This could mean safer scooter tires!

[Perkussion]

ExxonMobil Chemical is staring a new process in Pensacola, FL that will
line the inside of tires and make them retain correct air pressures much longer.
The article is short but quite interesting.

Which scooter tire supplier is already signed up?
'Cheng Shin Rubber Company, the manufacturer of the popular "MAXXIS" brand,
plans to debut a higher-performance, lower-IPR (inflation pressure retention)
tire with the new inner liner material in 2009.'

It would be really nice not to have to add a couple of lbs of air
every 10 days or so like I do now on my Genuine.
I think this is an important process improvement for anyone who drives...anything!

[ScooterDave]

Cheng Shin - Now that's a quality tire. I would not let my ex-wife ride on a set of those.

[babblefish]

If you're riding on stock Buddy tires, you're riding on them now...

[Racenut]

Cheng Shin - Now that's a quality tire. I would not let my ex-wife ride on a set of those.

Cheng Shin branded tires are mostly junk.

But the Maxxis brand has built a decent reputation in bicycle (mountain, road and bmx) and ATV tires. They're also regarded decent as a trailer tire manufacturer, hard to find good trailer tires these days. They've got a few commercial truck and 4x4 tires out there too that are good. About the only place they haven't done much is car tires. Maybe they figure that market it saturated as it is. Who knows...

[Racenut]

If you're riding on stock Buddy tires, you're riding on them now...

Stock Blur tires = Maxxis

[ScooterDave]

If you're riding on stock Buddy tires, you're riding on them now...

That would be a negative.

[Cheshire]

Why did it have to be Exxon?

[nissanman]

Most tire pressure is lost from the valve stem, the valve itself or the seat of the tire bead... having a lining in the tire is nice, but probably won't help most people out. On vehicles with larger wheels you will also lose some pressure through the pores in the alloy wheels (more surface area on larger wheels).

[babblefish]

I really hate to break it to you guys, but Maxxis is Cheng Shin. Cheng Shin is headquartered in Taiwan and Maxxis is a subsidiary of Cheng Shin. My proof? The front tire on my Blur says Maxxis and is made in Taiwan with this trade mark logo on the sidewall (the orange thing on the left):



Look carefully at the tire on the right.

My rear tire says Cheng Shin and has the same logo and is also made in Taiwan.

Now go to this website: http://www.cst.com.tw/

Note the Maxxis link on the right-hand side.

Cheng Shin is one of the biggest tire companies in the world and makes tires for several other better known companies. Their higher grade tires are actually quite good. Like many other companies in Asia, they can make tires to any price point one desires - you get what you pay for.

Sorry if I disappointed some of you.

[Roose Hurro]

Big O used to sell a tire with such a lining... they were my favorite, when I still had my '69 Mustang. I think the lining material was "halo-butel rubber", or something like that. It worked, too. I could go months, check my tire pressures, and everything would still be where I last set it. Perhaps, at most, a foot-pound or two low, if I really neglected checking, or the weather changed. Never have seen another tire with such a liner advertised.


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[djelliott]

Cheng Shin - Now that's a quality tire. I would not let my ex-wife ride on a set of those.

Hey Dave, I've been looking into new tires. I know you've been around and on scooters for many years. From your experiences what brand/brands do you recommend? Also, besides Cheng Shin, what do you recommend staying away from?

Dustin