You should run any new motorcycle or scooter tyre in.
How long you should scrub your motorcycle tyres in for
The distances that manufacturers quote varies but we recommend that all customers ride as if it were raining for the first 10 miles. What we mean by that is accelerate gently, don’t brake with full power and reduce your lean angle where possible. Then just build up gradually over the next 20-30 miles.
Why you should run your motorcycle tyres in
Years ago, most motorcycle tyres used a release agent to get them out of the mould during the manufacturing process. This release agent would stay on the tyre’s surface and could make the tyre slippery. This is one of the reasons why the tyre manufacturers recommend you bed your tyres in, so that this release agent is scrubbed off.
Teflon moulds
However due to advancements in the production process, some manufacturers use Teflon moulds, which means they don’t need to use the same release agent and the tyre isn’t as slippery as before.
Melding together
We’ve sat through our fair share of tyre manufacturer presentations in our time. A few times different manufacturers have mentioned that the bedding in process is also about getting those different chemicals and rubbers used in the tyre to meld together. At tey heat up they activate and start to bed in properly. So a tyre that starts off quite stiff, will loosen up over time. Think about it like stretching before a run!
Dirty workshop floors
Regardless of the chemicals used in the production process, some tyres will also pick up oil or petrol from a workshop floor during the fitting process and this is another reason why you should be cautious on your new tyres.
Other factors
But it’s not all about chemicals. You also need to take care on your new tyres in order to ensure they are properly seated on the rim and that you are comfortable with the way they steer (they might be a completely different tyre to what you had on before but even if it’s a new version of the same tyre it’ll ride differently).
To give you an idea of the different recommended run-in distances, Metzeler and Pirelli both recommend 60 to 120 miles.
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