Tire Pressures @ the track

[Jim]

there was a thread 2 weeks ago about this. the consensus was:

1. Bridgestone rains
2. Michelin rains
3. Dunlop rains
4. anything else
5. Pirelli rains

[TTD]

It would be interesting to see a real, objective test of rains. Seems it would be much easier than a dry tire test. With pirelli running them in world superbike, I would be shocked if they came in last.

Like the new V2 pirelli tire, I bet the current tire has little in common with the ones used in the 'consensus'

there was a thread 2 weeks ago about this. the consensus was:

1. Bridgestone rains
2. Michelin rains
3. Dunlop rains
4. anything else
5. Pirelli rains

[Jim]

i found it odd as well, since DOT's tend to be:

1. Dunlop
2. Pirelli
3. Michelin
4. Slipstone

i've really only seen Michelin and Dunlop rains around the track. i'm going to be due for new rains by the end of this year, and was thinking of trying the Bridgestones to see what all the talk is about.

[TTD]

Lol... Where ya getting that list from?

i found it odd as well, since DOT's tend to be:

1. Dunlop
2. Pirelli
3. Michelin
4. Slipstone

i've really only seen Michelin and Dunlop rains around the track. i'm going to be due for new rains by the end of this year, and was thinking of trying the Bridgestones to see what all the talk is about.

[Jim]

LRRS, CCS, ASRA grids. Most of the MW, HW, and Unlimited grids that i've seen tend to be dominated by Dunlop, then Pirelli and Michelin. I dont notice what USGPRU, Moto2, and LW bikes use.

As far as LRRS, I'd say 75% - 85% of the bikes in the north garages are Dunlop.
Daytona seemed mostly Dunlop as well. But only the riders that earn contingency tend to use Dunlop rains.

[TTD]

Was about to type a giant rebuttal, but this is beginning to feel like a which oil is best thread.

[Jim]

i'm not stating any of my personal opinions tony. truth is, i used DC3's the year i started track days. i'm just mentioning what's out there and what i've seen amongst other MW/HW/Unl grids up and down the East Coast.

[TTD]

What's being used and what is the best don't always coincide. And there's lots of regions where Pirelli is the most popular tire.

Different riders and different bikes will prefer different things.

Anywho... Since this is way off topic, let's agree to disagree.

[OreoGaborio]

there was a thread 2 weeks ago about this. the consensus was:

1. Bridgestone rains
2. Michelin rains
3. Dunlop rains
4. anything else
5. Pirelli rains

As long as my competitors keep believing this list I'll keep being happy walking away from them in the rain

[The Snowman]

Back on topic of pressures, I struggled last season with the Pirelli V2 DOTs, as I was using the pressures that others found to be successful, which were somewhere in the neighborhood of 29F/24R. At that pressure, the ass-end moved around WAY too much.

With the V1 tires, I was running 31F/28R and while out in Friday practice on a set of V2 DOTs, I "accidentally" set them at the old V1 pressures and they were fantastic! They just needed a tweak, since they slipped a little. I tried 30F/27R and they stuck like glue, even as used as they were.

So, that's what I ran out of the gate during the races on a new set. I'm sold again. I do believe that I'll be going back to slicks, now that they're also the V2 carcass. But 30F/27R it is.

[OreoGaborio]

Why didn't you just ask me? That's what I woulda told you!

[The Snowman]

Why didn't you just ask me? That's exactly what I woulda told you!

Because I thought you were also using the lower pressures.

[OreoGaborio]

Nnnnope



(And actually I wouda said "30.5 and 27.5 using MY gauge after popping the plug on top to equalize the pressure." )

[Jim]

bump for the upcoming weekend.

let me know if there's any updates i need to add to post #1

[cdovego]

Just for the record, Pirelli is the tire of choice out west. You were swinging pretty hard on Dunlop's nuts there, Jim.

[CBR929RE]

Leave Jim alone, at least he's not running Contis anymore

[caloots]

for what its worth.. im in the intermediate group.. gsxr 750.. i use Bridgestone Battlax BT-016 Pro Hypersport Radials
I have been doing 31/30 hot. i dont have tire warmers.. if I did may math right with my gopro im averaging 1:21/22 around NHIS... I was at thompson 1st week of july.. I think I ran 30/30 hot.

[Jim]

you wouldnt be doing 1:21 - 1:22 at NHMS in intermediate.
they'd bump you right away

[caloots]

I was told to move up in a Boston moto thread.. I'll see how I feel.. I was also using a GPS lap timer that said the same

[caloots]

stupid GPS lat timer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 i am not doing 1:22 laps.. the fastest I did via a lap timer and watching my gopro was 1:28 !!!!

and I was just at nhis with penguin on fri and the fastest I did was 1:29...

i am a loser..

[nhbubba]

1:29 ain't bad in my book. I'd have kittens if I could consistently put down low 1:3x's.
Which timer lied to you?

[SwiftTone]

What type of tire pressure should I run with Pilot Power 3s in the dry and I the rain?

[caloots]

1:29 ain't bad in my book. I'd have kittens if I could consistently put down low 1:3x's.
Which timer lied to you?

The racechrono app.. and I'm looking in the history, trying to find where I thought I saw 1:22 but it was last year.. I should have known not to trust a free GPS timer.. when I watch the video from my gopro and use a stop watch, its about 1:30..

[Dave603]

I was told to move up in a Boston moto thread.. I'll see how I feel.. I was also using a GPS lap timer that said the same

the BOMO guys are fasttttt. My very first track day was with them. I was fortunate the guys all gave me a tow and so I was able to put down some insanely fast laps for first day riding.

Back on topic though... and I am afraid if I missed it somewhere else.
I did the wheel conversion on my SV650 so that I am running a 180 rear vs a 160 rear. If I was to run the same tire compound would I keep pressures the same or would I lower them? I was running Dunlop slicks before at 30/28 (hot) and did not find any issues before. Knowing that dunlops have a tougher carcass and take a little longer to warm up and being on a smaller bike then the tires were designed would running something like 29/26 be better? Any SV racers have any luck with anything else specific?

[CBR929RE]

the BOMO guys are fasttttt. My very first track day was with them. I was fortunate the guys all gave me a tow and so I was able to put down some insanely fast laps for first day riding.

Back on topic though... and I am afraid if I missed it somewhere else.
I did the wheel conversion on my SV650 so that I am running a 180 rear vs a 160 rear. If I was to run the same tire compound would I keep pressures the same or would I lower them? I was running Dunlop slicks before at 30/28 (hot) and did not find any issues before. Knowing that dunlops have a tougher carcass and take a little longer to warm up and being on a smaller bike then the tires were designed would running something like 29/26 be better? Any SV racers have any luck with anything else specific?

go to dunlopracing.com and it'll tell you the hot pressures for the tires you're running.