of grip and in all conditions they roll nicely into bends (no sudden changes of angle you get with some more triangular profiles). Compared with the stuff we had at the end of the 70s and early 80s modern tyres are an absolute miracle in design and construction.
Squared tyres will destroy confidence as they 'fall' into corners, however they can also come about due to a lack of confidence and keeping the bike upright all the time. A bit of chicken and egg (well almost). Incorrect tyre pressures can also square off tyres very quickly.
So far I've only used the PR3's on a GTR and they do transform the bike. Give it a month or two and I'll be getting the PR4's GT for the Beemer. It's a no brainer!
Quote from: viper on January 22, 2015, 04:50:12 PM
debs , you are on fire today and I like it
It makes sense Viper.
Filing the tread down on the sides wont give you more tyre life. It will still wear down the middle.. The only way we can make them last longer is by doing some twisty roads.
Quote from: Débs on January 23, 2015, 06:52:05 AM
It makes sense Viper.
Filing the tread down on the sides wont give you more tyre life. It will still wear down the middle.. The only way we can make them last longer is by doing some twisty roads.
:agree: never had 'chicken strips' on my tyres
Quote from: O.C. on January 23, 2015, 09:30:40 AM
:agree: never had 'chicken strips' on my tyres
People get too hung up on chicken strips, ride your own ride and don't worry about such matters. Enjoy the fact that your health is such that you can still ride and enjoy the freedom of two wheels.
The expression Chicken Strips is so annoying.
It implies someone is 'chicken', a poor rider, lacking ability etc.
Look at chicken strips as your safety margin.
Once you run out of rubber you're off. By having half a centimetre of rubber left on the edge you have some insurance if you have to 'push' harder through a bend (misread/tightens up).
Quote from: Winston Smith on January 23, 2015, 02:20:53 PM
The expression Chicken Strips is so annoying.
It implies someone is 'chicken', a poor rider, lacking ability etc.
Look at chicken strips as your safety margin.
Once you run out of rubber you're off. By having half a centimetre of rubber left on the edge you have some insurance if you have to 'push' harder through a bend (misread/tightens up).
Agreed, and thankfully it's not an expression originated up by me Chris, it does however provide/paint a picture of the outer area of a tyre that is generally unused :yes:
Quote from: The Wolf on January 23, 2015, 10:06:16 AM
People get too hung up on chicken strips, ride your own ride and don't worry about such matters. Enjoy the fact that your health is such that you can still ride and enjoy the freedom of two wheels.
A bit like 'laying a darkie' eh Steve :whistling:
Interestingly having gone from a set of PR3 to PR4 the amount of rubber used has diminished.
The PR3s were worn completely to the edge, whereas the PR4s have a 0.75cm area untouched around the edges. My riding style has not changed one bit and the bike is being leaned over just the same as before. It must be down to the slightly different profile.
Quote from: O.C. on January 24, 2015, 09:34:28 AM
Agreed, and thankfully it's not an expression originated up by me Chris, it does however provide/paint a picture of the outer area of a tyre that is generally unused :yes:
A bit like 'laying a darkie' eh Steve :whistling:
You can't say that, that's racist, I've told you about that before. There is no way you could come to Bradford and say that you've laid a darkie, you'd end up in A&E at Bradford Royal Infirmary and that's an experience in itself!!! :popcorn:
Quote from: The Wolf on January 24, 2015, 04:38:00 PM
You can't say that, that's racist, I've told you about that before. There is no way you could come to Bradford and say that you've laid a darkie, you'd end up in A&E at Bradford Royal Infirmary and that's an experience in itself!!! :popcorn:
:mfr_lol: What are you telling me waiting times aren't less than 4 hours for 95% of the visitors....blimey.......in North Yorkshire you can be seen within 15 minutes ......yeah right :sweatdrop:
Actually myself and Geoff visited a friend in BRI only last month :yes:
Quote from: The Wolf on January 23, 2015, 10:06:16 AM
People get too hung up on chicken strips, ride your own ride and don't worry about such matters. Enjoy the fact that your health is such that you can still ride and enjoy the freedom of two wheels.
i :agree: 2 of my so called pal's keep on about my so called chicken strip's,in my case turkey strip's,i ride to the best of my ability,don't really care what other's think.i wouldn't want to end up in one of these :wheelchair:
Quote from: STX1300man on January 24, 2015, 11:13:04 AM
Interestingly having gone from a set of PR3 to PR4 the amount of rubber used has diminished.
The PR3s were worn completely to the edge, whereas the PR4s have a 0.75cm area untouched around the edges. My riding style has not changed one bit and the bike is being leaned over just the same as before. It must be down to the slightly different profile.
Ahh so its not just me then :mfr_lol:
Quote from: tapps on January 24, 2015, 05:39:09 PM
i :agree: 2 of my so called pal's keep on about my so called chicken strip's,in my case turkey strip's,i ride to the best of my ability,don't really care what other's think.i wouldn't want to end up in one of these :wheelchair:
You could still end up in one these :wheelchair: even without having a spill on a bike. But you are right. Never ride above your skill levels.
Quote from: Ant on January 22, 2015, 03:47:44 PM
Chris,
One thing I've never understood though is the direction of the sipes on the front tyre of a PR4. Its as though they squirt the water inwards ! :eek:
Also the sipes will only be good for the first few hundred miles in any case, as after that time they will be worn away as the sipes are not cut as deep as the thread on the tyre.
Quote from: markmacd on January 25, 2015, 11:52:04 AM
At last someone talking sense on a tyre thread. ALL modern tyres are pretty fantastic, and if you fitted any of em to a bike in the IOM, then put someone who is half good on the bike they would LAP the course at 100 mph, with no problem at all. And that fact says to me that, they are all brilliant road tyres for the masses. :yes: :banana: