Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I'm just looking for feedback from people who have used the BT002 supersport tyres without warmers regarding their resilience or otherwise to heat cycling. Some say they are slicks with grooves cut in them (using the same rubber compound) and hence wont cope with terribly many heat cycles (like slicks, they should be on warmers between sessions). Others say they can be used like a street tyre and will cope with lots of heat cycles.

So, if you've actually used these over a long period of time and have any valuable feedback I'd be very interested in hearing it.

Thanks heaps!

dave#3 wrote:I'm just looking for feedback from people who have used the BT002 supersport tyres without warmers regarding their resilience or otherwise to heat cycling. Some say they are slicks with grooves cut in them (using the same rubber compound) and hence wont cope with terribly many heat cycles (like slicks, they should be on warmers between sessions). Others say they can be used like a street tyre and will cope with lots of heat cycles.

So, if you've actually used these over a long period of time and have any valuable feedback I'd be very interested in hearing it.

Thanks heaps!

just go and buy her some slicks and warmers! its not fair until you do

Dave - when I used those second-hand 002's for the trackie last year, I was advised *most strongly* to use tyre-warmers to get them nice and hot before heading out on the track. My tyre bloke reckons they take ages to heat up if you don't.

I can't advise on longevity, these were only used for that 1 track day, and they were absolutely fantastic. These were the race version, I *think* I had a #3 on the rear and a #2 on the front (it may have been the other way around.......whatever) - they worked great.

Cheers Guys!

Wattie, I'm not talking about Cath's tyres (she'll get warmers shortly regardless of what rubber she'd got, and it'll probably be slicks), I'm thinking about some tyres I can throw on my tracky that will be good for the superbike school I've got coming up (where I think getting warmers on between drills will be a PITA) and will be useful as an intermediate tyre in the event of inclement weather at the track.

Gos, that's very interesting that you found them really slow to warm up - Craig White was saying they had very low silica compound (like the slicks) and hence should be run with warmers. He actually suggested the 002 roads (which have copped a bagging here) because they'll warm up quicker and handle heat cycling better.

It looks like I'm back to the drawing board - I might have to chase down a set of Rennsports, or maybe I just use 014s and be done with it.

dunno about rennsports, but arent 002s going to bbe as bad as slicks in the wet??
they dont have much tread. i'd be going the 014's or m3s for something

Wattie wrote:dunno about rennsports, but arent 002s going to bbe as bad as slicks in the wet??
they dont have much tread. i'd be going the 014's or m3s for something

I think for truly wet weather I'd want wet weather race tyres (I missed a set on eBay a while back for $80 - doh!). I'm thinking BT002's or Rensports for days when it's damp (no standing water) and the EC ride days people aren't happy about me running slicks. I've thought about BT014s, but I'm just not sure if they'll be disappointing on the track.

Wattie wrote:just go and buy her some slicks and warmers! its not fair until you do

Hahahahahahaha. Love you Wattie

Thanks for having my back

I think I can confidentally give some user related feedback on all of the tyres you have mentioned. As you guys know, I do the odd klm here or there. I would have done 20,000klms on 014's including a dry track day! I have used Rennsports for over 35,000klms Racetechs also as well as 30,000+klms on 002 race tyres both on track and on the road. I have also used a set of 002 street compund. Here's some thoughts on each.

002 Street. CATEGORICALLY THE WORST TYRE I HAVE EVER USED!!!!!!

002 Race- mmmmmmmm I find these are THE best front tyre bar none! Better than most slicks!
Track-Can be run without warmers, but do take a couple of laps to come in.
Road-start at 28-29 front and rear and work from there. I love them and often use them when I get ex race tyres at the right price. They just take a few klms to warm up. Once warm they stay warm and work a treat. A used 002 rear used to give me 3500-4000 road klms depending on use and a front around 5000k's They work fine throughout the life.

014's- Road-Great road tyre al be it a little lacking in longevity!! But they turn and grip well.
Track- Awesome for about 4 laps then they turn to Jelly!

Rennsports- Road-Mint, perhaps better as a road tyre than the 002's with faster warm up and better mileage.
Track-Not as much front grip as the 002 but not far off, with good turn in and can take throttle while leant over well. Perhaps a bit better in this respect than 002 rears.

Racetechs-Read Rennsports but more mileage!!

Any questions let me know Dave.

Thanks Marty! Out of interest, how have you found the 002 race tyres in the wet - obviously not as good as a wet race tyre, but as good as say an 014 ?

dave#3 wrote:Thanks Marty! Out of interest, how have you found the 002 race tyres in the wet - obviously not as good as a wet race tyre, but as good as say an 014 ?

Prolly not the best bloke to ask about racing in the wet mate...............I've only ever finished one wet race!!! 6's and half dozens mate! But if the track starts drying the 002 will come in!

Strika wrote:

dave#3 wrote:Thanks Marty! Out of interest, how have you found the 002 race tyres in the wet - obviously not as good as a wet race tyre, but as good as say an 014 ?

Prolly not the best bloke to ask about racing in the wet mate...............I've only ever finished one wet race!!! 6's and half dozens mate! But if the track starts drying the 002 will come in!

What about on the road? Surely you've finished a road ride in the rain once or thrice.

dave#3 wrote:......Gos, that's very interesting that you found them really slow to warm up - Craig White was saying they had very low silica compound (like the slicks) and hence should be run with warmers. He actually suggested the 002 roads (which have copped a bagging here) because they'll warm up quicker and handle heat cycling better......

I used tyre-warmers, so they were warmed-up right from the word go. It was the tyre dude who said they would be slow to warm up if I didn't use tyre warmers...........I never got to find out if this was true or not. Chasing Wattie and MadKaw into Turn 2 from the pits, it was all or nothing !!!

The 002 roads have gotten a fair sledging (see Strika's post ), I have never used these, so not really in a position to comment about them. Fair to say I will probably never use them !

Are you just looking for a good set of track-day tyres ? Or a set that can do track-days *well* , and still be used on the road if/when required ? Have you considered M3's yet ?

I ran a set of the 002 Race compounds on my 05 ZX6R, I got them new at a track day and ran them without warmers, as has been said, by lap 2 (probably earlier if i had balls ) they were good enough to get on the gas nice and hard. I also used them on the road and found them fine and worked well once warm and gave comparable wear to my pilot power's (not power race). I also used the michelin pilot power race's and I certainly found the 002 race's better than the Pilot Power Race's both on the track and the road.

dave#3 wrote:I'm thinking about some tyres I can throw on my tracky that will be good for the superbike school I've got coming up (where I think getting warmers on between drills will be a PITA) and will be useful as an intermediate tyre in the event of inclement weather at the track.

Good stuff dave - I assume Cath's going too?
If you do use warmers on the school day you won't be the only one - you'll have time to sort the warmers out.

How come the EC ride day guys don't like you using slicks (later post)?
Sounds weird.
ty

ty wrote:

dave#3 wrote:I'm thinking about some tyres I can throw on my tracky that will be good for the superbike school I've got coming up (where I think getting warmers on between drills will be a PITA) and will be useful as an intermediate tyre in the event of inclement weather at the track.

Good stuff dave - I assume Cath's going too?
If you do use warmers on the school day you won't be the only one - you'll have time to sort the warmers out.

How come the EC ride day guys don't like you using slicks (later post)?
Sounds weird.
ty

Yeah, Cath will be at the Superbike school too. It's interesting to hear that there are plenty of guys putting warmers on at the superbike school - I might throw the warmers on the 002s ... gotta get whatever advantage over her that I can

The EC ride days guys are only unhappy with slicks if it's wet - in the dry they're fine.

dave#3 wrote:I'm thinking BT002's ... for days when it's damp ... and the EC ride days people aren't happy about me running slicks