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Track tires

I tried 2CTs once when I brought my street bike to the track, they were not fun at all in ideal conditions. I've used Dunlop DOT's in the damp/light rain and was doing pretty good on my 600, no idea of lap times and I'm sure it was slow (third track day) but I was able to get around. If there's a dry line the DOT's will work if its wet then use rains.
 
Corsara said:
I was wondering how would Pilot Power 2CT or the Pilot Road 3 would do for a spare set of wheels to be used only on wet track (on a track day, not racing)?
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If it's wet, use rain tires or don't ride. There is no comparison between a FRESH set of rain tires and any normal DOT tire.

I hate riding on track in the rain, and have made a decision next year to only have one set of rims. If it's raining, I'm not riding. I'm not in this for any sort of championship, and if it's raining, I am not having any fun whatsoever anyhow.
 
Brian P said:
If it's wet, use rain tires or don't ride. There is no comparison between a FRESH set of rain tires and any normal DOT tire.

I hate riding on track in the rain, and have made a decision next year to only have one set of rims. If it's raining, I'm not riding. I'm not in this for any sort of championship, and if it's raining, I am not having any fun whatsoever anyhow.
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Ok, but what if it rains, then stops, then the track is just damp? Obviously one option is to wait for the other bikes to dry the racing line, which might take a while. And if it's rain on and off all day, would you just pack and go?
 
Are the recent posters actually reading the thread? Let's recap.

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.
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Re: Michelin Ones:

I've also really liked the Michelin One DOT race tire but it wears quickly
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Gumballs.

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Regarding why you want to use DOT racing tires (again):

DOT race tires will pretty much always work better on the track than street tires.
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The truth (from dricked):

I've ridden once on the track with street tires after already riding on DOT race tires, didn't like it at all.
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Right.

On suspension:

Suspension *setup* should come first. Lots of guys win amateur races with stock suspension.
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Street tires probably won't save you money. Here's why:

my friends who tried to save money using them found that they were eating up the Q2s just as fast as race tires, and without the grip that the DOT race tires gave them.
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As soon as they got within about 15 seconds a lap of pro racers... the tires just destroyed themselves. I wish I'd taken a picture of one night on my buddy's 750 once he got under two minutes on the Shannonville Long Track... it was ugly, and he freakin' near highsided himself twice (that he admits to).

you can get a set of new race tires for $300.00 .they should last 3or4 trackdays and the good thing you can trust your tires.
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... yep.

The Power Ones did great in a brutal downpour I was caught in too (had me worried!). No one's mentioned them here for track...
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Uh, yes. Twice. Which is why I recapped here. See above.

And from the guy that runs a racing series:

Use street tires on the street and track tires on the track. Neither one has any place in the others domain.
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Ok, so let's not ask the same questions until at least we've read the whole thread (minus the stone-throwing, perhaps.)

And to make this post more useful...

Ok, but what if it rains, then stops, then the track is just damp? Obviously one option is to wait for the other bikes to dry the racing line, which might take a while. And if it's rain on and off all day, would you just pack and go?
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That's a judgement call you have to make. Usually there's a dry line if people are out there running and the rain is intermittent... but there's no single answer, just the one that is right for you. I don't usually carry rain tires with me to a track day and if it's wet I won't go out on slicks... personal choice. Some track day orgs will close the track if it rains anyways, with or without lightning.
 
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He's not gonna be racing, or anywhere near a race pace. Tire temps are irrelevant.

If he can't get around the track safely on the same tires he uses on the street, then that should be a blessing because it's a much better place to find out how bad a rider he is, than the street. The extra grip of race tires will just lend a false sense of security to someone who may be very abrupt at the controls. You guys are making it sound like street tires are inherently unsafe for the track. Tell that to Ben Bostrom. http://youtu.be/7F5RlN2e7G4

Add this thread to the bin full of threads where GTAM speed pros try to show off their superior track riding knowledge by applying it in a situation that doesn't call for it.
 
fastar1 said:
He's not gonna be racing, or anywhere near a race pace. Tire temps are irrelevant.

If he can't get around the track safely on the same tires he uses on the street, then that should be a blessing because it's a much better place to find out how bad a rider he is, than the street. The extra grip of race tires will just lend a false sense of security to someone who may be very abrupt at the controls. You guys are making it sound like street tires are inherently unsafe for the track. Tell that to Ben Bostrom. http://youtu.be/7F5RlN2e7G4

Add this thread to the bin full of threads where GTAM speed pros try to show off their superior track riding knowledge by applying it in a situation that doesn't call for it.
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I agree with your post. However the real problem lies in people asking for very general tire advice on a forum from a bunch of people who have almost never seen them ride. There are way too many variables for any answer to be correct. It's usually a combination of opinion and limited experience. Even the racers and speed merchants on here have a very limited tire experience to fall back on compared to any 365 track rider in the southern States or someone like Bostrom who does this **** for a living. Then you get others who chime in with their "experience" (myself included sometimes) and the whole thing wanders off at the tangent it always does.

I mean, for example, I would answer the OP with something like "anything round and rubber. You ain't gonna outride the tire any time soon." But then what if he is the fastest learner in the world and is also a demon street rider with years of experience? Too many variables from vague, general questions.

And that wasn't a pop at anyone. It was a general observation.
 
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I've been having some technical difficulties - I've been able to view all the responses but not reply. Problems resolved.

Firstly - I actually think there's a lot of good advice in this thread, so thanks for all of that. Some of it's conflicting, but that's to be expected.

I think Shaman and Fiery have done a good job of capping this off. Since I'm the OP, let me clarify.

I'm NOT a racer. This is my first season of track, and I've got enough kms under by belt on the street to have some humility. Am I quick? Am I a quick learner? I dunno - I'm sure I'll be average. I'm not so dumb that I'll highside in corner 1, not so timid that I'm not trying to improve all the time. I have almost 150,000 kms under my belt on the street and via touring - I spend enough time in the Rockies and Appalachian mountains that I know my way around a corner.

The real question is will I be fast enough to retain heat in the tires? I suspect that as I'm learning in the first half of the season the answer will be no. I will be using tire warmers, though, because I have them and it appears that no matter whether or not I'm fast enough to retain heat that tire warmers will add to longevity of the tires by mitigating heat cycling.

I suspect that the right solution for me would be Q2's or an equivalent street tire for the first half of the season, and then once I've had the oppty to dial in my suspension and get some track time under my belt I'll be better able to answer the question for myself when I need a new set of tires.

Thanks to all. Resume the arguing.
 
If you have warmers get r10's why risk a crash with q2's the extra margin for error is well worth it when you think what a crash costs. On the q2 a mistake will be UN savable why not have a cushion and give yourself a chance to save it.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
 
Q2's are totally fine.... I used them at fast intermediate/slow red pace. Now that I'm faster and can retain heat in slicks, I use those.

No point in getting DOTs unless you're fast enough to retain heat in those harder race tire/compounds.

OP will be fine with Q2's.

A crash is never the tire's fault unless it's a manufacturing defect... everything else is on the rider, the bike/suspension set up, tire pressures, tire temps and physics.

When they start to melt/get greasy like mine did, it's time to move up to DOT race tires.
 
Mr.Azim said:
No point in getting DOTs unless you're fast enough to retain heat in those harder race tire/compounds.
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So now you're going to argue with Ken, who runs a race series. Really?

So there's no value in having better handling and a considerable margin of extra safety in the tire? Really?

I can understand you arguing with me, because you have no idea of the breadth of my experience (although I've tried to relate it, and even wrote up a fairly comprehensive guide to track day events). But, arguing with a guy who is hosting professional track events? Really?

The things I "learn" on GTAM always astonish me.
 
I think he has the right . Its a discussion forum.

Dave - hook a gal up with a new set of rains! The round rubbery type is fine for meeeee.
 
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Bad advice can be worse than no advice.
 
Shaman said:
So now you're going to argue with Ken, who runs a race series. Really?

So there's no value in having better handling and a considerable margin of extra safety in the tire? Really?

I can understand you arguing with me, because you have no idea of the breadth of my experience (although I've tried to relate it, and even wrote up a fairly comprehensive guide to track day events). But, arguing with a guy who is hosting professional track events? Really?

The things I "learn" on GTAM always astonish me.
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I gave my experience on the tires and my opinion. I'm not arguing with anyone, just stating my point of view, which I have every right to do so.

There's no need to be a forum-nazi.
 
If the guy takes your tire advice and ends up on his head riding a 500lb v-twin bike with a pile of torque and no slipper clutch (a combination that I am betting you have no experience with at all), you can tell us all about how out of proportion my taking his question seriously was. Maybe he'll weigh in too.
 
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oomis said:
The real question is will I be fast enough to retain heat in the tires? I suspect that as I'm learning in the first half of the season the answer will be no.
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Don't be so sure it's a "no", you might be surprised. I don't have nearly as much street km under my belt as you do, and when I started track, after just a couple of trackdays at TMP I was able to maintain 1:25 laps around the circuit on Q2. I don't know how these times measure up in general, but for the days and sessions I attended, that was towards the faster side of the yellow group.
 
He already seems to have decided on Q2's before I posted.

And if he winds up on his head (hoping that he doesn't/never will) but, as a beginner track rider, you can't rule out rider error/lack of track experience/**** happens.

Thanks for pointing out the facts of life that no one knew about again.
 
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