raydawg
Serious Thumper
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SuzukiSavage.com Rocks!
Posts: 11551
pacific northwest
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Dave, I think you explained the rubber component of a tire about as good as anyone can, thanks.
I wonder if you should address tread pattern?
Here is a C&P of a goggled article:
Tread Pattern and Compound
Tread pattern is the outer part of the tire and in contact with the road. The profile of a tire and the rubber compound chosen is based on the use of the tire. Generally, street motorcycle tires with a harder rubber compound get better gas mileage but don’t stick to the road as well. The softer the rubber compound, the grippier a tire is, at the sacrifice of gas mileage.
Tread has everything to do with the circumstances you’ll be driving in most. A treadless racing slick will stick to the road like glue but is useless in the rain. Tread is needed for traction in wet conditions. That’s why off-road tires have a very high tread. It enables them to maintain traction in the mud and deal with the adverse geography of off-road riding.
Tread builds up heat within a tire and reduces its effectiveness. An all-round tire has a light tread with a medium-hard compound base. This arrangement allows it to travel many miles without breaking down fast and provides stability in varying conditions.
And one final but EXTREMELY important thing to remember about tires, they are all pretty useless if not inflated to, and maintained religiously, at the proper PSI.
Keep a pocket gauge clipped to the bike, or body, where you can readily check, as you do your fuel. If you keep it in your tool box, like I use to, I would use the excuse, Next time, well I almost didn't get a next time, as I got so complacent I almost rolled it off the rim in the first hard turn one morning....
Yes, I should have been more in tune with my bike, I should have caught the "softness" upon the way she was tracking, etc.
Remember, most of us have a 4 wheel mindset with much larger tire air capacity tires, a few pounds low in one of the four will not have the same effect and consequences as one of two... as volume is the critical component. It may seem like no big deal, two pounds low, percentage wise, it is HUGE.
Tires are, in a sense, our life line to a safe ride, it really is the most important element of our ride after our mental readiness.
Thanks for a great topic Dave, this is why SSC rocks!
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