erm everybody does this yes?

[Pesty]

Just took my bike for a 10 mile quick blast as it was quite warm and still light. Got back and cleaned it.

Looked at it and thought the tyres look a bit crap so put tyre black on them stood back and admired them then though jesus what the hell have I just done

please tell me I am no the only one who has done this

[dubbs]

You are THE only one....

Scary-bloke!!!

:-)

[halo25]

Whilst I considered doing it - the answer is not I didn't....so far your the only one!

[The Londoner]

no, can't say that one has ever occurred to me either

[Pesty]

Im going to have to do something about it.
Can't turn up anywhere with these its wet look so really obvious what Ive done going to rub mud on them

[mat205125]

Eeeeed-yut

[Pesty]

mat205125 said:

Eeeeed-yut

harsh but fair

[edwardsje]

And putting aside the aesthetics, tyre black doesn't do much for a tyre's grip so be sure not to get it on the contact surface.

[prand]

I must admit I also use back to black and WD40 to clean my MTB tyres. I can't see the harm in it if I've just cleaned the rest of the bike. On a practical note, it keeps the mud off too!

[mat205125]

edwardsje said:

And putting aside the aesthetics, tyre black doesn't do much for a tyre's grip so be sure not to get it on the contact surface.

If you are riding like you should, the contact patch of your tyre will lean right to the edge, and that's also the exact part of the tyre where you're going to be wanting the most bite possible.

[prand]

Yes - cleaning the tyrewalls only - I agree, and not the tread/grip area.

A rather dim frind of mine used to Back-2-Black the whole tyre (sidewall AND tread) on his car. He could never understand why I would always refuse a lift from him!

[rhinochopig]

prand said:

I must admit I also use back to black and WD40 to clean my MTB tyres. I can't see the harm in it if I've just cleaned the rest of the bike. On a practical note, it keeps the mud off too!

Chap I used to ride with did the WD trick (despite our warnings), until he had a mahoosive off when his grip pulled off

He was known as teflon man for ages.

NB he is old enough to know better - 40s

[ewenm]

A dirty bike looks best

at least, that's what I tell myself...

[Pesty]

edwardsje said:

And putting aside the aesthetics, tyre black doesn't do much for a tyre's grip so be sure not to get it on the contact surface.

Come on I'm stupid but not that stupid!

Ive given them a rub with a damp cloth they don't look quite so bad now

[mat205125]

ewenm said:

A dirty bike looks best

at least, that's what I tell myself...

There's a lot to be said for cleaning drive and moving parts fastigiously, and not going overboard on the rest .... but the Autoglym has been known to visit my road bike frame

[edwardsje]

Pesty said:

edwardsje said:

And putting aside the aesthetics, tyre black doesn't do much for a tyre's grip so be sure not to get it on the contact surface.

Come on I'm stupid but not that stupid!

Ive given them a rub with a damp cloth they don't look quite so bad now

I couldn't possibly say - but I'm not the one who fessed up to using tyre black on their bicycle tyres

[SCOOTERMAN]

This is getting alarmingly close to "Bike Detailing". Next there'll be people using the two-bucket method, before going at their bike with a DA polisher and £10K wax.

Clean the drivetrain, but other than that just ride the fking thing: it'll be dirty within 200 yards of setting off on the next ride anyway...