New Tires At High Speeds

[BLK]

Is it just my mind playing tricks on me or do my new tires actually improve the ride and handling at high speeds. Now, before you give me the proverbial "no duh", I'm talking freeway riding in about pretty much straight line with the occasional long sweeper and lane change. It never occured to me that there would be such a noticeable difference while simply cruising but hey, I guess you learn something new everyday.

They are Shinkos 009 by the way. I had the old girl kissing 110mph on my way home from work the other day and you could really feel how much more stable the bike felt.

For those of you wondering I am really liking the Shinkos so far. All the shop guys were telling that they are pieces of crap and that I would be replacing them sooner rather than later. Maybe, I can't speak to their longevity yet but as for my initial impression early returns are favorable.

By the by, I bought the tires about a year ago from Ride Now and had them in my garage sealed in garbage bags. I was told that this would help maintain their "freshness" and though they did loose a little tackyness it would seem that the garbage bags did what they were supposed too.

BLK



 

[Bandit1250]

I think you're just "thinking" about it more since you have new tires.
I doubt there would be much noticable difference in mostly "straight line" freeway riding.....at least I've never noticed any.
The real test would be riding hard in twistes I would think?

BTW....where you at in So Cal?? 

[BLK]

Maybe it is just my imagination it but I could swear that the new tires make a difference. I notice it when the road undulates, it feels like the bike holds the road better where as before it felt like I was looking contact with the road.

By the by I am in Los Angeles. Specifically the west valley.

BLK

[JamieK]

The tire structure is different therefore the ride will be different...the new tires may be more compliant and soak up the pavement irregularities better than the previous tires...also are they inflated to a different pressure? That will make a difference as well. Feel is one of the main considerations for me in a tire and every tire manufacturer has a different feel due to profile and construction.

[dhcolesj]

A new set of tires will definitely change the ride  .  You can even notice that in a car.  As tires age some of them get stiff, as they lose tread they get loose easier, etc. etc.  So a new set will ride different.  Not only that but your confidence in them will affect the ride.  If you are worried about the tires, you will not be comfortable, no matter how good they are.

[LowRyter]

getting rid of worn, cupped, squared off tires?.........yep, quite a difference.

[mademiriam]

i certainly notice the difference on new rubber. My current tire is somewhat one sided due to the crash and I get a certain amount of wobble over 100mph. Seems to me that last year just changing the front made a huge difference to a similar sensation.

[LowRyter]

i certainly notice the difference on new rubber. My current tire is somewhat one sided due to the crash and I get a certain amount of wobble over 100mph. Seems to me that last year just changing the front made a huge difference to a similar sensation.

wobble @ 100????   

great googly moogly. 

[mademiriam]

wobble @ 100????   

great googly moogly. 

hee hee hee to be specific it is a VERY slight movement noticeable through the handlebars which gets progressively worse as speed increases. Not that I would ever top out the bandit of course.