Clean tires matter?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Nevada County, California
Posts: 793
Bikes: Subject to change at any given moment but currently is...... Colnago Mapei, Colnago C40, Wilier Triestina Carbon, Wilier Triestina Ramato, Follis 472, Peugeot PX60, Razesa, Orbea Terra, Soma Pescadero and 1/2 owner of a Santana tandem.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 337 Post(s)
Liked 786 Times
in
266 Posts
Clean tires matter?
I clean my tires after each ride with a spray on tire cleaner just so they look good. I then started wondering if keeping the grime to a minimum helps maintain their RR rating, grip characteristics, etc….or makes a zip of difference?
And I’m referring to road tires, not a gravel tire carrying a pound of mud.
And I’m referring to road tires, not a gravel tire carrying a pound of mud.
#2
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,121
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22662 Post(s)
Liked 8,987 Times
in
4,184 Posts
Likes For datlas:
#3
Senior Member
I am sure whatever you are cleaning your tires with, it is not improving their performance in any way. Whatever residual chemicals are left on the tire surface from the cleaning would probably reduce friction, not enhance it, but it would quickly wear off the contact patch anyway.
How is it that you are you getting your road tires so dirty that they need cleaning after each ride? I never clean my tires and they are clean enough to roll across the living room carpet. Even if I were to roll thru something dirty, like wet silt, the dirt wears off pretty quickly by just riding the bike.
How is it that you are you getting your road tires so dirty that they need cleaning after each ride? I never clean my tires and they are clean enough to roll across the living room carpet. Even if I were to roll thru something dirty, like wet silt, the dirt wears off pretty quickly by just riding the bike.
Likes For mihlbach:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,460
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 3,024 Times
in
1,940 Posts
If it's containing chemicals that prevent degradation & protects from UV, it might have a worthwhile impact.
if it's just for a shine, it might increase plopping on hard surfaces.
if it's just for a shine, it might increase plopping on hard surfaces.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,460
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 3,024 Times
in
1,940 Posts
I am sure whatever you are cleaning your tires with, it is not improving their performance in any way. Whatever residual chemicals are left on the tire surface from the cleaning would probably reduce friction, not enhance it, but it would quickly wear off the contact patch anyway.
How is it that you are you getting your road tires so dirty that they need cleaning after each ride? I never clean my tires and they are clean enough to roll across the living room carpet. Even if I were to roll thru something dirty, like wet silt, the dirt wears off pretty quickly by just riding the bike.
How is it that you are you getting your road tires so dirty that they need cleaning after each ride? I never clean my tires and they are clean enough to roll across the living room carpet. Even if I were to roll thru something dirty, like wet silt, the dirt wears off pretty quickly by just riding the bike.
30+ miles & it's usually poop.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
Likes For Troul:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,689
Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 569 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
412 Posts
I have too many bikes so use Aerospace 303 to clean my tires and prevent dry rot and can not detect any difference in performance with clean tires
#7
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,277
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2616 Post(s)
Liked 5,741 Times
in
2,956 Posts
Excellent product. Have used it on my cars for years. Never thought about it for the bikes but might be worth considering to prevent dry rot.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
#8
Senior Member
During bad weather I do wipe my tyres down with a damp cloth for a very simple reason. The damp cloth makes the rubber look blacker which means that any little flints embedded in the rubber stand out. I can then get them out before they work their way through and cause a puncture. This tends to be more of a problem in bad weather - I presume the flints get washed down onto the roads by the rain. In my experience it is the major cause of punctures around here so an ounce of prevention is worthwhile.
#9
Senior Member
After every ride, I use a rag to wipe down the riding surface of my tires just to check for any gouges or metal/glass stuck in that might turn into a puncture on the next ride. I doubt anything like 303 would either harm or help the tires in any meaningful way, but since a lot of the high end tires claim miracle compounds, could be some impact.
#10
Standard Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Posts: 4,280
Bikes: 1948 P. Barnard & Son, 1962 Rudge Sports, 1963 Freddie Grubb Routier, 1980 Manufrance Hirondelle, 1983 F. Moser Sprint, 1989 Raleigh Technium Pre, 2001 Raleigh M80
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1301 Post(s)
Liked 942 Times
in
490 Posts
I use a sponge with hot water and a spot of dish liquid to go over the tires with after a ride. This enables me to be certain that there is nothing that I need to know about. Paying attention to thin, racing tires is important, and this gives me the opportunity to assess every aspect of them. Once, I wiped the tires down and saw a patch of bubbles (slow leak). I generally use 700x23 tires at 200g of weight. If they get me home, safe-and-sound, I give them some T.L.C.
__________________
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game!"
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game!"
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,460
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 3,024 Times
in
1,940 Posts
I've found the products containing graphene reduced sidewall fraying... it's my findings, ymmv.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,117
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 827 Post(s)
Liked 1,968 Times
in
948 Posts
Hmm. I clean the sidewalls with a cleaning wipe because my main bike has reflective strips and I sometimes ride in the early morning before dawn.
#13
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,111
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6263 Post(s)
Liked 4,862 Times
in
3,351 Posts
Other than cosmetic looks and perhaps the safety aspect that CAT7RDR mentioned, I doubt that much is being done for the short life the tires will have before the threads are showing or its get to what ever point of wear that you replace them. Perhaps if this is a seldom ridden bike that you take out once a year and the tires can last twenty years or more, perhaps it helps.
As always YMMV, particularly those that have unique conditions for both riding and where they store their bikes.
As always YMMV, particularly those that have unique conditions for both riding and where they store their bikes.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,725
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 835 Post(s)
Liked 1,680 Times
in
789 Posts
Tire shine products are okay on automobile tire sidewalls. But, I've seen the effects of tire shine on motorcycle tires. Looks nice, until you lean into a turn and the bike goes out from under you.
Personally, I wouldn't use it on a bicycle tire, either. I can hear the EMT's now. "Wow, that was quite the crash you took on that twisty descent there. Don't worry, we'll get you to the ER in no time. By the way, your bike tires look really shiny!"
Personally, I wouldn't use it on a bicycle tire, either. I can hear the EMT's now. "Wow, that was quite the crash you took on that twisty descent there. Don't worry, we'll get you to the ER in no time. By the way, your bike tires look really shiny!"
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,589
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5234 Post(s)
Liked 3,602 Times
in
2,356 Posts
my car is always more zippy after a carwash
#17
aged to perfection
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: PacNW
Posts: 1,852
Bikes: Dinucci Allez 2.0, Richard Sachs, Alex Singer, Serotta, Masi GC, Raleigh Pro Mk.1, Hetchins, etc
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 851 Post(s)
Liked 1,278 Times
in
674 Posts
I'd be concerned about residual chemicals that might affect tire adhesion, like when leaned over into a curve
/markp
/markp
Likes For mpetry912:
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: reno, nv
Posts: 2,313
Bikes: yes, i have one
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 1,187 Times
in
690 Posts
never in my life have i even considered cleaning my tires. why would i? the moment i started riding they'd be dirty again. at least a frame can stay clean for a few rides.
Likes For spelger:
Likes For LarrySellerz:
#20
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,489 Times
in
1,286 Posts
Likes For soyabean:
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,955
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4845 Post(s)
Liked 3,974 Times
in
2,581 Posts
My tires get accidentally rinsed off when I spray muck and dust off after rides. But if the bike looks OK (or the hose faucet is off for the freezing months) I don't bother. Never did this in my racing days or before I bought a house. So apparently I've experienced all the bad that happens with dirty tires. And stayed completely oblivious. (I wonder how many Tours I could have won if I had only cleaned my tires.)
Likes For 79pmooney:
#24
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,277
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2616 Post(s)
Liked 5,741 Times
in
2,956 Posts
I originally got the idea because I used Comet and a brush to clean white wall tires.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 990
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 511 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 646 Times
in
362 Posts
Are you saying you clean your bike after a 30 mile ride because "it's usually poop"? I suggest you quit riding in cow/sheep/pig pastures. I clean my bike every 350 miles or so, and lots of times the only thing really needed is clean/lube the chain.
Likes For KerryIrons: