i'm about to purchase a set of Metzeler M7' RR tires (probably the 200 rear, mainly because that's all i've ever had on the 14)....my question is about breaking them in...i've read up on this, and different people have different ideas on 'scrubbing', etc, and some say that tires of this day and age don't require as much.....

...any good advice?!

I wouldn't go rippin around any curves until you get 50 miles on em at least.Street tires are NOT race tires.And I wouldn't do any hard braking either.Especially the front.Gradually lean in...and use caution with the throttle.My .02;)

For the rear, I always to a side-to-side burnout to remove mold release. For front, just have to put some easy miles on it. So far, I have not had an issue with a new tire sliding etc.

I've never had a tire slip because it was new. I just go easy for 50 miles or so like Grn said. I try to gradually lean it in progressively more as time goes on. I don't don't go for my max lean until it's on the bike about a week. I don't know if it matters a whole lot about the mold release compound. I wash the tire off after its installed but I don't even know if that matters. Better to be safe than sorry.

THere's no mold release compound any more. I'm on my 2nd set of M7RRs. MOst likely just putting the new treads on their and the bike being way more typsy (M7RRs are fairly V shaped). You probably could take them out and go full lean, I just like to gradually wear them in leaning a little further each time. 20 miles, if conditions are good, and the tires feel good, you can have the treads to the edge (probably slow by some people's standards).

My first set (3rd set of tires) I took it a little slower thing my first set rear was edge to edge about 60-100 miles I was still growing a lot as a rider at the time too.

Great tires should be pretty much good to go off the mount. If you roll away and she's solid feeling in the first block, let her rip. If it's sliding around a bit, take it a little more easy. Be careful juicing the throttle when turning (say left in an intersection) and the tires are cold. Had them break loose a couple times.

Good idea to take it easy until you get familiar with the new unworn tire profile. I think new tires with round profiles turn in so much easier it takes me a few miles to retrain myself.

...thanks for the info...definitely going to take the advice...

@VicThing: i'll be coming off of a set of Shinko's (verge) had the 200 rear...can i expect a BIG difference in the ride with the M7's?..

* Last updated by: sharp609 on 1/19/2017 @ 8:39 PM *

new tyres will definitely affect your emergency braking distance
i underestimated that, and ended up crashing into a truck with my Ninja 650
... about 50 km after installing new PR3's
going round a familiar bend, to find a stalled truck blocking the road

I've not had Shinkos nor a 200 so I'm not entirely certain. M7RRs I've had 190/50 and 190/55 (current) on my bike. I have another set, 50, in the wings (and a set of Q3 50).

Ride is medium. The most noticeable trait is a little front end vibration. Both sets I had did this, it's not really annoying or detracting, but it is noticeable. I'd almost say it's like the front tire is trying to communicate feedback just at the wrong frequency. I don't need to feel each pebble in the asphalts surface.

Turn in is lighter/easier even with 50s. IMO if 55s turn in quicker/lighter it's marginally so.

I've had M5s (least favorite/heavy sluggish steering), Q3 50, S20 Evo 55 (many better options, dangerous at the end), Diablo Rosso IIs (55)(probably my favorite overall), and M7RRs (50 & 55).

The Rosso IIs what was so incredible about those was feedback. There were times I could feel rolling over cracks in the pavement. To be fair, when I had Q3s on the bike my riding skills were probably merely OK. I've just never had an experience of feedback like the Rosso IIs provided. It was like reading braille. Also I think I would've preferred the Rosso IIs in 50, they were a very unstable tire (in the good way) and 55 made it difficult to modulate lean in longer corners (especially early on).

I have a feeling we've given up some traction and grip for wear. I was a little scared of the Rosso IIs at first, since they only had "soft" compound on the very outer tread edge (but what beautiful tread area...basically a slick). I just started slogging them things harder and harder and they never flinched. I have a feeling the 75% middle section of rear tire was probably softer compound than M7RRs ore Rosso IIIs.

I'll probably try Rosso IIIs next although I don't really have any where to ride anymore.

I've probably broken in close to 100 tires on sportbikes in the last ten years and have had a tire slip exactly twice, both times leaving my driveway on the first run and applying an injudicious amount of throttle. So a new tire will slip, especially the rear if you get on it in the first mile or so. I now break in a new tire by going easy on the throttle for a few miles, gradually increasing lean angle in both directions. After maybe five miles of this I head for the twisties and go! You'll be fine.

Kruz that's basically what I do. My first Q3s I think weren't stored very well. They had a very greasy feel, or they were some of the last tires Dunlop made with mold release. AFARIK Q3s were never manufactured with a mold release applied though.

But they were slimy and greasy and let me tell you something the first couple of blocks holy shit scary. The first couple blocks I kid you not, the bike wove nearly uncontrollably. I mean, like a 10' weave and there literally wasn't anything I could do. Fortunately I was in my neighborhood and there wasn't any traffic.

I've never had another set of tires do that, at most a few hundred feet and maybe a 1-2' weave then no problems.

The shop that installs my tires hands you a statement that says tire break in is 100 miles and to avoid hard braking or accelerating. Never had a problem following that advice.

I treat new tires the same as any "cold" tire and give it a couple of minutes to warm up.

On my track only bike, running street tires, I give new tires the same as any cold tire, a lap
or two before I go for it.

"100" miles, that would be a whole track day. Not needed.

Get the tire up to temp and have at it.

The shop that installs my tires hands you a statement that says tire break in is 100 miles and to avoid hard braking or accelerating. Never had a problem following that advice

Yea, they all have to say that, legal department requires it; but 100 miles is way too much, I do maybe 5 easy miles and it's scrubbed. If it's going to slip, it normally does it in the first couple hundred feet.

Myself I'm just going to go set by set. If I ever have another set of tires act like those Q3s, I'll take it easier on them. For the last 4 sets basically did the gradual lean/scrub method and had the tires scrubbed edge to edge in somewhere between 20-60 miles. Tires were basically steady off the stand.

Something to avoid

Hi Vic, never had that problem with super greasy tires, sounds like a scary day. I wipe my tires down after mounting and give them a quick once over before taking off, the Bridgestone BT-016 Pros seem pretty consistent, never feel greasy to the touch but the surface is definitely slicker than a scrubbed tire. That's where that first slip occurs if you crank it over on it's side leaving the driveway. I've ridden to the end of my street and checked them and that slick surface texture is already gone wherever there was tire contact with the road. The standard 100 mile rule is way too long IMHO and unnecessary. I've heard that a lot of that 100 miles is to compensate for radical changes in handling between tires. Say going from a squared off BT-014 to a fresh Dunlop Q3, it's going to corner completely differently and may catch an inexperienced rider out if he's not ready for it.

I break my tires in the same way I do pads... slow application. A canyon run and I'm done as is Kruz' 5 mile break-in. 100 mile break-in is BS. The tire is going to heat up, the greasy tire release is being removed while riding. The compound is the same texture down to the cords; so it's removing the grease release from the tire within turns.

Trackday bikes are being fitted with new tires, or trailer in with a fresh set. They take off with the paper tag still on the tire and scrub that off within a few turns. Within a few laps they are at speed with warmed tires.

Amen Hub!