Should I fear the Tar Snakes?

When its only 5 degrees out like this morning your tires will never warm up, and cold tires are noticeably less grippy.

Its starting to become hard to source HRC parts over here let alone fuel and tires. Toyed with the idea a few times of selling the RS125 to one of the VRRA guys, but the wife talked me out of it for now.
 
TwistedKestrel said:
+1 ... The Pilot Road 2s on my ZX11 pretty much ignored tar snakes. Whatever the stock tires are on my Ninja 1000, they *hate* tar snakes and feel freakin' spooky going over them.
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I noticed with the Pilot Road 2's (on my SV), that they feel like they're "grabbing" the tar snake (as if over the actual tar snake there is more grip, than over asphalt), but overall they don't upset the bike too much... I'd hate to ride on tyres that reacted poorly to tar snakes...
 
With my sport demons it was hit or miss...
some it would just glide over, some it would get a bit unstable. Seem to depend on which part of the tire hits the snake.
Although a lot of grooves and things in the road would dominate them. Stayed stuck though, never once had it slip out from just a snake, or groove in the road.
 
Kri$han said:
I noticed with the Pilot Road 2's (on my SV), that they feel like they're "grabbing" the tar snake (as if over the actual tar snake there is more grip, than over asphalt), but overall they don't upset the bike too much... I'd hate to ride on tyres that reacted poorly to tar snakes...
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Whoops, you're right, they did track tar snakes a bit. I vastly prefer that to the BT-016s just skating over them. The stock tires apparently review quite well, but I hate them.
 
while slightly off topic...the grooved part of the 401 ( no asphalt) is quite scary to ride on as well. Maybe cause i`m still quite new but now i know to stay away lol
 
Militarii said:
while slightly off topic...the grooved part of the 401 ( no asphalt) is quite scary to ride on as well. Maybe cause i`m still quite new but now i know to stay away lol
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It's pretty bad... especially if you're taking a turn hot and are suddenly surprised by it.

Also in bad rain it's pretty messed also.
 
I agree the groves are sometimes tricky. I don't get "suddenly surprised" because there is always ample warning that there are regrooving operations coming up. I think it is a matter of looking ahead and determining the risks and ride accordingly.
The things that surprise on my bike are cars cutting me off, SS bikes flying past me at 200 plus kmph in my lane and the dreaded tar snakes. Ride safe everyone, especially in the rain.

Sabex said:
It's pretty bad... especially if you're taking a turn hot and are suddenly surprised by it.

Also in bad rain it's pretty messed also.
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SeaBreez said:
I agree the groves are sometimes tricky. I don't get "suddenly surprised" because there is always ample warning that there are regrooving operations coming up. I think it is a matter of looking ahead and determining the risks and ride accordingly.
The things that surprise on my bike are cars cutting me off, SS bikes flying past me at 200 plus kmph in my lane and the dreaded tar snakes. Ride safe everyone, especially in the rain.
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There's no warning in a few spots... and if its right after a turn; albeit shouldn't be taking the turns that fast... it's a bike, that's how some have fun ;)

It's not bad though, usually you remember where it's at for the next time an heed caution.

The worst is if its at 1am and raining hard, so you can't see anything at all. Trying to navigate the 401 from memory is a little challenging.
 
I find air pressure make a difference... i was on my ex500 merging onto 404 and got on the snakes... scared me quite a bit. I went home and checked my tire pressure and I was 3 psi under what was recommended. I pumped it up to spec and went to hit the same snake again, it was still squrimy but better then when my tire wasn't up to pressure.
 
sdrutledge said:
Yep not only am I commuting on cold tires each morning, they are also 9 years old and like hockey pucks.
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I just face palmed so hard i think i might have broken my nose. Please tell me thats a joke?
 
FriendlyFoe said:
I just face palmed so hard i think i might have broken my nose. Please tell me thats a joke?
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It has to be a joke!

"Hey everybody! My bike is handling funny. It's very unstable in corners. Should I try lowering the front ride height? Oh and btw, my front tire is flat"

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2
 
:-) As a new rider I'm learning as I'm going.... AFTER I started this thread I learned about tire dating, tire life expectancy and the issues around cold, old tires on tar snakes. Thank god for great forums like this where I can learn things from such supportive and patient people such as yourself :-)
 
your post lacked the acknowledgement that indeed that was what the problem was. Feel appropriately flamed. Now go buy new tires before you fall down and go damn it would have been cheaper in the long run if i had bought new tires right away.
 
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