IRC Tandem mold release residue?

[landotter]

These were some pretty funky looking tires when I picked them up. LBS
got them to to replace the rediculous gumwall Kenda 28mm tire shaped
things that came on my Redline by mistake (they do sell them in Poland
for $6 LOL), and did it on the house. Nice, they could have just thrown
a pair of 30-32mm tires of moderate quality at me from their inventory,
but insisted on getting me the correct spec. Very cool.

At any rate, these tires seem to be *the bidness* for urban utility
cycling. Thick thick tread, tall, large volume, supple sidewall, fairly
quiet--but what is up with the residue on them?? I've seen mold
release, but this was rediculous, like the tire had been partially
consumed by pod people trying to encase it in goo. Managed to get most
off the skinwalls by finger rubbing and a delicately applied SOS pad.
Treads got sanded with emery cloth.

I feel like Bob Vila now, as I'd never had to refinish tires! Is this
just IRC splurting a bit too much release in the mold on a one-off, or
do IRCs come this funky these days? Or is it some sort of bloom that
has nothing to do with release? They're fine now, just curious.

 

[JeffWills]

landotter wrote:
> I feel like Bob Vila now, as I'd never had to refinish tires! Is this
> just IRC splurting a bit too much release in the mold on a one-off, or
> do IRCs come this funky these days? Or is it some sort of bloom that
> has nothing to do with release? They're fine now, just curious.

Hi, Bob!

The IRC tires I've gotten have always had extra mold release on them.
It's never caused me any issues, but I haven't tried hard cornering on
wet pavement until they've had some miles under them. If I'd felt like
cleaning them, I'd have used household bleach on them- it's an old
(drag) racer's trick to soften the rubber.

The IRC Tandem EX tire is one of my favorites- high pressure, durable,
and cushy.

Jeff

 

[landotter]

JeffWills wrote:
> landotter wrote:
> > I feel like Bob Vila now, as I'd never had to refinish tires! Is this
> > just IRC splurting a bit too much release in the mold on a one-off, or
> > do IRCs come this funky these days? Or is it some sort of bloom that
> > has nothing to do with release? They're fine now, just curious.
>
> Hi, Bob!
>
> The IRC tires I've gotten have always had extra mold release on them.
> It's never caused me any issues, but I haven't tried hard cornering on
> wet pavement until they've had some miles under them. If I'd felt like
> cleaning them, I'd have used household bleach on them- it's an old
> (drag) racer's trick to soften the rubber.
>

Couldn't find any bleach, thus the resort to SOS pads. Good tip if it
indeed removes the schmutz without too much effort.

> The IRC Tandem EX tire is one of my favorites- high pressure, durable,
> and cushy.

The residue on them made a pretty bad first impression, but the ride is
really sweet considering the sturdiness. They're quite quiet as well,
regardless of what I'd read about them. Fenders do help with the noise
of course. Much nicer, if in a far worse prom dress, than the WTB
Slickasaurus I rode spring and summer. The WTBs rode great, but were
dainty in practice, and flatted worse than anything I've ever ridden.