clean your tires?
 

I used to do it on my car--anyone do it on your bike? What do you use, how often do you use it?

I used Armor-al liberally until I discovered its lubricating effect on the braking surface of the rims.
I don't have that bike anymore but I do have nice scars that tingle whenever I see a bottle of that stuff at the store.

Remember, the only thing between you and a vegetable is friction.

Enjoy

Ride in the rain.

When you wash the bike, wash the tires.

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/BCB4.shtml

Park makes a tube/frame brush that's perfect for this, but . . . so's a $1.39 dishwashing brush that did it's time inside....

As for protectants and all that crap? Forget it. IMO, anything that'll "protect" your tires will degrade traction. Could be wrong, but....

Plain soap and water in a sponge is all you need. I use any car wash I happen to have on hand, or even dish washing liquid works. While you are at it, check out the tire for imbeded glass/nails, or knicks in sidewall. (Not to mention imbeded reporters in Iraq) :) Repair and fill with "shoe goo", or replace as needed. Clean rims, spokes, brake pads, and hub with rubbing alcohol. The whole process will take 10 munutes.

Unclear reference here (at least to me):

Are you suggesting that the OP should fill an embedded reporter with Shoe Goo??

hahahahaha!

I thought "shoe goo" was a desert staple in the "MRE" package.


Funnny.

Ah, I'm with you now.

Shoe Goo in the desert = Filet of sole.

I use soap and water and the same brush I use on the car tires. Its quick and easy. Also, do not use armour all on the seat of the bike either or you will not be able to stary on it!

If you Armorall the saddle, you will have to add seat belts. - LOL

Just wash they with soap and water. Or you can do a wipe down with Windex.

Never ever use Armor All on bike, or motorcycle tires. I had a friend that bought a new motorcycle out of the Kawasaki showroom. They had Armor All - ed the tires. He got a couple blocks away, made his first turn and the bike went out from under him.

I spray the tires with Windex after every ride, wipe them down, and inspect them for glass chads.

Are those imbedded chads or hanging chads?

Enjoy

I just use a hose and spray with water pressure. DOes a decent job at getting the largest mud chunks out

Armor All...oh man. I think it has cod or other fish oil in it. Don't use it in bear country!

Thanks for the new sig!

Who are you callin' "Chads" buddy! Watch you mouth! (Well I'm talking 'bout "Chads"...Well we can dig it.)

imbedded

Enjoy

once a week I put my bikes on a repair stand and place a bright light by it and check for small bits of glass and debrei in my tires ,, I am amazed at the amount of glass and metal and scars that I pick up during a week of commuting

Woah, I want to party with you...once a week?
Do you map them out with reference to the tire label or do you use the valve stem as origin?
You sir are an animal.

Ejoy

Ya damn right.

(maybe we need a poll to see how many people knew what this Richard Roundtree/Isaac Hayes reference was all about)

It is mostly silicon. There are other "gloss enhancers", so who knows what that is. Maybe fish oil.

There is nowhere that it should be used on a bicycle, though.

Armorall is crap, and should never be used on anything! On motorcycle and bicycle seats and tires it makes them slick and dangerous (as well as speeding degredation of the material, despite what they claim). On cars is speeds up the degredation of vinyl surfaces and tires.

'tire gloss' on the motorcycle tires is one of the classic ways that newbies embarass themselves in front of experienced motorcyclists.

I just hose off the tires now and again when they get dirty. If there is something yucky on them, or oil from my hub gets splattered on the rims, I hit them up with a little 409 and then hose off. Go for a quick ride to dry them off (knowing that your brakes won't be as good for a minute), and you're done!

peace,
sam

lol yaaa and yes the valve stem is the starting point,,once a week is fine just sit down with a beer and go over all the bikes tires , I am too busy riding my bikes to keep them all shiny, as long as the drive drain is clean thats ok