Old race tires

[highsider]

I just bought a bike (a real NESR whore, I might add ) from TheIglu, who bought it from gixxer6. Its a 96 YZF600 race bike, which I bought to do some track days on.

I have a bit of an issue - I am attending a track day this Thursday, and the tires that are on the bike are about 2 years old, although they are in great shape (the bike sat for the last two years, after gixxer6's crash). The tires are a race compound, I can remember at the moment which manufacturer.

I obviously want to replace them, but I figure for my first track day, I may as well leave them on there and take it easy, since if I buy new rubber, its going to be just as slick because it needs to be scrubbed in.

Am I going to die? I have run older race tires on my car before, and had very minimal loss of grip. Of course, in a car loss of grip does not equal my ass sliding on pavement.

[oreo_n2]

you'll be fine, just make sure you get em up to temp.

[Mad Max]

I think they will be ok. Just do what oreo said and let them get up to temp.

If they end up being a little squirely you will probably notice it in the rear spinning up on corner exit which is very saveable.

I am going to be there also. See you there

[Awesome]

It takes one lap, two at the most to scrub in a set of brand new tires. The rear slides around a bit, but it's not so bad. Old rubber can be bad, depending on it's stored enviorment, and condition. Also watch those race tires on that cold pavement, they don't heat up or hold the heat like they would on a warm day.

[TheIglu]

They are Pilot Race's.

If you are very worried, at least you have that new rear to toss on there. You are 1 front tire away from a brand new set!

They didn't seem to old or dry, but I'm no racer. Just take it easy on them and see how well they warm up.

Keep an eye on your tire pressures too, that makes a huge difference.

I was gunna run trackdays with them. I didn't expect to be puttin knee's down, so I figured they would be just fine.

Good luck with Frankenbike!

[highsider]

Originally posted by TheIglu
They are Pilot Race's.

If you are very worried, at least you have that new rear to toss on there. You are 1 front tire away from a brand new set!

They didn't seem to old or dry, but I'm no racer. Just take it easy on them and see how well they warm up.

Keep an eye on your tire pressures too, that makes a huge difference.

I was gunna run trackdays with them. I didn't expect to be puttin knee's down, so I figured they would be just fine.

Good luck with Frankenbike!

BTW, TheIglu is da man.

I got a sweet deal, and he's an honest guy.

Thanks again, Clayton.

[hohum]

So does this mean the Barney colored COWcourse has been sold?

[RSVMILLE661]

Originally posted by highsider
I just bought a bike (a real NESR whore, I might add ) from TheIglu, who bought it from gixxer6. Its a 96 YZF600 race bike, which I bought to do some track days on.

Gixxer6

Who bought it from my old roommate Shawn

[highsider]

Originally posted by hohum
So does this mean the Barney colored COWcourse has been sold?

COWcourse.....LOL.

No, Connie is still around. Good bike for sport-touring. I shall take lots of abuse, but never be uncomfortable, and never that far behind

[hohum]

Heh, no doubt (I own a connie too its just not registered at all due to a need for some plastics from a low side last year)

Cheers,
Chris

[highsider]

Originally posted by RSVMILLE661
Gixxer6

Who bought it from my old roommate Shawn

Alas, my new track bike is a whore.

[RSVMILLE661]

More than you know.. if that bike could talk..

[Karaya One]

Depending on how they were stored, I would be very sceptical of those tires.

2 years is a long time for tires already put through some heat cycles.

I sell piles of race tires, and now they are mostly soft's due to the temps now.

Are they Race One's or Race Two's?

I would NOT run a H2 right now. It will take forever to heat up. M2's are better, but S2's are best.

I'm gonna bring some Michelin's up to the track. Race 2's Sport Cups and the Power's. They'll be at the food table.

Make sure to check them out!

[lee955i]

I agree. The compounds used in race tires degrade with time (a lot faster than street tires) and 2 years old with gawd knows how many heat cycles in them could leave them downright treacherous.
If there's two things on a track bike that you should have no douubt about their abilities, it's brakes and tires. I wouldn't run-em.
Cheers, Lee S.

[guru_lou]

According to Michelin, M2s are harder than H2s, so why would the H2s be worse?

[Karaya One]

It goes H2, M2 then S2.

The H2 is the most durable of the three. Longer wear, but also longer heat-up.

We sell very few of them. Michelin will never put "H" on a race tire ever again.

M2's and S2's are by far the most common.

If the H2 is listed as being softer than the M2, then it is a mistake.

[highsider]

Well, looks like I'm running 'em anyway, the track day is Thursday, day after tomorrow. I think a little common sense should keep me safe, but if I dont post anymore, you'll all know why

Who else is going to be there? It will be nice to put a face to the different names.....

[highsider]

I ran the old tires today, and I definitely give them a thumbs up. I don't know if they suffered much from sitting for a couple of years, but if they did, I couldn't tell. I rode the old Franken-bike as hard as I dared, and I never once had any sort of questionable traction.

[legalspeed]

Originally posted by highsider
I ran the old tires today, and I definitely give them a thumbs up. I don't know if they suffered much from sitting for a couple of years, but if they did, I couldn't tell. I rode the old Franken-bike as hard as I dared, and I never once had any sort of questionable traction.

Cool, she's a good machine, treat her like a cheap whore and she'll love you more for it!