Track bike slicks

Nelso · Post by **Nelso** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:34 am

2010zx6r wrote:So don't even bother with slicks if I got tyre warmers?

Nope, there's no need to. They need to get a bit of heat into them to get sticky and if you aren't fast enough to push them they will be no better that "track" oriented road tyres.

2010zx6r · Post by **2010zx6r** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:49 am

I'll save my money then.
thanks

Jonnymac · Post by **Jonnymac** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:53 am

2010zx6r wrote:
Nelso wrote:
2010zx6r wrote: Im still fairly new to it. Only done the 4 days so far. No tyre warmers yet.
On my road zx6r I used pirelli diablo rosso. I was thinking super corsa if not slicks. I don't want to get ahead of myself and my abilities.
You won't get slicks hot enough for them to work properly and you need the warmers for them. As the others said, go with sticky road tyre like a Dunlop Q2.
So don't even bother with slicks if I got tyre warmers?

If you have warmers and you intend to go a bit to improve your ability slicks will be fine. Just make sure you use warmers. Like what was said earlier maybe the new Pirelli slicks they are suppose to be pretty durable, almost too much some suggest.
At the end of the day most of the high end road Tyres such as diablo supercorsa are just a cut slick anyway.

Bogan · Post by **Bogan** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:06 am

I was going to put something in here about heat cycles and slicks needing warmers because their life was more measured in heat cycles than km/wear, but then Google showed me these:

http://forums.superbikeschool.com/index ... topic=2988

http://forums.superbikeschool.com/index ... topic=2554

So I guess if you want more grip get a stickier tyre, and if you want to go fast straight out of the box and not have to do 1 or 2 laps to warm up the tyres get some warmers. Or do both. But figure out where your dollar is best spent for your gains you want to make if dollars are an issue.

Jonno · Post by **Jonno** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:12 am

You will know when you need to move onto slicks when you find the limits of a sports tyre or plan to race otherwise it isnt necessary IMO, some races require you use DOT tyres anyway.

For everyday trackday punting a good sticky sports/road tyre is the go and you can do quite well on some of them like the Dunlop Q2 or even the GPA211, Metz K2 which I use and Pirrelli etc(same company) all make excellent sports tyres, they all behave differently and opinions on this topic are varied. Some even swear by michellin

but what i am getting at is they are all good

As mentioned above choose a brand and type and stay with them, you will be setting the bikes geometry to the characteristics of these tyres so swapping brands or types will make it more difficult dialling it in, and you will need to on that new bike.

Tyre warmers are a good idea otherwise you waste a few laps warming tyres up and when your paying for track time you want to be able to get into it sooner

EDU · Post by **EDU** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:22 pm

Blurr wrote:First time I have heard that

Plenty of ppl with the problem unfortunately mate... google is your friend but if you want a more specific place to search, the WERA website is always a great source of info!

2010zx6r wrote:
EDU wrote:Best advice I can give you is "pick a model and stick with it". On the ZX6R the Dunlops can cause chatter when they're new (hard carcass and etc...) it even happened to me. It doesn't happen to everyone and it's hard to pinpoint what causes it but the bike is chatter prone, so maybe choose something with a softer carcass (i.e. Pirelli).
all zx6r?
I've got a 07 zx6r track bike.

You're sweet then. 09+ only... My comments were made based on your username.

Having said that, I love my bike chatter or not! Best 600 out there IMO!

Blurr · Post by **Blurr** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:51 pm

Never had the chatter, fast or slow.

born green · Post by **born green** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 4:46 pm

2010zx6r wrote:I have had no experience with slicks at all I would like some opinions on what to look for or recommend.
I've got a full time track bike now so no need to use road tyres any longer.

Again as the guys say... find a tyre ur happy with and stay with it.
Myself i use the dunlop control tyre, and quiet happy with that, but i do get them for a very good price, so that helps

Tyre warmers... use them...for all the reasons said here. if blurr's got a set for sale for $200 i would grab them mate. they really are worth it.
U need to decide weather u want to run slicks or a road tyre, i gather ur ride days have been broady?
Just remember that slicks operate at a set temp so to speak, around 80 to 90 dec C, well the dunlops anyway...the rest i got no idea!! and have a lot less heat cycles in them, as opposed to a road based tyre.

Would be more than happy to come and have a look next time ur at broady, if thats where u go??? trying to get up there myself, but to much stuff at moment to get the shit heap out of the shed and get there

EDU · Post by **EDU** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 6:58 pm

Blurr wrote:Never had the chatter, fast or slow.

I had them B-A-A-D for one weekend. Then gone...

s man · Post by **s man** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:01 pm

IMO ive raced on slicks & liked them, but I then bit the bullet & went for supercorsa's in SC1 [soft compound] & loved them, they warm up fast, they stay warm, [Wakefield in winter] & give much better feedback than any slick Ive used.
So I'd go Q2s, Supercorsa[SC1] R10 Bridgstone, or if you have the money Dunlop 211s,
Forget the slicks IMO they have a very limited window of usage, where a dot/treaded race tyre have a wider working cycle..

Jonnymac · Post by **Jonnymac** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:26 pm

s man wrote:IMO ive raced on slicks & liked them, but I then bit the bullet & went for supercorsa's in SC1 [soft compound] & loved them, they warm up fast, they stay warm, [Wakefield in winter] & give much better feedback than any slick Ive used.
So I'd go Q2s, Supercorsa[SC1] R10 Bridgstone, or if you have the money Dunlop 211s,
Forget the slicks IMO they have a very limited window of usage, where a dot/treaded race tyre have a wider working cycle..

Supercorsas SC1 are basically just a treaded slick anyhow, I think you would find heat cycles would be similar to slicks with them. Not 100% sure but that's what I have heard in the past. The only reason I run slicks over say the SC1 is not because I'm faster than the SC1 but I get more life out of a slick. I find the SC1 I start folding the rubber over in the tread and one side of the tread pattern is low on rubber with the other side high

s man · Post by **s man** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:18 pm

You maybe over heating them. When Ive raced on them they have been great, they have stayed in shape & being that most races are only 6 laps, anything harder than an SC1 would be of no use...

2010zx6r · Post by **2010zx6r** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:31 pm

Thanks guys. I'll take all your info on board. Will probably just go with super corsa or similar.

fireyrob · Post by **fireyrob** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:02 pm

If you end up getting stands and warmers then I find slicks to be a cheaper option once I harass the quick guys for their used fronts which last me ages

Then just buy rears as needed!

Tack · Post by **Tack** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 4:34 pm

Just don't buy those pirelli pro slicks...fronts are great, backs are hard (are quicker than supercorsa road tyres and will last a long time) but no limit feel and no indication when they gunna flick u off.

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