tires at the track

[burnham]

So my Conti slicks finally wore out after about a million laps, and it's time for some new track day rubber. I know I can get Bridgestone and Dunlops at the track, is there someone still there selling Michelins and Pirellis? I'm running 120/190 slicks, I'm pretty sure Contis will cost me $400 plus shipping, and then I have to get them mounted. I'd like to stick with them, just not sure I can make it make sence. I want to stay on slicks for now, hoping to race one round this year after a few more track days. I'd love to know what people are paying for 120/190 slicks but I'm not sure that's something I should be asking on an open forum.
thanks.

[KB]

www.gomtag.com will be there hot pit end of the center garages oppisite side from Kates. Go see them they will take good care of you.

KB

[strgt]

So my Conti slicks finally wore out after about a million laps, and it's time for some new track day rubber. I know I can get Bridgestone and Dunlops at the track, is there someone still there selling Michelins and Pirellis? I'm running 120/190 slicks, I'm pretty sure Contis will cost me $400 plus shipping, and then I have to get them mounted. I'd like to stick with them, just not sure I can make it make sence. I want to stay on slicks for now, hoping to race one round this year after a few more track days. I'd love to know what people are paying for 120/190 slicks but I'm not sure that's something I should be asking on an open forum.
thanks.

Bridgestone slicks are really good, and if you are going to race you cant beat the contingency offered. $100, $75, and $50 for 1st 2nd and 3rd in most novice classes.

[Chippertheripper]

And Michelin is at garage 6 on lrrs weekends. Pick your flavor, they all have their strengths and differences. (I wouldn't say weaknesses about any of the race rubber)

[burnham]

^ thanks.

next question, what's the difference between the US and UK Dunlop N-tec slicks, besides about $130 a set?

[Jim]

^ thanks.

next question, what's the difference between the US and UK Dunlop N-tec slicks, besides about $130 a set?

US - 190/60 tire. Might need to adjust ride height for the difference in the profile. Don't last as long.

UK - 190/55 tire. most Dunlop riders at NHMS use them. They last a while.

[CBR929RE]

US - 190/60 tire. Might need to adjust ride height for the difference in the profile. Don't last as long.

UK - 190/55 tire. most Dunlop riders at NHMS use them. They last a while.

those are DOT sizes. he asked about the slicks. UK is a 195/65 and US is 190/55 or 200/55
no idea which one would be considered better. if it was me I'd go with the US ones cause they're cheaper

[Jim]

Good catch Brett.

[Mr. Kurtz]

I KB. Like he said, the Pirelli garage is in the Center garages, at the end closest to the front straight. We're there from Friday morning on for most race weekends.

If you have any questions about Pirellis, you can PM me here or email info@gomtag.com.

[burnham]

thanks guys.

next question for the guys running Dunlops. Are both US and UK slicks available at the track, or is it just one or the other?

[Chippertheripper]

Depends on the tire. Sometimes they have one or the other or both.

[burnham]

So I rode on old (2007ish) Pirelli take-offs Monday and Tuesday, which felt a lot better then the shredded Contis that came off the bike. Then I mounted up some newer take-off Dunlop GPA's Thursday night for the Penguin advanced school on Friday. The Dunlops felt incredible, think I'll give those a shot when the time comes and go from there. Gonna do the Penguin school again in October.

[TTD]

Hey!! that wasn't a fair test! Pirelli takeoffs from 2007! Jeesh we've had like 4 updates since then.

Seriously, you can't go wrong with any of them... just have to take the time to set the bike up appropriately.

[burnham]

Hey!! that wasn't a fair test! Pirelli takeoffs from 2007! Jeesh we've had like 4 updates since then.

Seriously, you can't go wrong with any of them... just have to take the time to set the bike up appropriately.

haha..... no, not very fair at all. You can't compare old used tires to new used tires. At the end of the day Friday I was just happy to be riding faster/cleaner that I have in a while. I wouldn't give the brand too much credit, I just had a day where a lot of the little things started to come back together. I'm sure any of the new stuff will be more than I need, and I have some time before any of this becomes an issue.

[Jim]

I can tell you the UK and US NTEC tires in DOT are always available at race events. If you're stuck on slicks, then maybe someone cn chime in here for that.

[burnham]

After using the DOTs on Friday I'm fine with them.

[Jim]

You might wanna try a set if take-offs that Arbo has been selling for $50 if you want to try a set of NTECs for cheap.

[Doc]

What is the rule to go by? DOT's until you are in the 20's? Then Slicks?

[TTD]

What is the rule to go by? DOT's until you are in the 20's? Then Slicks?

If you have rain tires or spare rims, there's no reason not to run the slicks. They are basically the same tires just without grooves... so they last longer, in my experience. Sometimes they cost more, so you have to do the math on value.

Both the race slicks and the race DOT's need some heat in them to work properly... so either use warmers or take at least 1 full warm up lap... and preferably 2. I just gradually increase each corner... starting from about 75% and working up to 100% somewhere in the middle of the second lap.

Or you could use the Pirelli Trackday Slick...which warms up much quicker and is designed to work at slightly cooler temps than what the fast racers get tires up to.

http://www.gomtag.com/product/15140/name.htm

[CEO]

What is the rule to go by? DOT's until you are in the 20's? Then Slicks?

It's not laptime dependent... Shane, Scotty, and others have done 10's and 11's on the DOT Dunlops.

The main issue is legality. DOTs are legal essentially in all classes, slicks are only allowed in certain classes (superbike, etc).

[CBR929RE]

Hey!! that wasn't a fair test! Pirelli takeoffs from 2007! Jeesh we've had like 4 updates since then.

Seriously, you can't go wrong with any of them... just have to take the time to set the bike up appropriately.

and the Dunlop GPAs have had a few revisions in the last 6 months

[carsick]

Or you could use the Pirelli Trackday Slick... http://www.gomtag.com/product/15140/name.htm

No 160 for the SV's?? That looks like just what I want!

[TTD]

No 160 for the SV's?? That looks like just what I want!

Nope.

You would have to go to the Diablo race tires.