Tyre Ageing

[the kid]

Am looking at 01 ZX9 and has real low Ks but still has original boots . They look ok but am worried that they are so old they may have gone hard ? I know it can be a point of negotiation but I want my facts straight . Its a bummer to scrape the reddys for the big purchase and then have to find half a k for new rubber straight away .

[NovaCoder]

Am looking at 01 ZX9 and has real low Ks but still has original boots . They look ok but am worried that they are so old they may have gone hard ? I know it can be a point of negotiation but I want my facts straight . Its a bummer to scrape the reddys for the big purchase and then have to find half a k for new rubber straight away .

I'd just stick with the 'old and gone hard' argument to get some cash off....even if it's not true

It's obviously going to be 'ridable' but to get it's full potential you'll need new rubber. Also you have to remember how far tyre tech has come in the past 4 years

[Glen]

I always reckon you should put money into good oil and good tyres. At best you've got a couple of square inches of contact patch at each end so you should make sure you've got absolute confidence in the rubber

Look for the telltale signs ie cracking etc. They're probably OK if the things been garaged etc but you never know.

If they've been used a bit it's probably worthwhile tossing them. Given that it's going to be your new pride and joy factor it into your offer.

[Smitty]

mate
the rubber will be ok ..unless the thing has sat on flat tyres for the past 4 years
and even if only used now and then, the original rubber will be ok
but
and this you should consider.....
the original tyres on a 2001 9r were aaah...not the best
tyre technology has improved since 2001
simply..much better tyres are available today
and you won't believe the diff a new set will make*
so either factor that in to the buy price
or
buy it, then look to doing quite a few Ks quickly, to wear
the original rubbber out


* talk to some of the guys with 9s (Phil Dave rossi) and ask
'em about tyres

hth

cheers

[Steve_TLS]

Tyres do go off with age as they out gas. Storage has a lot to do with it. Heat, ozone and UV will kill them even when not being used. Pirelli have guide lines for brand new tyres, never used or seen the road.

I'm sure each manufacturer has their guidelines too.

From Pirelli

Pirelli street tires, including Diablos and Diablo Corsas have a suggested shelf life of 5 - 7 years. Pirelli has guidelines that they provide to their distributors as to the storage of the tires. Upright, on their side, on a rack, in a cool and dark location. They also ask the distributors to perform first in first out stock rotation, but have no enforcement of the policy. They do not inspect distributors to determine if they are following recommendations or not.

Pirelli DOT race tires should be used within three years of manufacture.

Slicks should be used within one year.

Rain race tires should be used within SIX MONTHS.

You can check their real age as the DOB will be molded on the wall.



or

(21st week of 2003)

[MickLC]

So that's what those numbers mean...cool

What does "Upright, on their side" mean 'cause it sounds like a contradiction to me

[Steve_TLS]

.......
What does "Upright, on their side" mean 'cause it sounds like a contradiction to me

I think it means like you see them stored in the racks, so you only see the tread and not the tyre wall itself I'm not 100% sure, I think something got lost in the translation.

[the kid]

Thanks for the info . good points . Think I will follow the idea from Yoda and ride carefully for a while and as soon as bucks are in thro on a set of Pilot Powers . It would be interesting to experiece the change in feel between old and new . Gotta get the bike first ! You will hear it first on this site !

[Smitty]

Thanks for the info . good points . Think I will follow the idea from Yoda and ride carefully for a while and as soon as bucks are in thro on a set of Pilot Powers . It would be interesting to experiece the change in feel between old and new . Gotta get the bike first ! You will hear it first on this site !

cool......
and don't forget to talk to some of the other 9R jockeys here
before you get the tyres...

[Barrabob]

Make sure you take it easy and scrub them in for a 100 kms or so, there have been a few unlucky peoples that have had new ones and old ones refitted that have just let go for no good reason.

It kinda feels like your riding on ice and If/when they let go there is fark all you can do about it so keep that in mind as you head for the hills on it...warm them up a bit first in the middle and take it from there.

Hate to see ya stack ya bike over a shit tyre.

[Damon Z1000]

Mate, I reckon you got one way to go................get someone on a digi cam or cam corder and smoke the shit out of the back and then replace front aswell as back........that way if you can wangle a discount on the bike to the song of a set of hoops, you get a tops burnout for FREE!!

[bonester]

Mate I wouldn't worry about it. My CB400 has tyres manufactured in 2000 and 2001 and it still hangs on OK. Front one (2000) seems to be suncracked too. Heaps of tread on 'em so they won't be changed in any hurry. The old tyres may be a bit dodgier in the wet tho.