The feeling of Squared Off tyres?

[Matt06]

Hey,

Been having some issues with my bike handling recently. I know its not the best time of year for riding, but the problem seems to be more than just cold tyres.

I have found myself getting really nervous on almost any corner, especially roundabouts. I'll lean the bike in and after a point it feels like both tyres have suddenly lost traction and slipped out. It makes me want to pick the bike up straight away and now I cant corner for shit. The feeling is really weird and its with almost no lean angle. Feels like there is no feedback at all.

Is this the kind of thing that happens with tyres that are squared off? I have done nearly 8k on these tyres through 2 winters so they have defo seen better days. They were pretty shit to begin with anyway, but im not getting new ones until March time.

Yeah, sound like squard off tyres or is it just me being a wuss?
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Current: MT-10, Bandit, Grom, GPZ500
Previous: YBR125, GSXR400, ZXR400, MT-03, NTV650, R6, z750, ZX6R, MT-09

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Why not go and look at the tyres on the bike. If they are squared off enough to affect the handling it will be obvious.
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[The Original Muzza]

Not necessarily, both my bikes do this, usually in wet conditions, but not always. My triumph's tires are practically new. Thought it was probably just my imagination as I've never come off it when this happens, but I'm intrigued as to other people's insight into it. Post pics of tires?
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Current Bikes: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (2020)
Former Bikes: Honda MSX125 (2014), BMW Funduro (1996), Honda VT500 (1983), Yamaha FZR250 (1989), Suzuki GZ125 Marauder(2005),:Triumph TT600 (2002) (stolen)
From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.

[MaybeGuy]

your tyres are squared off when it can stand up without a sidestand
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[Seb]

The first thing I tend to notice with squared off rubber is the bike tram-lining over defects and patches in the road surface.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Matt06]

I'll get a pic of the tyres. No doubt with large chicken strips .
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Current: MT-10, Bandit, Grom, GPZ500
Previous: YBR125, GSXR400, ZXR400, MT-03, NTV650, R6, z750, ZX6R, MT-09

[Feasty]

I'm finding similar issues with my bike, it doesn't really bother me though. My commute is mostly A roads and dual carriageways so I rarely get to do some decent cornering and my tyres are definitely nicely squared off!
I tend to do tight corners and roundabouts fairly slowly and within my comfort zone, straights are still fun though! Considering what the weather has been like recently, we've had plenty of black ice round here, lots of gritting (inbetween periods of ice as usual ) and just generally yucky road surfaces, I just don't see any point pushing myself during rush hour and risking injury. Hurry up summer, clean dry roads and I'll be back to leaning once more...
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed). Also now a Tiger 1050, easily best of the lot!

[robbieguy2003]

My rear tyre is starting to square a bit because i've been commuting more than fun riding.

Had it slip the other day but was leaned very far - much more than comfort, a car cut me up at a roundabout so i had to go round again and make a very quick and steep turn in, it felt like both wheels slipped with the front regaining quickly followed by the back, the bike sort of juddered like it wanted to stand up again. Thought i was lucky to hold it.

Tyre at the back is much more squared than I've normally ridden with however I think it was crap conditions more than squaring if anything though.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[Matt06]

Okay, got a picture...... Chicken strips are plentlyfull, haha....... It is winter though .

I dont know if thats squared off or not. Doesnt look like it to me, I really dont know.

https://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6738/p2101091258cn4.jpg
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Current: MT-10, Bandit, Grom, GPZ500
Previous: YBR125, GSXR400, ZXR400, MT-03, NTV650, R6, z750, ZX6R, MT-09

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I had squared knobblies on my XL125, felt horrid when tipping into corners. It'd feel very light and then quickly drop, midcorner it would feel ok. it was the initial rolling over from the squared bit to the normal profile that was dodgy. Probably cos the contact patch is smaller. (they were very squared off, and i changed them S.A.P)
Oh... you have checked your pressures..? Mine fluctuate alot, so if 1 day it's -1 degrees and the next day 7 degrees i can see an increase by 4 or more psi which will make your squared tyre feel even worse.

Pat

EDIT : just seen pic..that is not squared
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[Feasty]

If I get chance I'll get photo of mine in the next couple of days, then you'll know what a squared tyre REALLY looks like! (That's if it's as squared as I think it is!).
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed). Also now a Tiger 1050, easily best of the lot!

[Matt06]

I havent checked the pressures in a while, I'll get to that.

They are probably just really crap tyres.
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Current: MT-10, Bandit, Grom, GPZ500
Previous: YBR125, GSXR400, ZXR400, MT-03, NTV650, R6, z750, ZX6R, MT-09

[robbieguy2003]

[LeeR]

Matt this is my squared off rear after 8000 miles, the concrete dust helps you see the flatness:

https://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/lrogers_album/rearexp1.jpg

What you'll notice most, is that when you lean it's a bit "notchy" almost as if you lean then whoops it leans again as you go over the worn edge. Sort of like this \_/ so you get a chunk-chunk kind of feeling as it rolls, you get used to it and can compensate a little for it but at 8000 miles I'd say they were probably done.

Hanging off rather than leaning is a good compromise in this weather anyway.

Of course check the pressures though, because they will drop in the cold.

Oh and you ride too quick...
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[Matt06]

[robbieguy2003]

Is worth it, I've never used that tyre so can't comment on it. A lot is how you feel with the tyre and if it never felt that good new, then worn and squared + current weather conditions will make it feel really bad to ride.

I agree with Lee in that leaning off more will help keep the bike upright more but if your not confident enough to get much corner speed up this might just make wobble about a bit which might be worse.

Do you noticably counter steer? i.e. actually realise your doing it? If not, this will help you a lot when conditions are bad to get the initial lean. If your not noticably doing it then going in a straight line gently push on the right side of the bar to turn right and the left side to turn left (pushing the wheel the opposite way you want to turn).

Apologies, not trying to teach you to suck eggs, just hoping to give some advice if it helps you at all.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[Matt06]

[Finglonga]

[Matt06]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I ride everyday so in theory i should check pressures everyday, i don't, but i will if the temp has changed alot or if i'm on a long journey. So my average checks are 2-3 times a week.
As for the countersteering, we all do it. But counterbalancing can help with severe turns at very low speeds. I've not had much call for counterbalancing tho so don't know whether it would be practical/safe to do on roundabouts.

Pat
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The Harry Turner Project

[neatbik]

Matt, a lot of it is probably down to the roads being really greasy at the moment.
My bike has been feeling terrible lately, no feedback from the tyres and a real reluctance to lean the bike.

[MinhDinh]

[Al]

How squared off does a tyre needed to be for it to need changing?

My fronts a bit squared off from winter riding but its still got a few thousand miles left in it, would a blast round some twisty roads in the better weather not save it?
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[tintin]

Once it's gone then it's gone, you could never ride round leant over enough to "unsquare" it!

Just get new tyres, they feel lovely.........
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]