Tyre "sticking" to road at low speeds
 

Hi all, I just had a new Battlax fitted to my front wheel on my XT660X.
The idiots at the tyre shop nicked a hole in the inner tube and cosequently on my drive home from the shop the tyre went flat. I took it back, they put a new inner tube in that has stayed ok.
Since then when I drive at low speeds, on cornering, the handlebars sometimes need to be "yanked" round to get the wheel to move in another direction, almost as if the tyre was glued to the spot.
A knowledgable friend said that in letting the tyre go flat, the sidewalls have been damaged and that's why it doesn't corner well, he also suggested it may be that they overtightened the axle.
Is there any other reason that this may have happened, or do you guys think I should go straight back to the tyre shop (good luck with that, I hear you say!)
TIA.

maybe tight steering head bearings..



..

Assuming you had no issues with the steering/tracking etc before the new tyre was fitted etc...

Go back and ask the question....

Thanks guys, I wondered about head bearings, but they weren't tight before tyre fitted (or at least, this problem didn't exist then).
I was looking for some possible confirmation, in case they say not their problem.
Pretenz, my other bike is a Harley! ;)

Going to check torque settings on axle and pinch bolts first, see if anything awry there. Will let you know.

Manual says that there is a torque setting for axle nut but there is no nut, just an internal hexagonal hole, both sides.
I can see the pinch bolts easily, but how do I check torque on the axle "bolt" and which side?
TIA

you have to use a 14mm hex head tool,right hand side. I use a car oil drain tool,�3.50 from my local shop. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-Tool...BJo3qgGNfpkZEw

Thanks nikroc, I've got a Halfords near me, so I'll get one there.

Halfords is closer to me than any other shop BUT didnt sell them seperatley...�20 a set of 5..

Any update to this? I had a set of new tires fitted about a month ago and iv got the same problem. Thanks

If your handlebars are heavy to turn/sticking, you most likely need new head-bearings.

I had the same issue on my Tenere. But it started out with a worn front TKC80, and I thought that was the problem. After installing new Avon Trekriders, I still had the same issues, almost falling over in bends, and then overcompensating because of resistance... It was really unpleasant to drive.

First step is to find a better tyre shop mate. Ask them to take off the front wheel and tyre and check it out as well as the inner tube. Could well be that they overtightened the wheel nuts which makes the steering strange. Perhaps you need to change the wheel bearings too.

I'm also facing this issue, firstly i thought it was because of new front tkc80, but about a thousand kms after it's still like the same, cornering at low speeds is a bit strange, feels like the handlebar is stuck in the middle. Checked the torque of the pinch bolts and its ok, couldn't confirm the torque of the axle but I tightened it with a good force. Maybe the suspension got misaligned when removing and installing the front wheel? Should the axle not be too tight?

Thanks for any help.

I dont think the axle-torque has anything to do with it. Why should it?

If something is wrong with the torque or the alignment of the forks, either the wheel would be heavy to revolve, or the disks would stick on the brake-pads. It should not have any effect on the steering.
Remember how much leverage you have on that tiny spot of rubber that is in contact with the ground. If that was a problem, it would be even harder to turn at standstill

Change your head-bearings. I am 99.9% sure. You have more or less the same symptoms as I had.

Sticking tyres
 

Hi when I changed from the stock metzlers to tkc80's on the front tyre I had and still have the same problem, low speed mini roundabouts are particularly tricky. It seems that the tread pattern grips the road, I also found the bike tended to hold a straight line more than the previouse tyres. Its just the design of the tyre.

I would personally go with this chap

Thanks for your help,
Initially i thought it was due to tire pattern but I'm thinking it's a bit too bad handling for this kind of tire, had a Michelin t63 and I don't remember to ride like this even in new.
The thing is it fells free to steer when in center stand or with the bike stopped, but I think that if the bearings are dry it might feel more when riding because of the forces and load onto the bearings. Maybe I'll give it a check when I can.

Well your thoughts were completely right, I had the lower steering bearing rusted an dry, only when i removed the handlebar I could really feel the steering stuck... Gave it a clean and regreased both bearings and the problem went away, the bike now handles a lot better at any speed/ surface. I feel like i removed 100kg to the bike, so much pleasant to ride it again. No problems at all with the tkc80, now I can push it harder and so far the tyre rides great at any kind of terrain.

Thank you very much or your help!! :occasion14:

Just glad to help!

i had the same problem...

just putted some WD40 and it unlocked it.

it is not recommended, i changed the bearing 4 days after at Yamaha, WD40 was just to test.

I would check the tyre pressure as just 5 psi down can make a bike hard to turn. at low speeds it has happened to me a thew times after the a bike has been left over winter then i take it out and straight away i know the pressure as dropped as cornering at low speeds is as you described. so just check the pressure just in case

UPDATE (belated, sorry) to tyre sticking to road at low speeds
 

Hi all, whereas all the info I'm sure was good about tight head bearings in other cases, I must inform you that the problem has gone away with simple use of the bike.
I can only conclude, for the benefit of others reading this thread because they have a similar problem, that the tread had to "wear in" despite being extremely similar pattern to the old tyre.
I can ride with full confidence now, with no "sticking" felt at all!

You did not say you had put a different tyre on. It will have been you just not used to the new tyre. I put a different set on my tiger 800 4 months ago and when I drove the bike away from the shop I thought they had done something wrong as the bike just would not turn right and I had to yank it round courners and it was really really bad, but I knew from experience it was just the new tyres then next day I took the bike out within 30 mins it was the best thing I had done putting more road based tyres on it but the day before nightmare.

Hi Mr Bandit, I did say I had a new tyre put on, but didn't mention it being different because it wasn't-it was a Battlax as was the previous one.
Anyhow, it was good that you managed to break yours in after 30 mins, mine took months to break in.
Still it's all good info for us, we learn every day!

I put different tyres on my tiger 800 the difference was mad took me two ride outs to get used to it. First time I took the bike out I thought I had done something wrong putting the wheels back on ,but knew I had not. But the ride was that bad/different had trouble turning the bike. Anyway second ride out I got used to it now best thing I did was change the tyres on it. Happy riding mate