160 DOT race tire options

[Mgiossi]

So in the middle of a lightweight build to race next year along side with my middle weight. Looking at dot race and I don't see many options. I have run just about everything on the middle weight and prefer Michelin but I don't see a dot race tire by them in 160. I want to stay SS legal so what at my options? Thanks again for any help

[OreoGaborio]

Think it's just Pirelli, Dunlop and Bridgestone.

Can't tell you much about Dunlop or Bridgestone, but I can say than Dunlop is the more popular of the two....

The popular Pirelli DOT will be the Supercorsa V2 in either soft SC1 (blue) or medium SC2 (green). I've used both with much success. The SC1 is better in hot temps. SC2 in cooler temps. Both provide more grip when cold than other brands and come up to temp fairly quickly which is good if you're also doing track days. That's one of the main reasons why I like them because I don't need to bother with warmers if I'm at a TTD. I don't mind doing a lap or two to warm them up and I still have the confidence to go fairly quickly while they do.

[theducman]

Pirelli dot of the win. I have some take off for sale for an sv if you're interested. Can bring them up this weekend

[tsorfas]

Pete i think the SC1 is better when cold (softer compound) and the SC2 is better when temps are high (harder compound)

[Dayon]

You are both right. For hot temps harder front and softer rear. For cold temps softer front and harder rear.

[carsick]

You are both right. For hot temps harder front and softer rear. For cold temps softer front and harder rear.

Thank you. That would have been extremely helpful to know the two years I was racing and buying Pirellis. I pretty much always ran the opposite of that.

[OreoGaborio]

Pete i think the SC1 is better when cold (softer compound) and the SC2 is better when temps are high (harder compound)

What Dayon said. I was thinking of the rears. Shoulda specified.
I pretty much always run the SC2 front no matter what the temps. I like the way the stiffer carcass retains its shape better under braking.

[TTD]

Thank you. That would have been extremely helpful to know the two years I was racing and buying Pirellis. I pretty much always ran the opposite of that.

We have always encouraged riders to try the different compounds and decide for themselves... a simple chart is not going to work for everyone's riding style.

We have some that swear by one compound, while others are just as adamant about the other.

[Petorius]

This is more feedback than you are probably looking for, but I like to read myself talk:

I did a full year of TDs on the Pirellis with no warmers, never had a problem, and most (all?) of them were take-offs. Went to do my first TD on almost-new Dunlops without warmers, ate shit at about 20 mph in the second corner. Never again. Admittedly it was a cold day.

I ran the Dunlops for a season racing, they wear like iron and provide great feedback. I feel like they step out incrementally, which is nice, but they do it all the damn time. I also felt like my suspension was never really dialed with the Dunlops. I would get a big front wheel hop crossing the second transition in 10 all the time. I think the stiffer carcass on the Dunlop front does not play nicely with my shitty traditional forks. I switched back to Pirellis this year. They don't step incrementally, they kind of just smooosh out, but it happens much less frequently for me. I've dropped almost 2 seconds since switching, and most of that 2 seconds has been extra throttle everywhere. So ya, I like the Pirellis.

Try the Dunlops for a while with your shitty supersport SV front end to find all the bumps and pavement changes you never noticed on the Triumph. Then switch to the Pirellis once you are getting the hang of the SV and see what you think. I wouldn't recommend doing it in the reverse order though.