Minimum time before a tire can be used?

[GeraS]

Is there a minimum time after manufacturing before a tire can be used?
I am thinking for example for a heavy duty van such as Daimler Sprinter. If I get a brand new set of tires (and the tires, almost literally, just made, for example only 3 days old), is it safe to be fitted on a van loaded (lets say, 3 tonnes)? Or is there a minimum number of days or weeks before these tires can be used?
The reason I ask is because after the tire is moulded, I am guessing that the rubber will still be undergoing chemical changes before it reaches some kind of "equilibrium" state. Because of these changes I am also guessing that the components of the tire (sidewall, carcass, etc) will not be all perfectly set and if the tire is suddenly submitted to high strains such as the van conditions above mentioned, then the tires will be permanently "damaged" and not have the expected performance?

Gerardo

 

[CapriRacer]

Simple answer: No.

Complex answer: When a tire comes out of the mold it is quite hot. While the rubber will continue to change, chemical reactions take place twice as fast for every 10°C rise in temperature. By the time it cools down it is ready to use.

The only exception to that is racing tires where heat cycling is sometimes called for - but this is not 100% the case even in racing tires, and certainly not true for street tires.

Just be aware of the fact that tires have a mold release substance on them and it may take some miles before it is completely worn off. Just take it easy for the first 100 or so miles.

 

[GregLocock]

Michelin were building tires at the track side for F1 a few seasons back. Each tire fitted to a production car is dynoed before it leaves the factory. I really think this is a non issue.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[BiPolarMoment]

I don't know if this is the appropriate thread to ask but Capri alluded to what my question concerns.

In the motorcycle community (and likely other racing ones) there's been a long held belief that new tires need to be warmed up/scrubbed in before pushing them too hard in order to remove the mold release and/or heat cycle to leech out oils that will otherwise compromise traction.

The question is: Does anyone know why this isn't done at the factory? It seems strange that I need to "break in" a motorcycle street tire and an unnecessary safety risk. I'm sure there is a good reason, but I'm curious.

 

[MikeHalloran]

I doubt that there exists a way to scuff and age tires on an accelerated basis at the factory that would be affordable, and would leave the tires in 'new' condition.

Your typical consumer wouldn't buy such tires, because they'd be expensive, and because they'd look used.






Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[BiPolarMoment]

Well I wasn't sure if that was the operating factor for tire viability. E.g. if (assumption) it only requires that the tire be heat cycled a few times it seems fairly easy to do in a factory--though if it's important that they be heat cycled in a gradient more representative of road use then I agree, this seems like a costly 'problem' to work out. The reason I wonder is because a) there is countless numbers of people advocating for "how to break in a motorcycle tire" without much hard knowledge behind it and b) I took a spill the first 1/4 mile after fitting new tires on my bike at low speed that I attribute to the tires as the roads were dry and clean.

Oh well.

 

[NormPeterson]

The presence of mold release stuff was definitely NOT a "non-issue" for the set of performance tires I just installed on the Mustang. There is a short sequence of turns within a couple of miles of my house that serves as part of my unofficial "test loop", and even with conscious thought with respect to taking things easy there was not enough rear tire grip to permit much more that enough throttle to maintain speed. Slick as snot at two miles use, and this was on dry pavement. Things were much better by 50 miles, and are still improving at ~100.


Norm

 

[MikeHalloran]

>>>b) I took a spill the first 1/4 mile after fitting new tires on my bike at low speed that I attribute to the tires as the roads were dry and clean.<<<

Ah. First hand experience.

<conjecture>
I wonder if the tires were a little dry-looking from storage, and maybe somebody gave them a nice coat of Armor-All to dress them up. Now, _that_ stuff is slippery.
</conjecture>

If you didn't personally fit or witness fitting of the tires, you might inquire about the presence of tire dressing, and request that it not be applied to your new tires in the future. I might be inclined to word such a request more strongly. ... after ascertaining the facts, of course.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[NormPeterson]

They were "loose" tires (sourced through Tire Rack), mounted on brand-new wheels (FRPP, also "loose"). After carting it all off in another car to the local Ford dealer for mounting and balancing, I put them on the car myself (at home).

A little off-topic, but I don't even like the appearance of tire shines, to the point where I washed it off the tires on my wife's new Legacy (2.5GT) the day after we drove it home. On topic - I'd have noticed.


Norm

 

[GregLocock]

Stig says 20 minutes of continuous moderate acceleration in both planes should do it.

I've certainly been caught out after 30 km of street use, in a Fiesta for goodness sake. Or at least, I doubt they dialled in oversteer intentionally!



Cheers

Greg Locock


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[evelrod]

From this last weekend with new "sticker" tires...The "flash" of the sticker could not be seen on the tires from the pits after one full lap, 2 1/2 miles. I'm guessing that the "mold release" went with the stickers. To the point of tire performance...I've certainly had my share of competitive laps on stickers...never noticed more than about a half lap of slipperiness and that was on a new set of "wets". I've never given much thought to "mold release". I have given lots of thought to "cold tires", good and bad. Perhaps the two are related in so far as a "sticker tire" is concerned.

Rod

 

[CapriRacer]

Wow. Did that spark a flurry of responses!

Mold release: Part of what is going on here is that rubber compounds are made with antioxidants (AO's) and waxes to protect the tire - both in storage and in service. You do NOT want to have a tire heat cycled or scrubbed in until it is put in service.

Certainly the mold release and the waxes will cause the tire to be slippery at the very first, but they quickly get scrubbed off. The tire label story was a a good guide.

Heat cycling: Clearly that changes the rubber compound. I've seen NASCAR go back and forth. I suspect it has to do with the properties of the tread compound and how they change over time. I think it would be easy to understand that new tires will change fairly rapidly at first - particularly if they are street or street based.

Also clearly, dedicated race tires - NASCAR or F1 - where it is known that the tires will either be used that weekend or scrapped - might not be built with waxes and AO's. I suspect that more generalized race tires are built with minimal AO's.

I think the operative word here is that new tires should be used gently at first until their operating parameters are better known. And awareness that these change over time is important, too!

 

[TheBlacksmith]

Just do a big smoking burnout in the tire shop parking lot. That should take care of the drive axle tires and any chance of you getting warranty consideration. Until now I've never thought about it as I've never pushed new tires (or brakes) until they had 100-200 miles on them; and yes, the label is worn off by then too. Probably won't think about it after I push submit either.