Tyre problem dunlop tt900

[Cellardoor]

Hey guys. I'm using dunlop tt900 tyres, been using them for about 3 months now with no problems except recently the rear tyre felt a bit soft (can be visibly compressed with finger) at the middle parts. The sides are stiff, only the center area feels soft. Tried pumping air to appropriate pressure to but to avail..

 

Probably will change my tyres soon but still, out of curiosity, is my tyre leaking air or..? I've left the bike idle for 2 days and it's still the same. The sides feel hard and only the middle can be pressed.

[Sharkboy]

Should be leaking air out.

[superspeed123]

Bro, the best way to check whether your tyre is leaking or not , is to pour water or soap water onto your tyre and see whether any bubble coming out. The right way to check tyre pressure is to get a tyre pressure gauge. Most of the time , if u pump air at petrol stn , the air gauge is always not accurate. Either a few psi higher or lower.

[bruce71]

Hey guys. I'm using dunlop tt900 tyres, been using them for about 3 months now with no problems except recently the rear tyre felt a bit soft (can be visibly compressed with finger) at the middle parts. The sides are stiff, only the center area feels soft. Tried pumping air to appropriate pressure to but to avail..

 

Probably will change my tyres soon but still, out of curiosity, is my tyre leaking air or..? I've left the bike idle for 2 days and it's still the same. The sides feel hard and only the middle can be pressed.

 

i am presently also using the same tyres as you. since i have not personally seem your tyres, so cannot confirm with 100% confidence but here goes...

 

1) slim chance of leak from either tyres or tyre valve. First of all go so check your tyre & valve with the method described above by superspeed123, to see if that is the cause. however this is NOT very likely as you describe your sides are still hard.

 

2) tyres not warmed properly in the recent wet weather, also extremely unlikely for the same reason above.

 

thus the most likely reason is...

 

 

3) your tyres are worn. period. the centre wears out faster than the sides. 3 months is not a good indicator as you may have higher mileage than someone who rides short trips occassionally. is the tyre's centre groove very shallow ? (less than 3mm deep?, mine is down to only 1mm deep now ) notice that this brand of tyre seem to become like this from wear.

 

PS: i meant depth of the centre groove NOT the width. this brand's centre groove's width does not seem to shrink with wear, so if you might be fooled that there is still ample depth by the 'normal width' from a glance.

 

use method 1 to check 1st, if that is not the problem, then most likely it is reason 3. mine has the same problem but i am still riding cause i am a miser ( please DON'T copy my bad habits ). if you are afraid for your safety, best to check with trusted shop which might have another reason i overlooked. however, most shops are closed this cny period. so just pump more frequently , ride more slowly & carefully & wait for the shops to open.

 

got hunch is just a simple case of centre portion of tyres are worn, common if you had covered a high mileage at speed on highways.

 

Bro, the best way to check whether your tyre is leaking or not , is to pour water or soap water onto your tyre and see whether any bubble coming out. The right way to check tyre pressure is to get a tyre pressure gauge. Most of the time , if u pump air at petrol stn , the air gauge is always not accurate. Either a few psi higher or lower.

 

+1. support!

Edited February 9, 2013 by bruce71

[Cellardoor]

Thanks for the elaborate reply bro.

 

I checked already and am quite confident theres no hole. I'm really not sure about whether it's about it being worn out, I don't seem to have the same problem with the front (still hard) but the rear suddenly can be pressed at the middle..there's also a tacky feel to it. Like pressing down onto something a little sticky inside.

 

Really unsure because this is my first experience with tubeless. This would be my first time changing tyres as well if I do make a swap. From what I hear it would be a substantial sum.. so I guess I should really be sure first.

[bruce71]

Thanks for the elaborate reply bro.

 

I checked already and am quite confident theres no hole. I'm really not sure about whether it's about it being worn out, I don't seem to have the same problem with the front (still hard) but the rear suddenly can be pressed at the middle..there's also a tacky feel to it. Like pressing down onto something a little sticky inside.

 

Really unsure because this is my first experience with tubeless. This would be my first time changing tyres as well if I do make a swap. From what I hear it would be a substantial sum.. so I guess I should really be sure first.

 

i assume you should know by now that the rear tyre wears out twice as fast as the front tyre. so you agar agar yourself if you have got them both at the same time.

 

unless is valve ( unlikely but possible )...if u very sure no leak...then maybe......no problem? lol!

 

sometimes it is just the make of the tyres, different brands got different pattern. maybe it is the tyre pressure? check your pressure once every few days, if no leak no problem lah! the ultimate question is...

 

Do you have a problem when riding? your confidence is the most important thing. if you have no issues when riding...so just leave it alone.

 

unless you feel there is some problem , no confidence when riding, then investigate further. maybe u are not used to a new brand? of course may be other reason but the ultimate point is does it affect your riding? if not, no need to be too fussy, just get used to it. if really scary until u no dare ride, then change brand lah! but if $$ tight, then learn to get used to it.

 

btw, i am referring to the cheaper thai made Dunlop, Not the Jepun GP expensive ones.

 

btw also, i very long winded one, change it when centre groove less than 3-2mm depth ( some kiasi overseas ang mo 'experts' advice even when deeper than that, but personally in sg no need so fussy lah, like this only made tyre companies richer! ). please NO copy my bad pattern cause i a bit gila one. hehehe...

 

no offence, bro. i just think it is really nothing, of course it is just my opinion & i can be wrong. now i talk have to be very careful, better not hurt your feelings, now younger generation communication pattern very different, i scared i say wrong thing!

[Strawberrydonut]

it could be your rims are not fix with the tyres properly.

 

im using tt900 too and faced such problem when i changed them recently,went to my regular mech and he removed the tyre to sand off the rim to fit in the tubeless tyre nicely i believed your tyres are not fitted in properly with the rims.

 

after trying the soap test to look out for holes.

 

just my 2 cents

[bruce71]

it could be your rims are not fix with the tyres properly.

 

im using tt900 too and faced such problem when i changed them recently,went to my regular mech and he removed the tyre to sand off the rim to fit in the tubeless tyre nicely i believed your tyres are not fitted in properly with the rims.

 

after trying the soap test to look out for holes.

 

just my 2 cents

 

+1! you may be right! that could be the case.

 

see, we can all learn from each other. i don't pretend to know everything.

[Cellardoor]

Bruce71:　No offense taken bro. Just new to motorcycles hence the curiosity when things like that happen as well as hoping to get a heads up if this could potentially lead to a serious problem. Better to be safe ya.

 

Initially fine then out of nowhere the center area can press down..a bit weird la. From the looks of it plus mileage, i'd say my tyres are still relatively new so i don't think will change them. When I do change I'll ask the mech what was the issue haha.

 

Thanks to the other bros for your input, appreciate it! Cheers~