New tyres from Santa?

The rear tyre on my lardy cruiser is definitely getting a bit worn, it's not
the same shape as when I bought the bike (my first BTW). As a tyre wears
down is there any degradation in the 'gripping' ability of the rubber? Is
the 'grade' of rubber the same all the way through the tyre, or is the
surface tread softer/grippier?

I ask as I notice that bumps and irregularities in the road surface
definitely push the back end sideways sometimes (only slightly, nothing I
find alarming), whereas when the bike was new it would keep in a definite
straight line paying little heed the road surface trying to push it
sideways.

I suppose I ought to get a new tyre but I'm skint and it's coming up to the
season of peace and goodwill and all my cash to all men.

 

Martin Watts emerged from their own little world to say

It's winter. Colder rubber, colder tarmac, water, salt etc etc. Less grip.

Check your pressures. They can drop quite a bit in winter.

As you have noticed, the profile of a tyre flattens with age. There comes a
point where this can affect the handling quite badly.

 

wessie says...

He's probably still got summer air in them. He needs to change it.

Get down to a petrol station, deflate the tyres and pump them back up to
the correct pressures using the air-pump machine.

 

*raises eyebrow*

Please tell me you're just taking the piss out of him, I actually gave
that a moment's thought then.

 

Lozzo emerged from their own little world to say

Ah, good point. The nitrogen levels will be all wrong.

 

in message

That's raised another question. During the summer I mostly rode in
daylight. Do you think that as the nights are drawing in and I am now
riding the bike mostly before sunrise and after sunset I should also make
sure I pump them up in the dark?

 

Martin Watts emerged from their own little world to say

Where on earth did you get a stupid idea like that from?

 

Mash says...

Would I?

;-)

 

Lozzo explained on 15/11/2004 :

Be certain that the petrol station has switched over to winter air
first.

 

Martin Watts says...

Pump them up as soon as you can. The sun might not rise tomorrow...

 

Accepting the whole proof scenario from another thread, there might not
actually be a sun at all.

 

Another good winter tip ... don't eat yellow snow.

 

in message

[snip all good rubber related stuff]

Well, that's it then ...

"Dear Santa, If I sit on your lap can a I have a new tyre for xmas?"

 

Martin Watts says...

See, you're learning fast.

 

"jsp" wrote in message

Good point, heavier air in the tyres ... that'll make it stick to the road
better.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Martin Watts

Rubbish. It'll increase unsprung weight and **** the handling up
altogether.

--
Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
ZZR1100, Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"

 

Don't be daft. Clearly all the heavy air will be at the bottom of the
tyre and hence won't actually be moving at all.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Ace

You have failed to account for the Coriolis force. It's probably
different in Switzerland, but here in Ged's Own Country, that'll more
than make up for any uneven weight distribution.

If you weren't so fucking rich, you'd know that.

--
Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
ZZR1100, Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"

 

It varies, depending on which side of the alps you're on. Clearly
their gravitational field will have a massive influence on this,
whereas little flat islands won't be affected.

Rich? Me? Not at all - I can only afford gold-plated taps, not solid,
and even then only in one of the bathrooms.

 

Only vaguely related, but why do tyre warehouses smell of fish?