Tire Dry Rot. 3rd tire.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
Since you seem to be pulling out the "great many years" card, I'll prefix what I'm about to say by informing you that I've been detailing vehicles for 10+ years, and did it professionally for about 3.
You've been doing your vehicles a dis-service for a great many years.
Dish detergent is made to cut through oils, waxes, polishes...it's made to cut through the coats and coats of protectant you put on your vehicles.
Furthermore, motorcycle tires use a softer rubber compound and would MOST DEFINITELY be effected by dish soap more so than a normal car radial.
So yes, while the dish soap may not be the ONLY reason his tires are dry-rotting...............I would say it's a factor.
You've been doing your vehicles a dis-service for a great many years.
Dish detergent is made to cut through oils, waxes, polishes...it's made to cut through the coats and coats of protectant you put on your vehicles.
Furthermore, motorcycle tires use a softer rubber compound and would MOST DEFINITELY be effected by dish soap more so than a normal car radial.
So yes, while the dish soap may not be the ONLY reason his tires are dry-rotting...............I would say it's a factor.
I have to say that I have been using dawn (the blue one) on all my vehicles for many years & have never had any problems with dry rot either - Am I Just Lucky?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
I too have used a mild dish soap on all my vehicles for years with no negative results. However, I don't use Dawn. My wife just started usin' that stuff for dishes & it is some serious grease cutter. I wouldn't use that on any part of a vehicle, but I couldn't say that is your primary problem. I would take a look at the manufacture date on the tire. There's a good chance that the tire is actually several years old. If it is, I'd go back to whoever you bought it from & have a little talk with 'em & show 'em the cracks.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Someone suggested sunlight could do it. Guess I could have just said I don't think any of the reasons suggested so far would have that effect in such a short time.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 35
From: Southern Maryland
......just wondering, if it was the dawn, wouldn't the back tire be showing the same symptoms?
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 552
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Keeping in mind that my back tire has been fine for 9200 miles so far.
was thinking the same thing. I'm thinking a bad batch of tires. and not so much the Dawn. although it is a strong detergent.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
Since you seem to be pulling out the "great many years" card, I'll prefix what I'm about to say by informing you that I've been detailing vehicles for 10+ years, and did it professionally for about 3.
You've been doing your vehicles a dis-service for a great many years.
Dish detergent is made to cut through oils, waxes, polishes...it's made to cut through the coats and coats of protectant you put on your vehicles.
Furthermore, motorcycle tires use a softer rubber compound and would MOST DEFINITELY be effected by dish soap more so than a normal car radial.
So yes, while the dish soap may not be the ONLY reason his tires are dry-rotting...............I would say it's a factor.
You've been doing your vehicles a dis-service for a great many years.
Dish detergent is made to cut through oils, waxes, polishes...it's made to cut through the coats and coats of protectant you put on your vehicles.
Furthermore, motorcycle tires use a softer rubber compound and would MOST DEFINITELY be effected by dish soap more so than a normal car radial.
So yes, while the dish soap may not be the ONLY reason his tires are dry-rotting...............I would say it's a factor.
Since you've pulled out the 'my detailing ***** is bigger that yours' card let me tell you this:
I've been detailing show cars and bikes for the last 45+ years. Sure, I can't say I've ever detailed 'professionally', but I'm pretty sure that between the two of us I have the largest 'detailing *****'. Condolences.
THAT being said (and hopefully done with) I've also never once turned to dish washing soap to degrease, de-wax, or de-polish anything. There are products specifically designed for those purposes and I've used pretty much all of them.
THAT being said, the likelyhood that the OP's issue stems from his use of DAWN detergent to wash his bike are miniscule at best.
They don't call it "weather checking" for no reason. And I have no real explanation to offer the OP. Seem it's just one of those things.
If it were me I'd buy from a different supplier or try a different brand and see what happens.
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