Tyres that have squared off ..

[Deleted Member I]

After my 'ard arse tour, my not so new Battlewings have really squared off. just over 5000 miles on them now.

ON the ride home from Folkestone in the wet .. the front end was really "loose". The sensation is that the steering is really light and it easily wobbles.

I had a look at the tyres themselves. They have a nice square section in the middle BUT there is still thread in them.

Is that normal for squared off tyres? or Battlewings?

Do I need to adjust my riding for this? Don't want to ride all this way only to slip down in Slough centre

Thanks in advance for advice!

 

[John Armstrong]

The problem AFAIK is that instead of gently and progressive roll in when turning, you have to roll across a ridge of tyre

Something like, roll a tennis ball, easy, try and roll a square box, can be done but it's not easy. Rather an extreme example but hopefully illustrates what happens

 

[Deleted Member I]

The problem AFAIK is that instead of gently and progressive roll in when turning, you have to roll across a ridge of tyre

Something like, roll a tennis ball, easy, try and roll a square box, can be done but it's not easy. Rather an extreme example but hopefully illustrates what happens

Is there a reason for the front/steering to feel so loose and wobble?
That's going in a straight line.

 

[John Armstrong]

Is there a reason for the front/steering to feel so loose and wobble?
That's going in a straight line.

I wouldn't have thought so.

With a squared off tyre there's more tyre in contact when in a straight line and so I'd guess the front would feel heavier

Wasn't particularily windy or ridges from trucks on the roads or very wet or some kind soul had backed the rear pre-load down to the minimum? Pure guesses BTW

 

[Bronco Billy]

Sounds dodgy mate .... get steppers to have a look at it sharpish.

 

[bisbee]

When I first had my bike it had a squared off michelin anakee on the rear and was awful to try and turn in it did seem to affect the front anyway so I binned it and had some conti road attacks fitted the transformation was remarkable so do you fit a new tyre or find a big roundabout and go round it lots of times

 

[Wapping]

Is there a reason for the front/steering to feel so loose and wobble?
That's going in a straight line.

Tom, do not worry.

Your tyres have squared off, nothing more, nothing less, after 4000 odd miles of riding, much of it upright, often at high motorway speeds, carrying luggage.

You always get the same effect, you just don't notice it normally, as it's very rare to do 4k in nine days. The wear normally creeps up on you, as it were. It's rather like suspension that goes off. You often don't notice, until you ride a new bike, just how crap it has got.

The uneven / flattened wear on the tyres (and any worn tyres) will track uneven road surfaces, more than a fresh tyre. You can get twitches on white lines, for instance. The effect is always there, it's just now more noticeable, that's all. It may feel like you are moving miles, as when you run over overbanding, but you are not.

The most noticeable effect is on corners. On a fresh rounded tyre the tyre literally rolls over on its nice rounded shape. Your tyres, mine, and everyone else's are squared off. It now has to cross the lip of the flat portion to get to the rounded side. It may feel like the bike leans, then suddenly falls sideways or it takes more effort to turn the bike. It is not life threatening.

You can try rounding the tyres again, but you will need to get out swinging around lots of left and right bends for miles (most bikes spend most of their life more or less upright).

I sell my squared off tyres on the site, to commuters into London. Some (from the Morocco trip) went just last week to a site member. They are fine for commuting.

Treat yourself to some new tyres if you are bothered.

 

[Deleted Member I]

I think you are right about the luggage .. The effect of the "loose" front end was worst/most noticeable was when I was almost out of fuel. Once fully fuelled, it was a lot better. Seem to balance the weight.

Will change tyres just before my Italy trip. So just want to make these last until then. Will just be more careful when riding around

 

[Stanley Knife]

Just read a tip over on ADV rider concerning squared off tyres.

The guy recommended putting the bike on the centre stand and with the aid of an assistant spinning the back wheel on the throttle while using a Surform file on the tyre to round it off again!,he reckoned it gave the tyre a new lease of life.

He did leave several health and safety disclaimers though

 

[MMC]

You'll probably have done this already Tom, but have you checked the pressure on the front?

As Mr Wapping says, probably simply 'square tyre syndrome', but worth a poke with the gauge all the same

 

[JDH]

After my 'ard arse tour, my not so new Battlewings have really squared off. just over 5000 miles on them now.

ON the ride home from Folkestone in the wet .. the front end was really "loose". The sensation is that the steering is really light and it easily wobbles.

I had a look at the tyres themselves. They have a nice square section in the middle BUT there is still thread in them.

Is that normal for squared off tyres? or Battlewings?

Do I need to adjust my riding for this? Don't want to ride all this way only to slip down in Slough centre

Thanks in advance for advice!

Do a track day!

 

[cookie]

Just read a tip over on ADV rider concerning squared off tyres.

The guy recommended putting the bike on the centre stand and with the aid of an assistant spinning the back wheel on the throttle while using a Surform file on the tyre to round it off again!,he reckoned it gave the tyre a new lease of life.

He did leave several health and safety disclaimers though

is it 1st April already?

 

[spot]

A bit off topic but Novice, you suggest getting new tyres Just before you go to italy . your last trip has left you with squared off effectively knackered tyres. This is a serious question so please keep the piss taking to a minimum but would it be better to get new tyres when you get back? I off on a long trip soon and am considering putting the first few thousand motorway miles in on my already squared off tyres and maybe buying new tyres somewhere abroad. It seems that tyres usually need changing because of squirming etc well before reaching the minimum legal tread. Wouldnt it make sense to take them right down to the bone on a long boring motorway ride? ok that ride will be at the legal max + but is a tyre more likely to suffer a blow out just because its squared off and reaching its legal minimum?

 

[cookie]

It seems that tyres usually need changing because of squirming etc well before reaching the minimum legal tread.

i change mine when they get to 2mm at thinnest tread depth.

never been that bothered by "squared off" tyres. sure, a new set is nice, but hardly essential.

just done nearly 500 miles to wales and back, including about 250 in some fairly awful wet conditions on back roads. can't say i had any problem at all with my near knackered (2.5mm) tourances. better than TKCs anyway

maybe i'm just not the sensitive type

 

[Deleted Member I]

A bit off topic but Novice, you suggest getting new tyres Just before you go to italy . your last trip has left you with squared off effectively knackered tyres. This is a serious question so please keep the piss taking to a minimum but would it be better to get new tyres when you get back? I off on a long trip soon and am considering putting the first few thousand motorway miles in on my already squared off tyres and maybe buying new tyres somewhere abroad. It seems that tyres usually need changing because of squirming etc well before reaching the minimum legal tread. Wouldnt it make sense to take them right down to the bone on a long boring motorway ride? ok that ride will be at the legal max + but is a tyre more likely to suffer a blow out just because its squared off and reaching its legal minimum?

hmmm ... that sounds like a good idea. Will have a mull over it and see how the tyres are by June.

 

[Gipsy]

Really can't see the point in having a really nice bike and not getting as much enjoyment out of riding it as possible. If money permits get new rubber and get the grin back!