Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tire fable?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 01:39 AM
  #1  
banjoplayer2's Avatar
banjoplayer2
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon, Mo
Default Tire fable?

I'm at my local rider watering hole this afternoon. The food is good, as is the coffee so I'm told. Mostly older riders "50 plus" gather there in the afternoon and swap lies.

Today the topic turned to spring cleaning, mods, and general prep for the 14 riding season which we have great hope will arrive one day soon :-)

The topic turned to tires. A few of the gathered think tank members was sharing a theory of how "Armor-All" should never been used on tires. It supposedly causes the break down of the tires rubber. Of coarse there was great disagreement, and tails of years of application without problems.

If this is true I'm in trouble. I clean the hell out of my tires with the stuff!
Any thoughts? Anybody else have any thoughts or knowledge about this?
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 01:51 AM
  #2  
Roomer's Avatar
Roomer
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 132
Likes: 2
Default

Don't know about it causing breakdown. Always been afraid to put that slippery stuff on my bike's tires.
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 01:54 AM
  #3  
Nextbite821's Avatar
Nextbite821
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: NC
Default

Totally agree with Roomer. I put some cleaner on my tires once, and when it was raining, I just about lost it. No more tire stuff for me!!
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 04:08 AM
  #4  
'05Train's Avatar
'05Train
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Default

If you think it's a good idea to use something slippery on your tires, have at it.
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 04:11 AM
  #5  
jus2anoyu's Avatar
jus2anoyu
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 7
Default

Yes, it degrades rubber and plastic. I've seen it many times as an auto tech. Slippery stuff on a motorcycle tire? I'm definitely gonna pass on that. I think rubber and plastic will last longer unprotected than with armor all on it. Jmho....
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 06:32 AM
  #6  
Jumpman's Avatar
Jumpman
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,573
Likes: 138
From: StL, MO. USA
Default

Not a good idea to put armor all on tires. Tends to get slippery as the others have said.

On that note...

It's a good idea be cautious when you first ride a set if new tires for the same reason. I've seen a couple guys take bikes down because they didn't realize new tires need to be scuffed...
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 06:52 AM
  #7  
bikerlaw's Avatar
bikerlaw
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Default

I am in complete agreement with all the above posts. Regardless if it degrades ANYTHING, you don't put Amror-All bike tires because it would make the tires slippery. Never, ever, ever!
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 07:23 AM
  #8  
roadking2014's Avatar
roadking2014
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
Default

new tires are manufactured with anti aging compounds in them. some say that Armor all attacks these compounds. Ozone checking or cracking and a brown haze on the tire is a good sign you need to do something!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 07:31 AM
  #9  
Veekness's Avatar
Veekness
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 646
From: Santa Clarita
Default

If you DO use Armor All on anything on your bike, NEVER spray it around anything that you would consider repainting in the future. Armor All is largely, perhaps all, I don't know, silicone. When it gets on your paint, it penetrates all the way to the metal and will cause 'fisheyes' in the new paint, even if you strip it all the way down and clean it as well as you can! Just a word to the wise. It was banned in the shop I worked in for years for this reason!
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 07:31 AM
  #10  
biil9's Avatar
biil9
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 1
From: n providence ri
Default

dont need it. just clean them with a nylon brush and a good all purpose cleaner and rinse and dry. have a nice ride.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:16 AM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE