Trackday tyres
Discussion
Slicks vs sticky treaded
Which is favoured for wear and longevity(relative), slick or Superstock type tyre,is there much between them.
These are going on a 2011 fireblade,which I hope will help me go quicker,with the right tyre.
I haven’t ridden the bike yet,am I better just going all in and getting slicks?
Which is favoured for wear and longevity(relative), slick or Superstock type tyre,is there much between them.
These are going on a 2011 fireblade,which I hope will help me go quicker,with the right tyre.
I haven’t ridden the bike yet,am I better just going all in and getting slicks?
It's all relative to the Pace. Yes Slicks are Great but you need a decent pace to keep the heat in them. Up till top end of Inters I wouldn't use anything other than a decent soft road tyre.
I use Dunlop TT to instruct on warm up quick and last really well Good enough for fast Group pace
I use Dunlop TT to instruct on warm up quick and last really well Good enough for fast Group pace
I like metzeler TD slicks. I only use a rear as I find a super Corsa front absolutely fine. The metzelers are advertised as not needing warmers and I find they warm up like road tyres, a couple of laps and you're good to go. I reckon they last about 3 times longer than supercorsas and they're reversible so you can get maximum life from them. Performance wise I can't say they give much more than supercorsas but just for the longevity they're worth it for me.
GreaseNipple said:
I like metzeler TD slicks. I only use a rear as I find a super Corsa front absolutely fine. The metzelers are advertised as not needing warmers and I find they warm up like road tyres, a couple of laps and you're good to go. I reckon they last about 3 times longer than supercorsas and they're reversible so you can get maximum life from them. Performance wise I can't say they give much more than supercorsas but just for the longevity they're worth it for me.
What Group do you run in Normally? GreaseNipple said:
I like metzeler TD slicks. I only use a rear as I find a super Corsa front absolutely fine. The metzelers are advertised as not needing warmers and I find they warm up like road tyres, a couple of laps and you're good to go. I reckon they last about 3 times longer than supercorsas and they're reversible so you can get maximum life from them. Performance wise I can't say they give much more than supercorsas but just for the longevity they're worth it for me.
+1 for the Metzelers. I run them also and find them very good.
Also they are reportedly not as sensitive to heat cycles as other slicks so you can safely use them for longer.
Right then,after a small cancer scare( stage 1 so all good) I’m looking to book this years first trackday,probably in March before a minor op.
The new bike is shod with TD slicks which have a bit of life left in them so I’m going to wear them out before buying my choice of tyre.
I have warmers but will the track temp be a sufficient when the mercury is hovering around 8-10 degrees.
The new bike is shod with TD slicks which have a bit of life left in them so I’m going to wear them out before buying my choice of tyre.
I have warmers but will the track temp be a sufficient when the mercury is hovering around 8-10 degrees.
Track temp is far less important than how hard you’re riding. I’d also be a bit wary of the idea of using up an old tyre that you don’t know how hard (or not) it’s been used previously. The tyre is the only thing touching the track and keeping you upright. The fact that you’re asking questions like this makes me think you’re quite inexperienced and would be far better off on a more road focussed tyre, even a Sports Touring tyre like the Metzeler RoadTec M9RR, or the Pirelli Diablo Rosso. They’ll warm up quicker, stay warm longer, go through heat cycles better and are more suited to colder tarmac.
smifffymoto2 said:
Yes I am inexperienced on slicks.
That s why I am asking questions because I don t know the answers.
I m not arrogant or pig headed enough to think otherwise,unlike a lot of trackday heroes.
You asked some questions and I gave you some answers. If you want to take note then great, if not, it’s no skin off my nose. I’m not insulting you by giving an opinion that you might be inexperienced, especially when it turns out that you are. Slicks in general aren’t for inexperienced riders, the same applies for the pure race focussed track tyres. Tyres work when they’re warm enough. They get and stay warm by being worked. Slicks take a lot more effort to get the heat into them and to keep it in. Plenty of riders go out on nicely warm slicks from their tyre warmers and spend the next 15 minutes letting them cool down to a point where they stop working. That s why I am asking questions because I don t know the answers.
I m not arrogant or pig headed enough to think otherwise,unlike a lot of trackday heroes.
The Metzeler TD slick is effectively an uncut RaceTecRR, but even that needs working to get the best out of it. There’s nothing wrong with using Sports Touring tyres in the colder months. They’ll still be better than 95% of the riders out there and it’s better to spend £300 on a set of tyres and only use them sparingly, than fit the wrong tyres and chuck the bike and yourself down the road.
smifffymoto2 said:
That is what my question was alluding too,is the track temp a bit on the cold side for a first time on slicks.
The only thing that makes you inexperienced is not experiencing something.
Inexperience on slicks doesn t always equate to inexperienced on a bike/track.
You don’t gain experience of parachuting by jumping out of a plane solo at 40,000 feet. You don’t gain experience of public speaking by addressing the Nation. You work up to things. Slicks aren’t for cold temps, they aren’t for riders who are learning the ropes, they are for people who know how to work tyres hard. I didn’t use slicks until I was running midpack in the Fast Group. There was no need, I was faster on sportier road tyres as they were more forgiving, especially as I worked my way through the trackday groups and race licence classes over the years. The only thing that makes you inexperienced is not experiencing something.
Inexperience on slicks doesn t always equate to inexperienced on a bike/track.
The fact you’re asking these questions makes me think you’re quite inexperienced at riding on track. I stand to be corrected, but until you’ve got a good few dozen trackdays under your belt at the very least at the sharp end of Inters then you’re inexperienced on track.
smifffymoto2 said:
Right then,after a small cancer scare( stage 1 so all good) I m looking to book this years first trackday,probably in March before a minor op.
The new bike is shod with TD slicks which have a bit of life left in them so I m going to wear them out before buying my choice of tyre.
I have warmers but will the track temp be a sufficient when the mercury is hovering around 8-10 degrees.
Yeah be fine. Not sure what's on it, make sure the warmers are on for a good hour. Check pressures just before you take them off. Run the top end of what the range is for the brand and ideally try not take them off and wait in queue for ages - that can take a chunk off temps on the tyre The new bike is shod with TD slicks which have a bit of life left in them so I m going to wear them out before buying my choice of tyre.
I have warmers but will the track temp be a sufficient when the mercury is hovering around 8-10 degrees.
I've run V02s in weather that had sleet at lunch, must've been 3-4 degrees. Was ok long as you didn't pussy foot and kept heat in
Opapayer said:
smifffymoto2 said:
That is what my question was alluding too,is the track temp a bit on the cold side for a first time on slicks.
The only thing that makes you inexperienced is not experiencing something.
Inexperience on slicks doesn t always equate to inexperienced on a bike/track.
You don t gain experience of parachuting by jumping out of a plane solo at 40,000 feet. You don t gain experience of public speaking by addressing the Nation. You work up to things. Slicks aren t for cold temps, they aren t for riders who are learning the ropes, they are for people who know how to work tyres hard. I didn t use slicks until I was running midpack in the Fast Group. There was no need, I was faster on sportier road tyres as they were more forgiving, especially as I worked my way through the trackday groups and race licence classes over the years. The only thing that makes you inexperienced is not experiencing something.
Inexperience on slicks doesn t always equate to inexperienced on a bike/track.
The fact you re asking these questions makes me think you re quite inexperienced at riding on track. I stand to be corrected, but until you ve got a good few dozen trackdays under your belt at the very least at the sharp end of Inters then you re inexperienced on track.
Thanks,Birky.
Answered my question without an opinion piece.
I use V02's. Have done for years. Previously Racetecs. Main reasons for using slicks is I get a little longer out of a pair, and they remain consistent right to the end.
My 2p's worth - watch pressures (you run V02's at lower pressures than others). Check cold, I tend to do the sighting laps them immediately check once back in. Then again each session (as your pace increases, so does tyre temp). Extra care after lunch. Use warmers, and check they've actually been on (mate crashed a V4r the other year; his rear tyre warmer hadn't worked and no one noticed). And be wary of too many heat cycles - buy new and note how many times they've been on warmers - make one heat cycle last the entire day.
My 2p's worth - watch pressures (you run V02's at lower pressures than others). Check cold, I tend to do the sighting laps them immediately check once back in. Then again each session (as your pace increases, so does tyre temp). Extra care after lunch. Use warmers, and check they've actually been on (mate crashed a V4r the other year; his rear tyre warmer hadn't worked and no one noticed). And be wary of too many heat cycles - buy new and note how many times they've been on warmers - make one heat cycle last the entire day.
Well my 2p worth. I wouldn't be using Slicks this time of year. Warmers or no Warmers. I'll be using Dunlop TT road tyre till at least end of April.
Slicks are Great if you can keep heat in them.
Running round Novice to Mid inters Road Tyres are fine.
Worked at Haslam School for many years only ever used Bridgestone S23 sports touring tyres. For 85% of customers they were fine..
Slicks are Great if you can keep heat in them.
Running round Novice to Mid inters Road Tyres are fine.
Worked at Haslam School for many years only ever used Bridgestone S23 sports touring tyres. For 85% of customers they were fine..
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff