Bulers
Novice Class
Posts: 47
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posted March 11, 2008 10:22 AM
Slicks for track days?
Anyone got any experience of moving from treaded race rubber to Slicks. I'm using Pirelli Supercorsa Pro's (SC1/2) but am tearing them a bit as i get a bit quicker. Might try some slicks this year.
Any advice or recomendations? Will they last as long?
thx.
  
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k bryant
Needs a job
Sponsor
Posts: 2911
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posted March 11, 2008 04:25 PM
Assuming you are talking roadracing.... All depends on how fast you end up going, and how often you want to deal with replacing tires. Lap times now between DOT Race tires and Slicks are closer than they've ever been before. For example at Daytona - There was less than 1 second difference between the FX bikes and Superstock. And keep in mind the FX 600's put out way more power, on a long fast track, with super sticky two lap qualifers on!
To take full advantage of Slicks, you'll need different suspension settings/sag, more warm-up, and they will degrade more quickly from a traction standpoint if you repeatedly heat cycle them. Of course you want dry track conditions without any damp spots for Slicks, unless you have lot's of experience in these conditions on those tires. Once a Slick is up to operating temp though, it is truly amazing how they still perform in slightly damp conditions. Some have different profiles that you may have to get accustomed to. Slicks can be more expensive. Slicks mean you will have to change back to DOT tires for the street, unless you have another set of wheels.
So.... Slicks won't necessarily make you faster. And more often than ever before, you really need to be at the top level to appreciate the differences (in most cases). It just really depends on how fast you are currently and if you can actually take advantage of the benefits. Honestly in almost all cases, a good DOT Race tire is what you want for occasional track days.
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Bulers
Novice Class
Posts: 47
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posted March 12, 2008 10:06 AM
Great advice thanks. Think i'll stick with the Pirellis for now.
I'm not racing just lots of track days so not too worried about that last second (last 3 or 4 seconds in my case). I dont use my track bike on the road so that's not an issue and I have wets. Heat cycles could be, although I use warmers, 7 twenty minute sessions in day still equals a lot of cycles i guess, especially on cold english spring days.
I'm only really interested in the slicks if they give the same (or better) performance, same longevity but eliminate the 'tearing' issue.
Thanks again.
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted March 12, 2008 01:15 PM
SImple: to eliminate the tearing, just give your tires a bit longer to warm up. I used to have the same issues, never had the patience to wait. I learned that just because they were warm enough on the surface to give me the grip, didnt mean the carcass was equally heated. Progressively work up to speed. Dont go 1 lap at half speed then suddenly hit it all out (I know you where. lol). Your tire warmers simply keep the outer surface of the tire warm, which is not enough heat to warm the inner carcass - which is designed to operate at a higher temp than the air cooled outer surface. Once the rubber finds its equalibrium your tearing issues should mostly go away.
Granted my experience with race tires was quite a while ago, but I doubt the underlying problems have changed any. The tires just got ALOT stickier!
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Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
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guitar god
Expert Class
Single ;)
Posts: 124
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posted March 13, 2008 06:44 AM
Great advice here...
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zx12adam
Member
Posts: 878
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posted March 15, 2008 04:18 PM
I enjoyed the Pirelli slicks on my 954, just try to get a hold of some tire warmers(I have a set I can sell you) and bring them the rest of the way up to temp gradually once you hit the track.
In all honesty there wasn't much a diff in lap times between good DOT's and slicks, make sure you have the suspension set-up as that's where the biggest difference comes from.
One diff I recall is the set I was using was they didn't give as gradually as the Dunlop DOT's I used before them, they snapped out on me in a few corners instead of gradually stepping out with throttle but this more than likely wasn't the product of going DOT to slick but just the different compound/carcase.
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CBR1000RR
Best Literbike: Performance Bikes, Superbike, BIKE, MCN, Road Racing World, and Motorcycle USA
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