The tyre slut is at it again!!! Roadsmarts!

[MickLC]

Paging Hoffy, paging Hoffy, tyre gauge required on aisle twelve

[Wadda]

I'm a big huge fat bastard

Sorry to hear you have put on "lots" of weight in the last few weeks. Must be the cutlets.

[Strika]

Paging Hoffy, paging Hoffy, tyre gauge required on aisle twelve

Mick...It's friday night mate......Hoffy is out in the shed recalibrating his gauges!!!!


Hey Wadda, they were juicy mate!!

[Strika]

I agree with this from Superbike Mag in the UK.....Mileage being the only unkown now!

"There were high speed laps of the track as well as much slower laps of the wet circuit and slalom tests and another handling test during which journalists were able to ride Bridgestone BT-021 and Michelin Pilot Road 2 tyres in the same market sector. Never has a tyre company laid itself open to such scrutiny with a new tyre. And Dunlop was right to be confident, the new Roadsmart is a very good tyre.

The Roadsmart uses the same Triple tread construction as the sportier Qualifier RR tyre, featuring a softer compound on the shoulders and a more durable compound in the centre of the tyre. In addition, there's a new tread pattern for improved water dispersal, a new compound, new profile and a different carcass from the tyre it replaces, the D220ST.

Journalists were allowed more time and able to do more miles in different conditions than in any tyre test in living memory and, from a PR point of view if nothing else, it was a massive success. With road riding in wet and dry conditions, wet and track dry riding on track and a handling circuit session, Dunlop wasn't hiding. And, in the end, it was right to be confident. If you are in the market for a sports-touring tyre, you might as well start haggling with your local Dunlop dealer for some Roadsmarts. Truly.

And, in case you are interested, the Michelin Pilot Road 2 was second in most peoples' books, with slightly less feel in the wet, while the Bridgestone BT-021 was quicker turning on the dry track but nowhere near as good in the wet and much harsher over road bumps. Like I said, haggle for a deal on the Dunlops.

For unabashed propaganda, check out http://www.dunlop-tire.com and,yes, I know that's an American spelling, but what can you do? Guess which market buys more tyres?"

[Strika]

Ok...I had the chance to pit the new Roadsmarts up against some stiff opposition today, on some challanging roads! I am pleased to say they came up trumps! I'm as impressed with these, as I am with the Pilot Road 2's!! The grip is a little better than the PR2 rear. I wasn't able to unseat it today and in places..I really really tried!! The front tyre is brilliant! Really good turning and once on it's side; with better bump absorption than the Pilot Power. I'm not sure if it has any more grip than the Power front has, but it certainly has much better feel and feedback than the power! I was entering corners way harder with less seat foam chewing than with the Powers. Sharp bumps are also more isolated than with the Michelins. The rear also handles bumps while leant over much better than the PR2's.

As good as they are, the only question still remaining, is what i have posted previously.......Mileage!!! If looks are anything to go by, they look like the PR2's did after 500 klms! Fingers crossed...cause they are cheaper!!

[hoffy]

But with 42 Psi in it

Is this a ZX12 thing or do you really run that pressure? A lowside wil be coming your way if you push hard with those pressures as your contact patch will be miniscule.

Are you serious ??

Recommended rear tyre pressures for ALL sportsbike ROAD tyres used for ROAD USE lies within the vacinity of 40-42 psi for rears..

If you run less than this, you are just reducing your tyres life for no good reason..

It has nothing to do with contact patch..it has more to do with how the tyres heat up to the correct operating temperature, and having the profile of the tyre work correctly, dependant on it's construction..

In the January AMCN there was a comprehensive article stipulating that the most commonly used tyre preesures are 36F 42R, also you need to check your tyre's manufactures guide to pressures..

I have yet to be convinced that running LOW pressures somehow improves the tyres performance ??
however I am still waiting for a comprehensive and technical answer on why the tyre manufacturers are wrong in regards to the pressures they recommend for their tyres.....waiting...

[robracer]

Thats correct Hoffy you might want to run a rear pressure of 26 - 30 when you are on the track to get the tire up to temp & grip as much as possible but the wear will be enough to ensure you are replacing your soft road tyre soon after your track day on the road it is a totally different situation as Hoffy has outllined

[r1_forever]

Guess it depends on how you ride then.

Just stay far away from me if youre running 42 psi ok

[Wattie]

Guess it depends on how you ride then.

Just stay far away from me if youre running 42 psi ok

your not on Kwak, as close as you'll get to us, is when we stop for lunch and let you catch up

[robracer]

OK I will let you into a little secret...... the most I will run is a 38 in the rear, as Im only 80 kg & never pillion so cant justfy any higher

[hoffy]

Guess it depends on how you ride then.

Just stay far away from me if youre running 42 psi ok

It wont be a problem mate...as I have the correct pressures, and you ride a zook, I will be a long way in front..

[Strika]

Guess it depends on how you ride then.

Just stay far away from me if youre running 42 psi ok

Tell ya what.....if ya can catch me.....I'll consider lowering them!!!!

[r1_forever]

haha..man you guys just yelped like puppies at feed time

Bring it then

[Gosling1]

aaaah, another good old tyre pressure discussion......

Hoffy is 100% correct. The manufacturers recommended pressures from *most* new rear tyres on litre+ sportsbikes is in fact around 40-42psi. Running them much lower than this, for extended periods ( ie interstate trip), will just see the wear rate increased to buggery.

Having said that, my tyre bloke knows I like a *little* less pressure, and sets them up at 38r, 34f. Thats on a '05 ZX12R, with a phat fuck pilot coming in at >110kg suited up.

If you are an R1 pilot, that hits the scales at 75kg wringing wet, then of course lower pressures will work better for you.

The article in AMCN was quite interesting, however there is *no* way in hell I would do a track day at EC on the MFP12, using 002 Bridgie 'race' tyres, with *anything* like 42r, 36f !!!! try 34r 30f. Thats good for track work.

For the record, my old mate the Aussie Superbike School instructor, who rode a CB500/4 Honda to quite a few round wins in the PCRA a few years ago, used to run 24r 22f !!!! That was with Avon's, I think they were M22's ?? something like that anyway. He rarely crashed, the tyres always worked, and he could round up a lot of bigger bikes on skinny 18" wheels....

[robracer]

Puppies rule Gos im hungry