Track Tires?

[Darth_Phantom33]

I have a set of Pirelli Diablo Corsa that have about 75% of the tread left.  However, I am getting to the point that I can drag my knee at the track without effort.   Should I switch to straight track tires like the Dunlop 208GP?  Will it give me more confidence on the track to push it a little farther or  should I stick to the Diablo Corsa for the next trackday in February?

[Jeff]

The difference between a race tire and a street tire is primarily in construction.

Street tires are made with much softer sidewalls and more flexibility for 2 reasons:
1 - to allow more riding comfort (feel less bumps)
2 - to allow the tire to heat up quicker

Race tires are much stiffer by design, to hold up to the extreme forces applied in race cornering/acceleration/braking.  This also is done to regulate the heat in the tire.

A race tire will work on the street, but provide a harsher ride.

A street tire will work on the track, but will not last nearly as long.

The benefit you will get out of going to a race compound is more in longevity of the tire life than of pure traction, although the two coincide very much.  

If you frequently do track days, I'd recommend picking up a pair of DOT race tires.  The only caution you need is that they may take longer to heat up on the road, and in certain instances have  a tread pattern that doesn' t channel water as well as a street tire.  

[Darth_Phantom33]

Street tires are made with much softer sidewalls and more flexibility

Does that mean when I ride at the edges of the street tires that it might tear more than track tires?

[cpchillin]

Yes street tires will tear more than the race tires!! If what I was told is true than the heat cycling that street tires get put through on the track causes the tires to wear faster and inconsistently. I'm looking into getting some "cheap" race rims with some DOT race tires. Hey Jeff and Terry what are the advantages and disadvantages of 16.5" rims?

[600DubRizzle]

Hey Jeff and Terry what are the advantages and disadvantages of 16.5" rims?

I know you didn't ask me Chris, but I just feel like throwing in my $.02.  If you get these 16.5" rims, and have tires with the same height sidewall as stock, the biggest thing it'll do is change your gearing.  This means it'll throw off the speedo as well.  I'm not sure which size wheel we got, but if 16.5" is smaller, it'll make all the gear shorter, meaning more acceleration.  If 16.5 is larger than stock, it'll make the gears taller, decreasing acceleration, but increasing top end speed.

[Hi-Side]

All of the R&D is going into the 16.5 tires. The 17's compound is what worked on the 16.5's last year. Unless you're running at the front of the pack, spending $1600 minimum for a set of 16.5's is only going to lighten your wallet and not really effect your lap times. As far as I know, there are no street tires that are 16.5.

And I'm on 17's.

[Jeff]

And I'm on 17's.

Me too...

If money were no object, my hired mechanics would probably insist on multiple sets of 16.5's.  But back in the real world where my money is earned by the day, I tend to look at things like suspension, tuning and schools as a better investment.

[cpchillin]

After this next season the RR is only gonna be a track bike so all the parts that I'm buying now are geared towards the track. I've been looking for a set of track-worthy rims and tires and have seen some 16.5"s in some ads, that's why I was asking. I'm not rolling in the dough like Christian so I'm not gonna do a 2-day CSS track school but I would love to find one cheaper than a new RR!! Any suggestions?

[Hi-Side]

You're considering a set of 16.5 rims, but you won't go to 2 days of school ??

The school will make you way faster than the rims will...

[cpchillin]

I will go to the 2 days but I'd rather not spend the $2K for the school. $1500 would be great but $2000 just hurts too bad.  And I wanna do a school and about 10 trackdays this next season!! Than I wanna do the next step up school in 05.

[Darth_Phantom33]

I will go to the 2 days but I'd rather not spend the $2K for the school. $1500 would be great but $2000 just hurts too bad.  And I wanna do a school and about 10 trackdays this next season!! Than I wanna do the next step up school in 05.

What do guys think of the Dunlop 207rr for the track?  I can get a set from a friend for 230 dollars.  TIA!

[Hi-Side]

The superbike school has them on all of the student 636's. They stick pretty well, just give them time to warm up, like any tire (my old saying... cold tires, cold track, cold brain) and they have a pretty decent longevity.

They're not a race tire, but a nice compromise to get some life as well as decent grip. Most people won't push them to their limit.

[Darth_Phantom33]

Thx for the info Terry.  Is it worth switching from my Pirelli Diablo Corsa to the 207rr?  Will the 207rr be less sensitive suspension setup that might be off?

Tom

[Hi-Side]

The only street tire I've ever used was a Dunlop, so I really have no idea, and I've been on race tires for 8 years now, so I'm probably not the right person to judge another tire.

I do know that the Dunlop street tire works pretty well. I have ridden the student school bikes several times, but thats really it for my street tire experience at least in the recent past.

I wouldn't worry about the suspension setup. Just change the tires and ride it.

[Darth_Phantom33]

The only street tire I've ever used was a Dunlop, so I really have no idea, and I've been on race tires for 8 years now, so I'm probably not the right person to judge another tire.

I do know that the Dunlop street tire works pretty well. I have ridden the student school bikes several times, but thats really it for my street tire experience at least in the recent past.

I wouldn't worry about the suspension setup. Just change the tires and ride it.

Thx Terry.