Your motorcycle tires need just as much care as those on your car. After you take the old tires off, you want to know the best ways for breaking in new motorcycle tires.
In this guide, we look at how long to break in new motorcycle tires and show you the steps you should take.
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Why Break In New Motorcycle Tires? (Important Reasons)
To Scuff Up The Tread To Develop Traction & Grip
You want to know the best way to break in new motorcycle tires to enhance traction and grip on the road. Without the optimal grip, your motorcycle safety is compromised. The tires are glossy and slick when they come from the factory. This finish isn’t going to do well on the road, especially if the surface is slippery.
Instead, you need time to get the tread scuffed up. By developing the traction, you can improve the grip on the road, even if the surface gets a little slick. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long for the tread to be ready for any condition.
To Allow The Rider To Get Used To The Handling Of The New Tire
When the motorcycle tires are brand-new, the compounds haven’t had the chance to fully combine. Each tire is made from a variety of compounds and chemicals that work better as time goes on. Until the tire heats up, the chemicals can’t fully bond together.
Until these chemicals are fully bonded, you might notice some handling issues. Plus, it will take some time for the rider to get used to how the tire actually feels. The first stretch of the road won’t show what the tires can actually do until everything is bonded. Once that happens, the rider will be able to better understand how the bike will feel on varying road surfaces.
To Provide The Tires With The Opportunity To Settle and Have a Longer Life
If you don’t know how to break in a new motorcycle tire, you could shorten its life. If you head right out on the road at full speed, you are doing the tires no favors. The motorcycle tire break in period allows for some scuffing to occur on the tread, which only further increases its lifespan.
With regular tread wear, you can prolong the need for new tires. However, if the tread starts to wear unevenly, you are going to need new tires in a fraction of the time. Don’t sand or hand-scuff them because this only creates uneven tread patterns that don’t match the road.
Best Way To Break In New Motorcycle Tires? (How-To Guide)
How do you break in new street bike tires? You need the open road and about 100 miles before the process is over. While you know how many miles are needed, what about the time required? How long to break in motorcycle tires? You can stretch the 100 miles out however you wish, as long as you remember that you are still breaking them in.
It’s important to get on the highway for these tips. However, you can also spend a little time in an empty parking lot doing figure-8s on your bike. As you move slowly through the 8, the tires will be gently scrubbed.
Here are a few tips to remember as you learn how to break in new tires on a motorcycle.
If you want to know how to break in motorcycle tires of a particular brand, we have a few tips for you.
Michelin Motorcycle Tires
The Michelin motorcycle tire break in period is set for about 60 miles. Michelin documentation shows you gradually increasing performance throughout these miles.
Pirelli Motorcycle Tires
The Pirelli motorcycle tire break in period could last up to 300 miles for a touring tire. It’s important you get the appropriate specifications for the tire you choose.
Dunlop Motorcycle Tires
The Dunlop motorcycle tire break in period is labeled as up to 100 miles per manufacturer guidelines. Avoid full power until the tire is broken in.
How Many Miles To Break In Motorcycle Tires? (How Long Discussed)
As you look at how to break in new motorcycle tires, you see different mileage requirements depending on the type of tire. A good rule of thumb is to take it easy for the first 100 miles unless you are told differently from the paperwork that the manufacturer provides.
You can also talk to the tire shop where you have the tire installed. The technicians might know what is required from the manufacturer. When in doubt, go ahead and reach out to the manufacturer directly. If anyone knows what’s best for the tire, it would be the company that made it.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
How fast should you run the motorcycle when breaking in its tires?
You don't want to go full throttle while you are breaking in a new set of motorcycle tires. Take the road a little slower than average until the tread is scuffed up.
How do you know if motorcycle tires are broken in?
When the tire has been broken in, you will notice an even amount of scuff across the tread. The scuff should look even, and the tire will no longer be as slick as it once was.
Should you sand paper the new motorcycle tires?
You can't get the same effect from sandpaper as you will from the road. Instead, scuffing the tires by hand will only create an uneven and unnatural tread pattern that could be dangerous on the road.
What is the average life of a motorcycle tire?
You might be able to get 10,000 to 15,000 miles out of a high-quality motorcycle tire that’s taken care of. If you don’t ride that often, you should consider replacing your motorcycle tires after five years.
Conclusion
Now that you fully understand the motorcycle tire break in procedure and time, you are better equipped to take care of your bike tires. With these simple steps, you will be ready to hit the open road with peace of mind.