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Track tires
- Thread starter oomis
- Start date
Welcome to track riding. Here we go again with tire talk. You will get lots of opinions. If you don't plan to use warmers, any high performance street tire will be fine.
I know, tires threads are like oil threads. Maybe I should have been more specific.
The SV isn't exactly a tire-shredding high HP machine, and I'm not a track day hero out to win the track day. I'm looking for some recommendations on the equivalent of sport-touring tires on the street - a good compromise between performance and durability as I learn this season.
And yes, I'll be using warmers.
Shaman
Well-known member
DOT race tires. If nothing else, they may save you a crash that will negate any cost advantage that street tires have because they have superior grip and handling capabilities. Pick one with decent wear characteristics.
Also, your SV is a high powered tire shredding monster (106whp / 75lb/ft stock). And it's a bit heavy. There's also no slipper clutch in the SV 1000, so chopping the throttle off will potentially drag the tire into corners (and while I say potentially, I mean it will). Treat it with respect because it's faster than you think. I'm not talking it down, it should be fun to ride once you sort the suspension and geometry.
Also, your SV is a high powered tire shredding monster (106whp / 75lb/ft stock). And it's a bit heavy. There's also no slipper clutch in the SV 1000, so chopping the throttle off will potentially drag the tire into corners (and while I say potentially, I mean it will). Treat it with respect because it's faster than you think. I'm not talking it down, it should be fun to ride once you sort the suspension and geometry.
Go on...I don't know anything about DOT race tires, so what would you recommend and where's a good place to source them? I know enough not to cheap out on tires - I don't mind paying for them, but as you mentioned good wear characteristics are important to me - not so much because of cost, but more to save the hassle of mounting tires over and over again...
Didn't come across like you were talking it down, and I've learned to treat anything with 2 wheels with respect after 150,000+ kms on the street / touring and all the stories that accumulate over the years.
Interesting. Since you have the warmers already it would seem sensible to go with DOT race tires. However, since you are new to the track, I wonder if you will be riding hard enough to keep the heat in them anyway? Even with warmers you might be better off with higher end street tires - the Dunlop Q2s seem to be getting the best press these days.
I did my fist two seasons on Pirelli trackday slicks (the Superbike Pros), which were quite good and lasted for 10 days or so before they went off. You see a lot of guys on those at track days. No doubt you will be a quicker learner than I am, but after two years I am still not ready for DOTs and so have gone for the Q2s for this season.
I did my fist two seasons on Pirelli trackday slicks (the Superbike Pros), which were quite good and lasted for 10 days or so before they went off. You see a lot of guys on those at track days. No doubt you will be a quicker learner than I am, but after two years I am still not ready for DOTs and so have gone for the Q2s for this season.
Is it correct that if I'm not fast enough to keep heat in the tires anyway, that I'd be better off with higher-end street tires that don't need to be hot to grip as well?
If I'm not able to keep heat in the tires, is it better to go with street tires (they do well without having to warm up) vs. DOTs which need to stay hot to grip? There's a whole bunch of assumptions in there, not sure if any of them are correct...
If I'm not able to keep heat in the tires, is it better to go with street tires (they do well without having to warm up) vs. DOTs which need to stay hot to grip? There's a whole bunch of assumptions in there, not sure if any of them are correct...
This, go with scrubs, a decent set will run you for 100 bucks and at your speed you can probably get a few days off them.
Shaman
Well-known member
But it will still perform better than a street tire.
I recommend trying out the Bridgetone BT-003. Or the Michelin Pilot Pure might work as a track tire... makes a crappy street tire IMHO. I've also really liked the Michelin One DOT race tire but it wears quickly, and the Pirelli Supercorsa is a better tire than their slick IMHO and wears well in the medium or hard compounds (which are still a softer tire than a street tire).
Key point: there's really no one tire to choose, but the BT-003 is usually fairly inexpensive.
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Q2's until you are in red group, after that pirelli superbike pro's, supercorsa's, or something with more grip. Street tires will stand more heat cycles, and as mentioned, you need a certain pace to keep heat in race tires. Warmers are always a good idea for any tire.
If you're not going to ride fast enough to keep heat in tires then is it even worth starting off with warmers? I ask this as a serious question, not a dig at anyone (as is my usual way).Surely a tire that is cooling as a rider gets hotter (towards the end of a session) isn't a good combo? Or are there too many variables to have a definitive answer?
Shaman
Well-known member
The "racers" who haven't been on street tires in years are trying to make themselves look better by suggesting that if you can't keep the optimum temperature in the race tires (like them, by inference), they won't be better than the street tires. Disregard. DOT race tires will pretty much always work better on the track than street tires.
Longest lasting tire I have used on the track is the Pirelli Sup[erbike Pro. Its a trackday slick that is designed to be used for trackdays by riders without warmers. Better grip than a street tire, but a little less than a full on race tire.... fast warmup, bump compliant and very predictable. Super cost effective especially considering their lifespan. I have a set here with six days at Calabogie , and two endurance races on them....funny thing is they still look pretty good.... I would bet that if this is your first yr, one set will last you all season.
That said, you will find piles of useable scrubs for a song in any racer's garage. I have a pile here you can almost steal,LOL
That said, you will find piles of useable scrubs for a song in any racer's garage. I have a pile here you can almost steal,LOL
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Well, the warmers came with the bike I bought. But besides the added grip, I'm led to understand that warmers will help with longevity. Even if I'm not riding fast enough to retain all the heat I put in, the delta between their hottest and their coolest is lower. This helps with tire life, yes? Less cycling between extremes means better longevity?
That DOT tires will work better, I don't disagree. I think the real question is will a noob benefit from the DOT tires, or will I be riding well within the envelope of the street tires?
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