Picking the right tyre for the track.

[Ayu]

i used metzeler sportec m3 on my s4 last year...

good on the track, the side grips very well..

 

Tyre size bro?

[dinie]

sorry just a question, some people mentioned lowering their tire pressures for their track sessions right? so let's say im running on 250/290kPa on the front and rear respectively for street use, what should i lower it to, for track usage?

[ghost04]

Tyre size bro?

 

s4 rear i think standard for vtec..160??

should be the same size as wat u using now.

[Raptor]

Just to share with you guys.......

 

Was using a new set of Michelin Pilot Power (150 rear and 120 front) at PG Track Day today on my DRZ400SM.

 

Was using 20 PSI cold tyre pressures. Did 7 fast laps coz friend was timing me...and on the 8th lap, had a nice front and back slide while inside the last corner before the straight.

 

Looks like I need to go to a higher pressure... mebbe 21 or 22 PSI so that the tyres don't get so hot and start sliding all over the place.

[keeep]

Hi guys,

 

after gone through all posts from very 1st one, i notice that most ppl talking about the tire pressure you should used on pg track, i.e 30f 30r when cold on certain tire brand. i think it would be better to include the lap time to compare the pressure to be used, track temperature is not an issue because its always arnd 30 degree, if its raining you don't go.

 

i'm arnd 2min at PG, have tired using 30f 28r, 32f 30r and 30f 30r, i don't find any big different between those pressures setting. no sign of overheating even i normally done 10 to 14 laps in one go, no sliding or moving. i think tire pressure is not soooo importance to me if i kept the tyre pressure in the range 30 to 32f and 28 to 30r at my pace.

 

one thing concern me: some ppl said that the tire worn out very fast if its too hot, is anyone knows what is the optimum tire temperature when its HOT? is it the same as munafacturer recommandation 38f 42r?

 

by the way, i did used Dunlup D218, pilot power (single compound) and now power race medium for above setup.

[loco B ware]

Hi there ghost04, hv used 2ct for track and its not bad....after 2 track sessions, there's still alot of tread left. If u r a fast/hard rider, ur trottle has to be linear at lean angles.

[299]

im goin to track next wk using road 2....will give a review after tat *cheers*

 

How's the review for road 2? How's the grip when u push hard?

[Cadbury Dream]

have u guys heard or have any gd reviews for brigestone bt-016??

[singkiwi]

The better you get, the faster your tyres wear out!

 

ok, something slightly different... I'm running Supercorsa's SC2's I've done 4 hours at the track and my rear is shot, kind of squared off on the right hand side, has anyone tried only swapping the rear? I figure I should be able to do double the amount of time on the front as the rear?

front = 8 hours

Rear = 4 hours

kind of scares me even thinking about this?

anyone else thought of this?

 

Cheers

[GuiNNeSS]

I believe high performance track biased tyres like Supercorsas can only take up to a certain number of heat cycles ie. heat up/cool down cycles.

 

You sound like a pretty experienced trackie, so why don't you just change the rear, go for a ride, see if the front starts to push?

 

I did the same with my sport touring tyres, and the front only started to loose grip towards the end of the 2nd rear tyre's life. By then the front was quite worn too, so alls well.

[singkiwi]

You sound like a pretty experienced trackie,

haha not really but getting better! :-) I ran out of time today so I guess I'm running with the old supercorsa on the back, I'll need to take it easy... thanks for your feedback, I'm going to try this next time. I've never really had a prob with the front pushing, I think I'm a little soft going in but give it a fist full on the way out, so I'm not stressing the front too much

 

Cheers

[singkiwi]

mmm why don't re run reverse direction every now and then? it'd double the life of our tyres.... and make it kind of interesting, two tracks in one...

[Raptor]

mmm why don't re run reverse direction every now and then? it'd double the life of our tyres.... and make it kind of interesting, two tracks in one...

 

Used to think the same thing.

 

But there will be no run off areas and the gravel pits are all in the wrong places.

Just think about overshooting Turn 2 or Turn 1...its The Wall!!!!

[GuiNNeSS]

Why don't you flip your tyre around? The thread pattern only works in the wet.

[Corse]

I dont think fliping the tyre around is a good idea.

Although the threads are meant fot the wet,

but i've heard from other mechanics that its still not good to flip it to the oppsite direction.

 

Oh ya.. Raptor, u mentioned something abt what's the point of using Dot tyres on the roads.

Well, I was using Diablo Corsa III at 34F/36R for street use.

Then when i switched to Metzeler K2 for the track. And used it for the roads with 34F/36R... feels like it grips better than the DCIII although the K2 tyres need to heat up more for better grip, but it really feels better.

Thats how i feel about it.

[Raptor]

I have been flipping tyres all the time. From the CBR1000RR to the current DRZ400SM, cuts the tyre costs for practices. Instead of 4 sessions can now use for 8 sessions.

 

But I do not use them till the treads are all gone... mostly till the sides treads are about 25% left then I sell them off cheaply as tyres for road use only like for $100 a set and use the money towards a new set of tyres.

 

But for actual race days... its a brand new set of tyres.

 

Mechanics say that it is not good to flip. Did they give a technical explanation for saying that? If they say its the pattern for clearing water... take a look at the Michelin Pilot Race... the front pattern is in the opposite direction of the rear when mounted correctly.

 

Or mebbe its because they are trying to sell a new set of tyres?

 

Disclaimer: I do it to cut down my track costs... but that does not mean I recommend everyone to do it. I had no problems with it so far but that does not mean you won't. Do so at your own risk.

[Rsexxyy]

Reversing the tires may upset the construction belting of the tires. Tires are design to rotate in only one direction thus the construction belting is biased towards that only 1 rotating direction..

 

I have seen an email reply from Pirelli towards a question about flipping the tires. Pirelli strongly discourage from flipping the tires the other way round citing the reason above.

 

You may view above as Pirelli trying to sell their tires OR the safety issues for flipping the tires.

 

Its your call..

[keeep]

the front pattern is in the opposite direction of the rear when mounted correctly.

 

Front tire for braking and rear for acceleration, so the tire pattern reversed?

[Raptor]

Front tire for braking and rear for acceleration, so the tire pattern reversed?

 

Not in that sense but more like the tread groove pattern seems to be directing water to the centre of the tyre and not away.

[Raptor]

Check this new Michelin Power One... as good as slicks!!

 

Michellin Power 1 Website

[terri_one]

i will try tyre flipping in tuas track as the bike rarely hit speeds higher than 110km/h and even in pasir gudang (on a motard) on dry and slightly wet days.

 

But i would not do so when riding higher speeds (on sports bikes) or on wet days cos I believe the grove are designed a certain manner to reduce hydroplaning.

 

in any case, its your own risk and i try to be sensible about it.

[Raptor]

Am using the Michelin Power One tyres on the DRZ.

 

As good as the Michelin Pilot Power supermoto slicks.

[Rsexxyy]

Am using the Michelin Power One tyres on the DRZ.

 

As good as the Michelin Pilot Power supermoto slicks.

 

I second that!!! Raptor-san..u're the 1st one to use Michelin Power 1 on Tuas track..and I'm proud to say i'm the second guy!! hahaha..Great tires, had some issues with rear tire sliding when exiting turn 8 and turn 1..but have since solved them.

 

Tried 27F and 25R cold..when hot the front goes to 28-29 psi and the rear 28psi, the rear keep sliding when i power out of turn 8 and 1..so i reduced the rear hot pressure to 26psi..and it works like a charm!!

 

Talked to Joe, he said the next time round to try 26psi F and 22psi R cold..

 

What's your take??

[Raptor]

I second that!!! Raptor-san..u're the 1st one to use Michelin Power 1 on Tuas track..and I'm proud to say i'm the second guy!! hahaha..Great tires, had some issues with rear tire sliding when exiting turn 8 and turn 1..but have since solved them.

 

Tried 27F and 25R cold..when hot the front goes to 28-29 psi and the rear 28psi, the rear keep sliding when i power out of turn 8 and 1..so i reduced the rear hot pressure to 26psi..and it works like a charm!!

 

Talked to Joe, he said the next time round to try 26psi F and 22psi R cold..

 

What's your take??

 

I stiffened up the rear suspension's compression and rebound by 2 clicks and the problem went away. Was running 26 PSI cold on front and rear that day.

 

My postulation is that the soft suspension was 'absorbing' the downward force to load the tyre when under acceleration.. no load, no friction so rearwheel spins so it slides.

 

Lowering the tyre pressure may have allowed for a greater contact patch and so it grips again.

 

Anyway.. these tyre pressures versus suspension settings boggles my mind all the time.

[Rsexxyy]

I stiffened up the rear suspension's compression and rebound by 2 clicks and the problem went away. Was running 26 PSI cold on front and rear that day.

 

My postulation is that the soft suspension was 'absorbing' the downward force to load the tyre when under acceleration.. no load, no friction so rearwheel spins so it slides.

 

Lowering the tyre pressure may have allowed for a greater contact patch and so it grips again.

 

Anyway.. these tyre pressures versus suspension settings boggles my mind all the time.

 

That's wat makes it exciting!!! Anyway..i believe stiffening the rear suspension and/or reducing the tyre pressure will solve the problem.

 

Thanks for your insight..and by the way if we happen to meet on track again, do pace me ok.. The last time, i low sided at turn 4 on a very used shitty Bridgestone..now i'm on a brand new grippy Power 1 and hope to keep the rubber side down the next time we have a go..

 

Looking forward to your help..