Because I just got new tyres and because the dealer said (as usual) "go easy, new tyres are slippery" and because I have a natural suspicion of conventional wisdom, I decided to read up on this for myself once and for all.
First though, when I got home from the dealer I looked at my new tyres. I ran my thumb lightly over the unscuffed edge of the tread and, sure, it felt smooth and slippery. So then I did the same on the scuffed bit and to my surprise it was just as smooth and slippery! Hmm, I thought. I then applied significantly more thumb pressure to the scuffed bit (ie to better simulate the weight of the bike pressing the tyre into the road) and now there was really good friction resistance. So I did the same on the unscuffed bit - and there was also excellent friction resistance! Hmm, I thought again and hit the internet.
Long story short:
I found statements from a number of major tyre manufacturers saying they no longer use tyre release agents in their moulds which left a coating on the tyre and could indeed make them a bit slippery for the first few miles until it was worn off. They stopped doing this years ago.
I also found training notes from both Michelin and Dunlop telling their reps to tell their customers to go easy on new tyres because the different shape/profile/tread pattern of the new tyres will give them significantly different handling characteristics to the old worn tyres the customer has become used to and they need to acclimatise to that. No suggestion at all about the rubber being "slippery".
Of course each of us has to do what we're comfortable with but I'm convinced that the slippery tyre thing is a hangover from the past and no longer applicable. I won't be going out and tearing it up on brand new tyres - not because I'm afraid they'll slip, but simply because they DO behave quite differently to the old ones (especially how they turn in) - but I'm going go out there on eggshells either, worried that the rubber itself is slippery. I've satisfied myself that it isn't. I'm satisfied that modern new tyres grip just fine right out of the box.
Again, do what you're comfortable with. I just know that I'm a lot more comfortable now riding on brand new tyres pretty much as normal.
First though, when I got home from the dealer I looked at my new tyres. I ran my thumb lightly over the unscuffed edge of the tread and, sure, it felt smooth and slippery. So then I did the same on the scuffed bit and to my surprise it was just as smooth and slippery! Hmm, I thought. I then applied significantly more thumb pressure to the scuffed bit (ie to better simulate the weight of the bike pressing the tyre into the road) and now there was really good friction resistance. So I did the same on the unscuffed bit - and there was also excellent friction resistance! Hmm, I thought again and hit the internet.
Long story short:
I found statements from a number of major tyre manufacturers saying they no longer use tyre release agents in their moulds which left a coating on the tyre and could indeed make them a bit slippery for the first few miles until it was worn off. They stopped doing this years ago.
I also found training notes from both Michelin and Dunlop telling their reps to tell their customers to go easy on new tyres because the different shape/profile/tread pattern of the new tyres will give them significantly different handling characteristics to the old worn tyres the customer has become used to and they need to acclimatise to that. No suggestion at all about the rubber being "slippery".
Of course each of us has to do what we're comfortable with but I'm convinced that the slippery tyre thing is a hangover from the past and no longer applicable. I won't be going out and tearing it up on brand new tyres - not because I'm afraid they'll slip, but simply because they DO behave quite differently to the old ones (especially how they turn in) - but I'm going go out there on eggshells either, worried that the rubber itself is slippery. I've satisfied myself that it isn't. I'm satisfied that modern new tyres grip just fine right out of the box.
Again, do what you're comfortable with. I just know that I'm a lot more comfortable now riding on brand new tyres pretty much as normal.
