Slicks for Track days - Thoughts?
Discussion
Howdy,
So... as the title alludes to what's the general consensus on running slicks at track days? I have done a fair chunk of reading and generally people seem to think that other than the financial (my biggest + point) implication that there isn't really 'That' much difference in grip levels between a Pirelli Supercorsa SC2 and a Superbike (slick) With new pairs of Supercorsa's being close to £300 fitted and half decent sets of scrubs going for £100-£140 on eBay with a recent date - a £50-90 set of slick scrubs is looking mighty attractive.
I have seen others running slicks without issue and I have zero interest in racing at the moment. Other than the price, slicks are also reversible which would have been a massive bonus to me at Mallory this weekend where i lunched a half decent rear scrub on the right hand side.
What's the general consensus?
So... as the title alludes to what's the general consensus on running slicks at track days? I have done a fair chunk of reading and generally people seem to think that other than the financial (my biggest + point) implication that there isn't really 'That' much difference in grip levels between a Pirelli Supercorsa SC2 and a Superbike (slick) With new pairs of Supercorsa's being close to £300 fitted and half decent sets of scrubs going for £100-£140 on eBay with a recent date - a £50-90 set of slick scrubs is looking mighty attractive.
I have seen others running slicks without issue and I have zero interest in racing at the moment. Other than the price, slicks are also reversible which would have been a massive bonus to me at Mallory this weekend where i lunched a half decent rear scrub on the right hand side.
What's the general consensus?
Biggest track day accident I ever saw and dealt with was a really nice guy on a lovely ducati who`s front tyre let go on the start line at brands at max speed , it was like a bomb going off it blew the front guard off and disintegrated ,he ended up unconscious with multiple injuries at Paddock gate, he wasn't well at all for a long time. It turned out he had bought some cheap slicks from ebay and the front failed. If your going to ride on track please buy new slicks after all you only get 1 life! the tyre guys at the track will know what you need and do you a deal.
Bizzle said:
Howdy,
So... as the title alludes to what's the general consensus on running slicks at track days? I have done a fair chunk of reading and generally people seem to think that other than the financial (my biggest + point) implication that there isn't really 'That' much difference in grip levels between a Pirelli Supercorsa SC2 and a Superbike (slick) With new pairs of Supercorsa's being close to £300 fitted and half decent sets of scrubs going for £100-£140 on eBay with a recent date - a £50-90 set of slick scrubs is looking mighty attractive.
I have seen others running slicks without issue and I have zero interest in racing at the moment. Other than the price, slicks are also reversible which would have been a massive bonus to me at Mallory this weekend where i lunched a half decent rear scrub on the right hand side.
What's the general consensus?
Slicks are great if you a. get the right compound, b. warm them up properly and c. spend time setting up your bike. Otherwise stick to what you know IMO. If I wanted to use s/h slicks I would make a BSB event my first port of call NOT eBay. So... as the title alludes to what's the general consensus on running slicks at track days? I have done a fair chunk of reading and generally people seem to think that other than the financial (my biggest + point) implication that there isn't really 'That' much difference in grip levels between a Pirelli Supercorsa SC2 and a Superbike (slick) With new pairs of Supercorsa's being close to £300 fitted and half decent sets of scrubs going for £100-£140 on eBay with a recent date - a £50-90 set of slick scrubs is looking mighty attractive.
I have seen others running slicks without issue and I have zero interest in racing at the moment. Other than the price, slicks are also reversible which would have been a massive bonus to me at Mallory this weekend where i lunched a half decent rear scrub on the right hand side.
What's the general consensus?
Slicks are great, but I wouldn't buy any that I didn't know where they came from or what they'd been used for. You should get more grip, more predictable feedback, but as said, you need to warm the tyre & the carcas to get the best out of them & don't believe the hype that you can go for it straight from the off. I slid down Craner at nearly 120mph on the first lap as the left side of the tyre wasn't fully up to temp & I leaned on it far too hard.
As said, why would you put your health & well being at the mercy of something like this??? Having seen another case of a slick 'scrub' explode at the end of Park Straight at Cadwell in Feb, I know I wouldn't.
As said, why would you put your health & well being at the mercy of something like this??? Having seen another case of a slick 'scrub' explode at the end of Park Straight at Cadwell in Feb, I know I wouldn't.
Agreed with all. If your buying scrubs pay the 10-15 quid extra and buy from a reputable dealer.
When your bike is set up for them, slicks are awesome. But as stu said, they still need warming up AND they won't make you Marc Marquez in on easy step.
Ps, stu, wasn't a slick that went bang it was an eight year old racetec tread!
When your bike is set up for them, slicks are awesome. But as stu said, they still need warming up AND they won't make you Marc Marquez in on easy step.
Ps, stu, wasn't a slick that went bang it was an eight year old racetec tread!
Edited by Lincsblokey on Monday 31st March 17:23
s3fella said:
Rode on them once and the bike was completely different to my normal road tyres. not jst the grip, the profile and construction just made the bike trun like no tomorrow. Dropped on it's side like Ronaldo in the penalty box. Lovely feeling.
But I agree, get ones you know are good.
Absolutely this, totally different profile which needs setting up. Going back a few years one lad blogged a set of cheap slicks from a team and was very pleased with himself. Off he went but was back in after 2 laps white as a sheet. Turns out he had got a bargain set of scrubbed hard compound and through Craner discovered that 9 degrees in the UK didn't suit something normally used in Spain.But I agree, get ones you know are good.
We laughed. Lots.
They way I have always looked at tyres is they might be 2-300 quid but if they're s
te and lob you off you'll be paying that very same 2-300 quid + bodywork + leathers + helmet + gloves etc, etc. No offence but I doubt you will be going fast enough to get any benefit from slicks. Look at the speed the superstock lads carry on road legal tyres. No point in going for slicks imo when road/track tyres are that good.
Also I agree on other points - wouldn't want to ride on second hand tyres.
Also I agree on other points - wouldn't want to ride on second hand tyres.
mad4amanda said:
Biggest track day accident I ever saw and dealt with was a really nice guy on a lovely ducati who`s front tyre let go on the start line at brands at max speed , it was like a bomb going off it blew the front guard off and disintegrated ,he ended up unconscious with multiple injuries at Paddock gate, he wasn't well at all for a long time. It turned out he had bought some cheap slicks from ebay and the front failed. If your going to ride on track please buy new slicks after all you only get 1 life! the tyre guys at the track will know what you need and do you a deal.
That's odd. i'm a nice-ish guy who had a lovely Ducati, who crashed on the start straight, after getting hit from behind. I also ended up on the green painted part of the track where the gate is by the Kentagon. I also sustained many serious injuries and was in a bed way for a long time.When the marshalls came over to scoop me up, I asked if the other rider was ok? They replied there wasn't any other rider down, so I thought my rear tyre had let go (old slicks)
What's the chance of that?
When I began racing, the best bit of advice I got was "don't skimp on tyres" and "don't crash".
I did both, then spent a lot more on tyres thereafter.
Obviously, your best bet would be to get three sets of wheels shod with slicks, Supercorsas and full wets. IMO, full wets in the lashing rain are far more spectacular than slicks are in dry conditions.
I did both, then spent a lot more on tyres thereafter.
Obviously, your best bet would be to get three sets of wheels shod with slicks, Supercorsas and full wets. IMO, full wets in the lashing rain are far more spectacular than slicks are in dry conditions.
George29 said:
No offence but I doubt you will be going fast enough to get any benefit from slicks. Look at the speed the superstock lads carry on road legal tyres. No point in going for slicks imo when road/track tyres are that good.
Also I agree on other points - wouldn't want to ride on second hand tyres.
It's not about going quicker, it's about the fact that they're a crap load cheaper than road tyres and you can turn them round to make them last longer.Also I agree on other points - wouldn't want to ride on second hand tyres.
And there's nothing wrong with second hand tyres. Some of the rubber that was being taken off and replaced by people at Mallory was hardly touched. Fortunately, for the sensible among us, bargains are there to be had at the expense of people who think that it's their equipment that holds them back rather than talent.
My brother heard someone complaining that his tyres didn't have any feel and generally weren't much cop. He was talking about the tyres Michael Dunlop won the Supersport TT on in 2013. Div.
final_edition said:
mad4amanda said:
Biggest track day accident I ever saw and dealt with was a really nice guy on a lovely ducati who`s front tyre let go on the start line at brands at max speed , it was like a bomb going off it blew the front guard off and disintegrated ,he ended up unconscious with multiple injuries at Paddock gate, he wasn't well at all for a long time. It turned out he had bought some cheap slicks from ebay and the front failed. If your going to ride on track please buy new slicks after all you only get 1 life! the tyre guys at the track will know what you need and do you a deal.
That's odd. i'm a nice-ish guy who had a lovely Ducati, who crashed on the start straight, after getting hit from behind. I also ended up on the green painted part of the track where the gate is by the Kentagon. I also sustained many serious injuries and was in a bed way for a long time.When the marshalls came over to scoop me up, I asked if the other rider was ok? They replied there wasn't any other rider down, so I thought my rear tyre had let go (old slicks)
What's the chance of that?
Hello Again,
So after doing some more digging i have read some really good things about the Pirelli Superbike Pro track-day slicks. They are designed for use by track day enthusiasts and are supposed to be long lasting and will heat cycle like a road tire. The compound is supposed to be more akin to a supercorsa rather than a race slick.
Just to reiterate, i am not lacking in grip using supercorsa's, but they are £300+ a set plus fitting. I'm looking at the option of slicks due to the fact they are £100 cheaper per set than supercorsas! I can get a set of these Superbike Pro's for £210 fitted to loose wheels. If they provide a ride comparable or better than supercorsas then we're laughing... right?
An interesting couple of reviews:
- http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/947/Motorcycle-Video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBjdhBmBbyA
So after doing some more digging i have read some really good things about the Pirelli Superbike Pro track-day slicks. They are designed for use by track day enthusiasts and are supposed to be long lasting and will heat cycle like a road tire. The compound is supposed to be more akin to a supercorsa rather than a race slick.
Just to reiterate, i am not lacking in grip using supercorsa's, but they are £300+ a set plus fitting. I'm looking at the option of slicks due to the fact they are £100 cheaper per set than supercorsas! I can get a set of these Superbike Pro's for £210 fitted to loose wheels. If they provide a ride comparable or better than supercorsas then we're laughing... right?
An interesting couple of reviews:
- http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/947/Motorcycle-Video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBjdhBmBbyA
Regarding Heat Cycling.
If you use warmers throuhout the day, putting them on as soon as you return to the pits and taken off as you're about to go on track, the tyres will effectively only see one heat cycle. So by keeping them up to temp from morning to home time will actually make them last much longer disregarding how hard you are on them in terms of wear as opposed to letting them cool down between sessions.
And as for slicks in the wet, as long as there's no standing water/puddles, slicks are fine as long as you can keep the heat in them.
If you use warmers throuhout the day, putting them on as soon as you return to the pits and taken off as you're about to go on track, the tyres will effectively only see one heat cycle. So by keeping them up to temp from morning to home time will actually make them last much longer disregarding how hard you are on them in terms of wear as opposed to letting them cool down between sessions.
And as for slicks in the wet, as long as there's no standing water/puddles, slicks are fine as long as you can keep the heat in them.
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