Chicken strips and tyre size
Discussion
Saw a Street Triple parked up this morning as I was walking in town. Centre of the tyre was worn but there were chicken strips of around 3cm-4cm on the rear tyre.
Got me thinking. My base assumption would be that the bigger the tyres then potentially the larger the size of the chicken strips. So for similar amounts of lean someone with 160 rears would have smaller strips than someone on 190s. But then the tyres are not the same shape and perhaps that makes a difference. What is correct?
Got me thinking. My base assumption would be that the bigger the tyres then potentially the larger the size of the chicken strips. So for similar amounts of lean someone with 160 rears would have smaller strips than someone on 190s. But then the tyres are not the same shape and perhaps that makes a difference. What is correct?
I'd say it's a percentage thing. A 190 would have a 18% bigger contact area than a 160 but that would be at all angles including riding bang upright. (If the tyres are the same shape of course) So ultimately if a rider rides exactly the same on both bikes you could expect the 'chicken strip' to be 18% bigger on the 190 than the 160 if everything else remains constant.
That's my take.
That's my take.
It's not width - it's shape of the tyre combined with the relative width of rim to tyre.
For example I have a '99 R1 and a new Agusta F4. They both have the same tyre sizes - 120/70 front and 190/55 rear.
They tyre on the R1 is a Dunlop something or other and it has a very gentle curve as you look at the shape of the tyre from behind.
The F4 has a Michelin Pilot Power 3 on it, and the curve is much more pronounced - they tyre itself actually *looks* thinner.
On the R1 I have gone right over off the edge and beyond, very clearly done.
On the F4 I have no doubt that I'm riding faster and that it handles better - I swear I'm really leaning it over. I'm still about a centimetre from the edge. On the upside I know I can take it quite a bit further over and still not compromise my contact patch.
For example I have a '99 R1 and a new Agusta F4. They both have the same tyre sizes - 120/70 front and 190/55 rear.
They tyre on the R1 is a Dunlop something or other and it has a very gentle curve as you look at the shape of the tyre from behind.
The F4 has a Michelin Pilot Power 3 on it, and the curve is much more pronounced - they tyre itself actually *looks* thinner.
On the R1 I have gone right over off the edge and beyond, very clearly done.
On the F4 I have no doubt that I'm riding faster and that it handles better - I swear I'm really leaning it over. I'm still about a centimetre from the edge. On the upside I know I can take it quite a bit further over and still not compromise my contact patch.
Dog Star said:
The F4 has a Michelin Pilot Power 3 on it, and the curve is much more pronounced - they tyre itself actually *looks* thinner.
On the R1 I have gone right over off the edge and beyond, very clearly done.
On the F4 I have no doubt that I'm riding faster and that it handles better - I swear I'm really leaning it over. I'm still about a centimetre from the edge. On the upside I know I can take it quite a bit further over and still not compromise my contact patch.
Same here. I have PP3's on the Multistrada and the one and only time I got to the edge was Druids bend on a track evening. Whereas I have the same size PR3's on my commuter with almost zero strips from day to day riding.On the R1 I have gone right over off the edge and beyond, very clearly done.
On the F4 I have no doubt that I'm riding faster and that it handles better - I swear I'm really leaning it over. I'm still about a centimetre from the edge. On the upside I know I can take it quite a bit further over and still not compromise my contact patch.
PP3's are great tyres
Andy XRV said:
Dog Star said:
The F4 has a Michelin Pilot Power 3 on it, and the curve is much more pronounced - they tyre itself actually *looks* thinner.
On the R1 I have gone right over off the edge and beyond, very clearly done.
On the F4 I have no doubt that I'm riding faster and that it handles better - I swear I'm really leaning it over. I'm still about a centimetre from the edge. On the upside I know I can take it quite a bit further over and still not compromise my contact patch.
Same here. I have PP3's on the Multistrada and the one and only time I got to the edge was Druids bend on a track evening. Whereas I have the same size PR3's on my commuter with almost zero strips from day to day riding.On the R1 I have gone right over off the edge and beyond, very clearly done.
On the F4 I have no doubt that I'm riding faster and that it handles better - I swear I'm really leaning it over. I'm still about a centimetre from the edge. On the upside I know I can take it quite a bit further over and still not compromise my contact patch.
PP3's are great tyres
Not really counter intuitive.
All about tyre *shape*. 'Sport touring' tyre - rounded profile, 'blunt' bottom, tread doesn't go far up the sides of the tyre - is assumed that you don't ride your tourer around with the pegs scraping all the time. Bonus is more meat under the middle, doesn't go square as quickly.
'Sport' tyre, designed to give max grip when cranked over with your knees on the deck. Very much more pointed (triangular), tread goes further up the sides. Better edge grip. Downside, goes square in no time at all when toured around.
Much easier to get to the edge of the touring tyre - if it helps, imagine what a (flat bottomed) car tyre would do..
Width doesn't really have much bearing on it. Same shape, same angle, same distance from the edge of the tread give or take.
All about tyre *shape*. 'Sport touring' tyre - rounded profile, 'blunt' bottom, tread doesn't go far up the sides of the tyre - is assumed that you don't ride your tourer around with the pegs scraping all the time. Bonus is more meat under the middle, doesn't go square as quickly.
'Sport' tyre, designed to give max grip when cranked over with your knees on the deck. Very much more pointed (triangular), tread goes further up the sides. Better edge grip. Downside, goes square in no time at all when toured around.
Much easier to get to the edge of the touring tyre - if it helps, imagine what a (flat bottomed) car tyre would do..
Width doesn't really have much bearing on it. Same shape, same angle, same distance from the edge of the tread give or take.
Also depends on the rim size. You're more likely to have thinner strips when a given tyre is mounted on a wider rim. Even moving from 5.5 to 6 inch wide rim can make a big difference. As already mentioned, also a function of the profile of the tyre. For example, to get to the edge of the fronts for some track specific tyres, you would need to be pushing *very* quickly into corners
The standard annual chicken strips thread arrives, albeit with a different take.
My road bike has a good 1-2 cm of chicken strip on either side, as there's no need to lean it that far in the road to get round.
My track bike hasn't got any
I'm intrigued by the "riding to the edge and beyond" comment. I've ridden off the edge of the tyre once amd crashed. I don't know anyone who's managed to stay upright when they've got zero tyre on the ground either front or rear.
My road bike has a good 1-2 cm of chicken strip on either side, as there's no need to lean it that far in the road to get round.
My track bike hasn't got any
I'm intrigued by the "riding to the edge and beyond" comment. I've ridden off the edge of the tyre once amd crashed. I don't know anyone who's managed to stay upright when they've got zero tyre on the ground either front or rear.
LoonR1 said:
The standard annual chicken strips thread arrives, albeit with a different take.
My road bike has a good 1-2 cm of chicken strip on either side, as there's no need to lean it that far in the road to get round.
My track bike hasn't got any
I'm intrigued by the "riding to the edge and beyond" comment. I've ridden off the edge of the tyre once amd crashed. I don't know anyone who's managed to stay upright when they've got zero tyre on the ground either front or rear.
I'm not saying I'm doing it but I can back him up on the feeling, I got another bike in January and I have zero chicken strips on the rear (with about 3 miles on the front), I would safely say it doesn't feel like im properly cranked over either, feels like i should be able to go a fair bit more. When I push to lean a bit more, all of a sudden the bike will feel like its falling over, till I (think) I countersteer the other way and get it stood back up slightly and then feels normal again. I have had this before on other bikes, but it felt like I was properly cranked over before attempting more lean so is sorta expected.My road bike has a good 1-2 cm of chicken strip on either side, as there's no need to lean it that far in the road to get round.
My track bike hasn't got any
I'm intrigued by the "riding to the edge and beyond" comment. I've ridden off the edge of the tyre once amd crashed. I don't know anyone who's managed to stay upright when they've got zero tyre on the ground either front or rear.
I'm not a new rider but haven't had a sports bike in a couple of years - bike is a TL1000s with 190/55/17 Dunlop roadsmarts 2's. Pressures are good aswell.
Edited by MrB1obby on Friday 22 May 19:32
As people have said it all comes down to rim width as well!
I have friends that race R6's using dunlop 200 section rear tyres, the 190 vs 200 section is not actually 10mm wider on the rim but around 8, making the tyre taller and giving and quicker turn in from steeper tyre profile.
This also gives a larger contact patch once cranked over. It also leaves them with 'chicken strips' of a mm or two, even though they are quicker than 90% of us around a track!
I have friends that race R6's using dunlop 200 section rear tyres, the 190 vs 200 section is not actually 10mm wider on the rim but around 8, making the tyre taller and giving and quicker turn in from steeper tyre profile.
This also gives a larger contact patch once cranked over. It also leaves them with 'chicken strips' of a mm or two, even though they are quicker than 90% of us around a track!
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