View Full Version : Tires talking to you ?
Folly1
09-08-2008, 08:27 AM
I often read that you should listen to what your tires are telling you.
When they are talking to you, what language are they using?
Do they yell or just whisper?
Does a new tire talk, or only an experienced one?
Does it say more than "slow down or replace me"?
What tires do you ride? How many sessions?
How much does your riding change for the last 25% of the tire's life? Do you ride slower laps for that last 25%?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Ben.
PS, Barry if you read this, I hope you are healing quickly.
barry38
09-08-2008, 12:40 PM
In my experience tires tend to "go off" gradually. You start to feel small slides, rear will spin up easier on the gas, etc. I'm sure some engineer type could describe it technical terms. To me it's more a matter of feel than anything else........ As an example, from brand new to trashed tires, I'll be 4-5 seconds slower at Summit Main........
I got cleared by one of my docs to start bicycling and street riding motorcycles, but no track days yet. The bone in my neck has not started healing at all. I go to the collar bone doc this afternoon. If I had to gauge it, I'm at about 60% of normal right now. Still pretty sore in a lot of places. Thanks for asking!
Mr. Blindrider
09-08-2008, 02:27 PM
:agree: I like what Barry said. It's more feel for me too. The way I feel the front is when I try to enter a corner and drift wide a bit. It seems harder to hold a tight line. The front drifts instead of gripping and holding the line but at the same time still feels controlled. The rear is like what Barry said. It starts sliding under accelaration. When I take off old tires in the middle of the day and put new on, my times drop 3 to 4 seconds and a big smile appears on my face. It's amazing to me how much easier the bike is to ride with new rubber after working hard on old tires.;)
Rick Johnson
09-08-2008, 04:45 PM
+1 on what Barry said.Love some new rubber!Just wish it didn't cost so much.
rbm822
09-09-2008, 11:37 AM
the DC3's which you can get through nesba are cheap!!!
Rick Johnson
09-09-2008, 01:14 PM
I know but I run a decent A group pace and like to run SCP's or Diablo's.They probally would be fine but it gives me a little more confidence on a true race tire.
rbm822
09-09-2008, 01:16 PM
yeah, peace of mind is expensive lol
Mr. Blindrider
09-09-2008, 03:13 PM
Sorry but I have yet to find anything cheap about this sport. :eek: I'm with Rick on good race tires. Pro's or Diablo all the way with a Advance pace. Nothing like good insurance.:D
Matt H
09-09-2008, 03:52 PM
I've run DCIII's at a good Advanced pace, and they wear REALLY well too. Anybody not at least in Advanced is wasting their money spending it on race tires, IMHO....
Oh, and check the World Superstock series - the spec tire is a DCIII. Should give you some idea of just how capable they are.
ronhix
09-09-2008, 04:47 PM
The rear is easy to feel, it will start to spin up on exit. The front however, is a little more tricky.
I was complaining to Prof. Leslie at a Barber event last year about not being able to "feel the front". We went out and rode a few laps and when we came back in this is roughly what how the dialogue went:
Leslie : "you are going to slow"
Me: "I am having trouble feeling the front"
Leslie : "its cause you are going to slow"
Me: "....."
Leslie: " listen, as long as the tire is rolling through the corner smoothly then there is really nothing to feel. When you start to push the front tire laterally across the track then the vibrations of the tire sliding slightly across the pavement will be detectable through the bars."
Me: "Oh OK, I am going to slow."
Leslie: "Yeah, you are slow."
Me: "...."
Mr. Blindrider
09-09-2008, 05:00 PM
The rear is easy to feel, it will start to spin up on exit. The front however, is a little more tricky.
I was complaining to Prof. Leslie at a Barber event last year about not being able to "feel the front". We went out and rode a few laps and when we came back in this is roughly what how the dialogue went:
Leslie : "you are going to slow"
Me: "I am having trouble feeling the front"
Leslie : "its cause you are going to slow"
Me: "....."
Leslie: " listen, as long as the tire is rolling through the corner smoothly then there is really nothing to feel. When you start to push the front tire laterally across the track then the vibrations of the tire sliding slightly across the pavement will be detectable through the bars."
Me: "Oh OK, I am going to slow."
Leslie: "Yeah, you are slow."
Me: "...."
That is funny sh#t!!!!! I needed that. I'm still laughing!
Good ole Derek, he has a answer for everything we throw at him, it's just not always the answer we want.:poorguy:
my tires talk to me... in fact they scream in corners like Oak Tree:
"IT'S BEEN 8 TRACK DAYS IN A, BUY NEW ONES A GIVE ME A FRIGGIN BREAK YA CHEAP BASTARD"
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:a: #313
'07 600RR -- Primer Power!!!