Tyres - bedding in

[Mike Gayner]

So we're going on a 600km round trip this weekend. My rear tyres were marginal so I decided to replace them just to be safe. The tyres were 235/45/17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD-3's (replaced with the same), and the car is a 1995 BMW 540i.

I've read conflicting reports on "bedding in" tyres - do I need to take it easy on this trip? I just picked up the car and we're leaving tomorrow morning, so I don't have time to put any miles on the tyres before we leave. I don't drive this car particularly hard anyway, but it is going to be a wet weekend. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Pariah]

I've never heard of anyone bedding in new tires. There's nothing special you need to do with new tires. If you get new brake pads and rotors, those need to be properly bedded in.

Edit:

Actually, there is one thing you should do. Make sure the installer put the proper tire pressure in all your tires. I got new tires mounted once, and 3 of the tires had the proper 35psi, but the 4th one was 53psi. I don't know if the installer got a sudden bout of dyslexia, but I was glad I checked when I got home.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Ditto on the "no 'bedding in' necessary" advice.

While brand new tires generally have a bit less grip because there's still some of the mold release agent on them, you'll never notice this in street driving.

ZV

 

[Howard]

Take it out and do some donuts on a gravel road. Make sure you hit a mailbox, too - that helps the static coefficient of the rubber.

 

[Meghan54]

Bed in brake pads....yes. Bed in tires....nope.


But I like Howard's suggestion.

 

[amdhunter]

I've never heard of anyone bedding in new tires. There's nothing special you need to do with new tires. If you get new brake pads and rotors, those need to be properly bedded in.

Edit:

Actually, there is one thing you should do. Make sure the installer put the proper tire pressure in all your tires. I got new tires mounted once, and 3 of the tires had the proper 35psi, but the 4th one was 53psi. I don't know if the installer got a sudden bout of dyslexia, but I was glad I checked when I got home.

Could be worse. When I had my rims put onto my Civic the installer put close to 80-90 PSI (way off the scale that I had used) into each tire. I almost killed myself going home because I had literally no traction - my car felt like it was on ice.

It's a common scam with the tire shops here. They overinflate the tires in hopes you will blow one, and come back to them to match the set you have on your car.

They also stole my custom Honda valve covers, but I didn't notice that until I finally checked the tires a day later. The kid who installed my tires was fired over it, so I felt redeemed.

 

[sdifox]

never heard that before. just drive like a normal person.

 

[Bignate603]

It's a common scam with the tire shops here. They overinflate the tires in hopes you will blow one, and come back to them to match the set you have on your car.
.

Yeah, because selling a tire or two is more money than a lawsuit when it causes an accident.

 

[LTC8K6]

Aren't you more likely to blow an underinflated tire?

 

[Meghan54]

Could be worse. When I had my rims put onto my Civic the installer put close to 80-90 PSI (way off the scale that I had used) into each tire. I almost killed myself going home because I had literally no traction - my car felt like it was on ice.

It's a common scam with the tire shops here. They overinflate the tires in hopes you will blow one, and come back to them to match the set you have on your car.

They also stole my custom Honda valve covers, but I didn't notice that until I finally checked the tires a day later. The kid who installed my tires was fired over it, so I felt redeemed.

So, I guess you don't understand that it's not uncommon at all to have to hyperinflate a tire when mounting it to get the bead to seat to the wheel. And a rushed person sometimes makes mistakes.

Scam......*chuckle!*


BTW.....the things you allege were stolen are called valve CAPS. Valve covers fit on your engine, not tires.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Check the tyre pressures when you get home. Drive a bit more gently for the first 100 miles if the roads are wet/greasy.

That's about all.

So, I guess you don't understand that it's not uncommon at all to have to hyperinflate a tire when mounting it to get the bead to seat to the wheel. And a rushed person sometimes makes mistakes.

Scam......*chuckle!*


BTW.....the things you allege were stolen are called valve CAPS. Valve covers fit on your engine, not tires.

Yeah... last time I had tyres fitted they had problems getting the beads to "pop" and mount correctly. I started backing away... just in-case the rim gave up...

 

[DivideBYZero]

I always try to scuff up a new set of boots. Just got a new set on the M3 and I just lay down a set of 11's and do some F1 syle 'tyre warming' on a quite back road somewhere to ensure all of the tyre release compound is taken off the contact area on all four tyres.

 

[JCH13]

I always try to scuff up a new set of boots. Just got a new set on the M3 and I just lay down a set of 11's and do some F1 syle 'tyre warming' on a quite back road somewhere to ensure all of the tyre release compound is taken off the contact area on all four tyres.

I do the same thing. I have had brand new tires lose traction accelerating to merge with traffic, so I scrub out all of the wax ASAP.

 

[exar333]

Be really careful of this for winter tires, especially if you are buying and installing when it is already snowy/icy outside. I have noticied this on a few pairs of winter tires that some friction is needed to get that coating off and then they grab much better. I wouldn't say it is dangerous, but not optimal from my experience.

 

[Pinepig]

Check the tyre pressures when you get home. Drive a bit more gently for the first 100 miles if the roads are wet/greasy.

That's about all.



Yeah... last time I had tyres fitted they had problems getting the beads to "pop" and mount correctly. I started backing away... just in-case the rim gave up...

Leave the stems out, squirt about 2 second of starting fluid into the tire and little stripe to the outside, set the stripe ablaze with a lighter ( keep hands clear as much as possible ) POP all done, put in stem and inflate to your desired pressure.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Leave the stems out, squirt about 2 second of starting fluid into the tire and little stripe to the outside, set the stripe ablaze with a lighter ( keep hands clear as much as possible ) POP all done, put in stem and inflate to your desired pressure.

Good old Scandinavian mounting...

 

[Rifter]

When i got new tires a month ago I took my truck wheeling aired them down to 12psi and beat the ever living crap out of them driving way to fast on trails followed by some rock climbing and then some mud pits.

1 month later they are holding air just fine and seem to be wearing great the nubs are still on them. Also did a few burnouts just to hear them scream, mud terrains sound great lit up.

For the most part though i drive like a grandma and NEVER speed, gas in a 1984 3/4 ton 4x4 chev pickup with a carbed 350 would kill me otherwise so i always try and keep it out of the secondaries when i dont need the power.

 

[thomsbrain]

Ditto on the "no 'bedding in' necessary" advice.

While brand new tires generally have a bit less grip because there's still some of the mold release agent on them, you'll never notice this in street driving.

ZV

I notice it, although I'll admit that's during focused canyon carving, not puttering around town.