Track day rider and tire warmers

[02redhawk]

Looking for advise from those who have made the switch from doing track days with street tires vs track tires and warmers.

I’ve always run the some version of a street tire (Dunlop Sportmax Q3, Q3+) or similar. I normally run with the Yellow at track days though I should probably look at bumping up this season. To date street tire seemed the easier path as I didn’t need to bring a generator to run warmers or have a set of rims and rain tires. This year I’ve switched bikes and it came with spare rims and Pirelli track tires. My question is should I spoon on the fresh track tires, buy warmers and get on with it or keep running the street tires.

[Degsy]

Run the warmers and track tires.

All the other posts here will be people telling you that they went around the outside of Ben Spies at Daytona on Dunlop Tourmasters and nobody but the top 5 GP riders need track tires.





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[TheIglu]

Dedicated track tires plus warmers is the ideal scenario.

Dedicated track tires, plus 1-1.5 warmup laps at an easier pace is the second best.

I run slicks. If it's summer, they get up to temp after a lap. If it's cold outside, I give it two laps. I'd prefer to have them toasty with warmers and do so when convenient, but it's not necessary.


That being said, I also bring a set of D3's along on rims to run if it's wet/damp/marginal.

[Philkinson]

Most tracks have power available. Thompson and Loudon certainly do, so no need for a generator.

I'm with Degsy, warmers and track tires. It's the natural progression

[nt650hawk]

use the suns rays to warm up them tires if you don't use tire warmers

[Tricky Mike]

I went around the outside of Ben Spies at Daytona on Dunlop Tourmasters.
Nobody but the top 5 GP riders need track tires.

[tsorfas]

Run the warmers and track tires.

All the other posts here will be people telling you that they went around the outside of Ben Spies at Daytona on Dunlop Tourmasters and nobody but the top 5 GP riders need track tires.





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Well... do you really need warm tires for Daytona?

[Degsy]

use the suns rays to warm up them tires if you don't use tire warmers

Any BORN member will tell you that the suns rays will destroy race tires in seconds.

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[MUZ720]

The only thing is cost.. if you have the money run slicks Q3+ or the new Q4 will probably cost you less in the long run.. The front med dunlop will last awhile, rears depend on compound.. you will need to spend more time paying attention to tire pressures

[maxim_X]

The confidence to go out hard on the first lap is well worth the price and hassle of warmers.

[adouglas]

Tony bumped me to blue last year but I still think of myself as a yellow group rider... so I probably run a pace comparable to yours. I run slicks with warmers.

My $0.02 on this decision:

"[This sport] is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical." - Yogi Berra

To me it's about confidence, not speed. At our pace, do I NEED toasty, sticky slicks? Hell no, not in a million years. The TTD instructors ride rings around me and they don't use warmers. But us mere mortals can and do have cold tire crashes all the time. If I go out and KNOW that my tires won't let me down I gain confidence. That makes me safer because I'm less likely to make a mistake. And to me, safety trumps speed any day.

Make no mistake: Warmers/generator/swapping wheels for the wet is a hassle. You have to decide for yourself if it's worth it.

A couple of years ago I happened on a deal for some rain tires so I went ahead and got 'em. The following year had several very wet days and I learned how magical rains can be. I love 'em... but there's a catch. It has to be WET. Not drying. Actually wet.

Last year was a huge pain in the ass. More than once, the weather just was not cooperating... too dry for rains and too wet for slicks. It got to be a kind of sad joke. I changed wheels three or four times in one day before just hanging it up. For the next event -- yep, same damned weather was forecast -- I put touring tires on instead (Angel GTs that I had on the shelf) so I wouldn't have to spend the whole $#*(@)@ day trying to second-guess the track. Sure enough, the track was in that same in-between state. Guess what: They performed just fine at my pace.

The rains are back on and I'm sure I'll use them this season. But once they wear out, I'll probably just put some good wet-weather street tires on for any day when it's not dry.

[Philkinson]

What team did Yogi ride for?

[Philkinson]

Swapping between wet and dries, while a pain in the ass, beats the alternative. If you're a baller, buy a rain bike. If it's just for track days you can really go cheap.. Doesn't even need to be the same bike as your dry bike.
I personally wouldn't trade my wets for a set of street tires, I just wouldn't go out. Maybe buy intermediates?

Confidence is key. Warm tires inspire confidence.
I put my rain tires on warmers.

[nt650hawk]

Smooth is key.

lil update

[loudbeard]

A couple of years ago I happened on a deal for some rain tires so I went ahead and got 'em. The following year had several very wet days and I learned how magical rains can be. I love 'em... but there's a catch. It has to be WET. Not drying. Actually wet.

Last year was a huge pain in the ass. More than once, the weather just was not cooperating... too dry for rains and too wet for slicks. It got to be a kind of sad joke. I changed wheels three or four times in one day before just hanging it up. For the next event -- yep, same damned weather was forecast -- I put touring tires on instead (Angel GTs that I had on the shelf) so I wouldn't have to spend the whole $#*(@)@ day trying to second-guess the track. Sure enough, the track was in that same in-between state. Guess what: They performed just fine at my pace.

The rains are back on and I'm sure I'll use them this season. But once they wear out, I'll probably just put some good wet-weather street tires on for any day when it's not dry.

You should do away with your rain tires and get a set of Pirelli Diablo Wets. It's a race tire built for the conditions you're describing. Most of the time we aren't riding in full rain conditions, most of the time it's an intermediate condition. For the rare time it is actually raining hard, the intermediate tires will still be alright. As good or better than a street tire, not quite as good as a full rain. Plenty good for a track day.

[nt650hawk]

^ that

or

ANGEL™ ST - Motorcycle Tyres | Pirelli

[csmutty]

Maybe it's because I am old and crotchety, but I find tire warmers to be more of a nuisance during track days than anything. I would rather relax a little more and not worry about setting them up and taking them on and off 7 times a day.

Like others have said it only takes 1.5-2 laps and you're good to go. Helps to get you warmed up as a rider as well.

[keeena]

Yes to more track-oriented rubber: hypersports, DOTs or slicks (pretty much the same thing, at least in the Pirelli lineup). But don't be under the impression that you absolutely need warmers. Yes, its nice to maximize track time (especially with 4 groups) or if you can't dial it back a bit for the first 1-1.5 laps. As others said: you have to determine if the hassle of electric, stands, etc...is worth it.

If you're crashing on cold tires at a TD: you're doing something wrong.

[OneCheekRider]

You're not going to win a trackday without warmers and track tires. Plus they make for better social media pics while you're in the paddock.

[TTD]

If the bike doesn't see street duty, I would definitely run track rubber.

If you have the ability to run warmers (cost, space for stands, etc), then do it. If you don't, then take a lap or two at a progressive pace, and enjoy the added grip that the track tires will give you.

[02redhawk]

Thanks for all your replies.

[nt650hawk]

first couple of laps are more sighting and line reinforcing exercises

[TheIglu]

I'd gladly go through the hassle of putting a bike on stands and slapping tire warmers on after every session than sit here knowing that track riding is months and months away.

[caboteria]

If you're crashing on cold tires at a TD: you're doing something wrong.

Can confirm: have crashed on cold tires at a TD, was doing something wrong.