Tire Choice

[NJKneeSlider]

So being a track newbie, I'm trying to finish putting together my first track bike. THe one I purchased was a used track bike that had been down. I'm down to selecting tires and here is my question. Knowing that this is a track only bike and I plan on doing track days for a long while, I have found several pirelli supercorsa takeoffs from AMA available here. If I run these do I need tire warmers and a generator as well? And if so is it OK to run these in the novie class? Also seeing as these are like $40-$90 a pop (which is way cheaper than new street tires) if I ran a set for one or two track days and changed them out would that work? Or should I spend the money on new street/track tires for about $300 a set and use them as long as they last and have no need for warmers?

[kd83]

I would say grab a good set of DCIII's or PP or conti sport attacks. That 300 will prob last you close to all season depending how many weekends you spend at the track. Those take off's will prob last you a weekend so you will need a new set for each weekend.

With running Dot's you are going to heat cycle the tire a lot and warmers would be in your best interest. With streets you don't have to worry about that and plenty of guys run DCIII's up though A group.

[NJKneeSlider]

Thanks alot, thats good to know. I don't know much about the conti sports, I hear most people talk about the PPs and DCIIIs, I'll have to look and see what kind of price I can find those for.

[mike_21]

Make sure you check with Chris Moon on tire pricing

[NJKneeSlider]

OK, how do I go about getting a hold of him?

[ToddG]

OK, how do I go about getting a hold of him?

E-Mail parts@nesba.com

That will put you in touch with Chris Moon and he has all the info on tire pricing as well as any other hard parts you may need.

We'll see you out there!

[avizpls]

With running Dot's you are going to heat cycle the tire a lot and warmers would be in your best interest. With streets you don't have to worry about that and plenty of guys run DCIII's up though A group.


Ok what the hell. I've been seeing this for a while and ive been confused, but that DOES it!

stop me where I go wrong (and I know i do)

DOT=department of transportation. "dot's" are tires approved by DOT. A street is the juristiction of DOT and racetracks do not require DOT approved tires (dot's). "Streets" are tires for use on the street.

Thus, DOT's and Streets are the same thing! So why is this clearly NOT the case?

Are "dots" DOT approved tires (therefor for use on the street) that the tire manufacture claims are just soooo great for the track? While street tires (also approved by same DOT standards) are just regular old dot's....i mean "streets"


What are some examples of "dot's" and "streets" :doh::notsure::banghead:

[NJKneeSlider]

I believe that they are referring to DOTs as DOT Race tires (they aren't full slicks), and while you could run them ont he street, you probably would not want to. Streets would be a normal tire that you would run on the street. A good example would be the Pirelli Diable Corsa III is a street, while the Pirelli Supercorsa is labeled as a DOT Race.

[Bluenvy]

DOTs are race tires you can run on the street. slicks are not DOT approved therefore not dots

[rk97]

:agree:

with Dunlop trackside now, what's everyone going to be running for their next set?

I'm looking at Qualifiers because you can find them so cheap online ($212 a set in 120/160!), but they get reviewed as "not quite as good as a pilot power," and I think at this point in my riding, i want to be purchasing BETTER tires, not worse...

and size matters... on Dunlop's site, there SuperCorsa proxy only comes in a 190 rear. what's up with that?

[Matt H]

The "DOT" designation came from the fact that certain race classes required running street tires instead of special race tires. Over time that has become a game of how the tire manufacturers can make the raciest tire, and still get DOT to approve it for street use. But that is nothing more than a game. "DOT" race tires are not really suited for the road.

So racers refer to street tires (tires meant to do some duty on the streets), "DOT's" (race tires with some tread in order to squeak by the necessary DOT approval for certain race classes, and Slicks.

Hope that helps.

[Matt H]

on Dunlop's site, there SuperCorsa proxy only comes in a 190 rear. what's up with that?

Word has it that Dunlop has set about designing their 190 rear tires to work with both the 5.5" and 6" rear rims. So the generalization that 190 rears are for 6" rims supposedly does not apply here. They have engineered their 190 tires to perform optimally with both size rims. One of our tire vendors can hopefully fully confirm that.

[avizpls]

thanks that does help, but thats pretty dumb...we played the same game in Auto racing but streets and dots meant the same thing. Street-slicks were what we called dots because that indicates that that, yes, its a street tire, but clearly slick for racing use. I digress....


I have Bridgestone BT-002 R/S....this is a street tire, right? or is it considered a dot? (It pisses me off to ask that because I still say they are the same thing lol!)

[Bluenvy]

so wait no more pirelli's at TD's?

[Matt H]

Maybe think of it this way. A Desmosedicii RR is not a street bike; it's a race bike that has the technicalities to be DOT approved for the street. Same thing goes for some tires. Only DOT approved in the most subtle technicalities, but not really designed for the street.

[Dave561]

thanks that does help, but thats pretty dumb...we played the same game in Auto racing but streets and dots meant the same thing. Street-slicks were what we called dots because that indicates that that, yes, its a street tire, but clearly slick for racing use. I digress....


I have Bridgestone BT-002 R/S....this is a street tire, right? or is it considered a dot? (It pisses me off to ask that because I still say they are the same thing lol!)


Just forget the whole "DOT" designation. Bridgestone is marketing the BT-002 R/S as their street/track tire. Pirelli does the same with the Corsa III. The Dunlop qualifier should also fall into that category as well as the Michelin Pilot Power?? (Sorry not a real Micheln fan)

[rk97]

Michelin has a fantastically helpful chart that i wish every manufacturer would use:

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/rk97/random/MichelinTireChart.jpg

I think of the Pilot Power as an "aggressive street tire," but suitable for "B" and lower "I" pace (that's what I'm currently running, and where i've taken it)

the Pilot Power 2CT is more on-par with the DCIII. Not sure where the qualifier fits in... Depending on which review you read, it places ABOVE the DCIII in some tests, and isn't even considered a comparable tire in others... media bias? or personal preference?

[avizpls]

That chart is helpful. Wouldnt it be a great fantasy if we could all agree on how to make a chart like that for ALL tires?

[JohnS]

:agree:

with Dunlop trackside now, what's everyone going to be running for their next set?

I'm looking at Qualifiers because you can find them so cheap online ($212 a set in 120/160!), but they get reviewed as "not quite as good as a pilot power," and I think at this point in my riding, i want to be purchasing BETTER tires, not worse...

and size matters... on Dunlop's site, there SuperCorsa proxy only comes in a 190 rear. what's up with that?

I will be running either DCIII or switching to Michelin 2ct.

I can get DCIIs at a fair price about 2 hours from me, so I would need some of my friends to buy tires as well to make the trip worth my time, but he will mount and balance free so that is a plus.

I can also get 2cts delivered to me for the same price as the DCIII but would have to pay for mount and balance. I guess what I ride on depends on who needs tires when I do.

[Ron P]

I started with DCIII's since there was a set on my bike when I bought it. They got me through my first track day and I'm quite sure their capabilities far exceed my skills at the moment. They worked well enough that I ordered a new set of DCIIIs for this season.

[rk97]

Word has it that Dunlop has set about designing their 190 rear tires to work with both the 5.5" and 6" rear rims. So the generalization that 190 rears are for 6" rims supposedly does not apply here. They have engineered their 190 tires to perform optimally with both size rims. One of our tire vendors can hopefully fully confirm that.

If that's the case, then most of you guys are fine. Until I find a newer bike though, I'm still left searching for a good 160 rear.

2CT seems to be the way to go... I wish mounting/balancing was cheaper.

[Bluenvy]

I started with DCIII's since there was a set on my bike when I bought it. They got me through my first track day and I'm quite sure their capabilities far exceed my skills at the moment. They worked well enough that I ordered a new set of DCIIIs for this season.

i rode DCIII's all the way to A, they are a great tire :cool:

[greytop]

the dunnies are the shiznet

screw pirelli

I slapped on a set of 209's yesterday at Summit and immediately remembered why I preferred the dunlops...

some folks like the squirmy pirellis, I don't

I'm glad to see the switch although won't be running any 211's or dunnie slicks..500/set is too much for my wallet..

the 400 buck 209's are fine..

[A59]

Mounting and balancing is not too difficult to do yourself. Once you've done a 12 inch dirt tire a track tire is easy. I use a good set of tire irons and use my trailer (crank it up and down) to break the bead. You just need to experiment with different ideas and use what you can find to do the job. Fortunately I don't care if my rims get scratched or I'd have to take some precautions. I guess it's not for everyone to do certain things themselves but there are alternatives if one is capable.

[stephenjpauls]

thanks that does help, but thats pretty dumb...we played the same game in Auto racing but streets and dots meant the same thing. Street-slicks were what we called dots because that indicates that that, yes, its a street tire, but clearly slick for racing use. I digress....


I have Bridgestone BT-002 R/S....this is a street tire, right? or is it considered a dot? (It pisses me off to ask that because I still say they are the same thing lol!)

Slow Honda answered this, however to be a bit more clear, BT-002 R/S is not what people are talking about when they use the term "DOT", it is a track day tire, or street tire.

Hope this helps