Originally Posted by
dvs cycles
Riding on them outdoors makes the new smell subside. I would not wash away any of the surface residue as it might cause the tire to dry and crack sooner.
Surface residue is likely a release agent, used to make the tire pop out of the mold easily. You can wash it off with dish soap.
The smell comes from the rubber outgassing the volatile compounds. If it really bothers you, wash the tires then leave them in the sun for a couple hours. Then go ride your bike- it's a bike, not a rose bush.