Log in

View Full Version : Do road tyres heat up as quick as slicks?



moT
16th March 2008, 14:38
I have heard things like slicks take longer to heat up than high preformance road tyres is this true? aint perelli super corsas just slicks with groves in them?

boomer
16th March 2008, 14:47
shove both in an oven and find out.

moT
16th March 2008, 14:54
what a great idea!!!

sugilite
16th March 2008, 15:45
The difference is pretty much the grooves themselves, it gives the road surface edges to tear at causing friction, thus heat. For that combo you mentioned anyways. No point comparing a chin shing with a slick.

moT
16th March 2008, 15:58
is there a conciderable difference?

sugilite
16th March 2008, 16:01
I hand groove my old race slicks and use them on the road, and yes they do heat up a bit faster once grooved. However, I still take my time when warming up any tyres as I had two nasty cold tyre prangs in my early racing years, pre tyre warmer...both over 180 kph. :doctor:

moT
16th March 2008, 16:06
yeah i dont have any tyre warmers yet

sugilite
16th March 2008, 16:09
OK, now I understand why you are asking. The slicks might take 15 to 20% more time to heat up at most. They will however, last up to twice as long, as tyres with grooves wear out so much faster for the reason mentioned in my 1st post.

moT
16th March 2008, 16:20
OK, now I understand why you are asking. The slicks might take 15 to 20% more time to heat up at most. They will however, last up to twice as long, as tyres with grooves wear out so much faster for the reason mentioned in my 1st post.

15% 20% of what time? 1 lap 2 laps of taupo? if not running tyre warmers for 6 lap race do you think its better to run lower pressures so they heat up faster? eg 26psi

sugilite
16th March 2008, 16:27
It takes 1 warm up lap and at least 2.5 to 3 laps into the race before they are up to operating temp. So if grooved tyres take 2.5 race laps, slicks would take about 3. IMHO, it's best to buy slicks, and just accept the limitations of not having tyre warmers, then when your slicks are worn out, get another pair and a set of tyre warmers from the savings of not going through two sets of grooved tyres, to your one pair of slicks you did run in the 1st place. (if that makes sense)

Squiggles
16th March 2008, 16:27
warmers are cheaper than the constant need to replace tires and risk it on them cold

FROSTY
16th March 2008, 19:24
I wanna throw out a concept at you lot.
For the winter series you are wasting your time using the same tyres as you would for the nationals.
What I think we need is a tyre with MORE and wider grooves. My reasoning is that you need a tyre that is able to MAINTAIN temperature in the mid winter cold.
That coupled to TOTALLY different suspension settings.

sugilite
16th March 2008, 20:50
Well, under the heading of beggars cannot be choosers, I bought all my tyres second hand and they were from a guy that came top three in the nationals. I never once had a problem keeping the heat in the tyres during sub 10 degrees winter racing, either on the superbike (3rd overall 06) or my post classic zxr (1st over all 06) Had I put grooves in, I would of ended up using twice as many tyres. The only point of wider grooves that I can see is to channel more water. Less rubber in contact with track = less grip as well. If one is really having problems getting heat in, get a box cutter knife and simply put in lines of cuts, the rubber either side of the cut will rub together causing friction which = heat, and will not give the large edges for the track to tear at as having wider grooves would do.... and again, more rubber is on the track. IMHO and experience.

FROSTY
18th March 2008, 00:39
Well, under the heading of beggars cannot be choosers, I bought all my tyres second hand and they were from a guy that came top three in the nationals. I never once had a problem keeping the heat in the tyres during sub 10 degrees winter racing, either on the superbike (3rd overall 06) or my post classic zxr (1st over all 06) Had I put grooves in, I would of ended up using twice as many tyres. The only point of wider grooves that I can see is to channel more water. Less rubber in contact with track = less grip as well. If one is really having problems getting heat in, get a box cutter knife and simply put in lines of cuts, the rubber either side of the cut will rub together causing friction which = heat, and will not give the large edges for the track to tear at as having wider grooves would do.... and again, more rubber is on the track. IMHO and experience.
Sorry dude i'll qualify that--With a lighter/slower bike such as a 400 f3 bike or a clubmans bike. Tyres seem to cool from what I've seen
Im pretty sure thats why the F2 guys tried running front wets at Taupo in the dry

Shaun
18th March 2008, 07:30
warmers are cheaper than the constant need to replace tires and risk it on them cold



Well said mate. Race preperation is 95% of the true battle

dickytoo
18th March 2008, 10:36
Well said mate. Race preperation is 95% of the true battle

+1, fully agree

sugilite
18th March 2008, 11:03
Sorry dude i'll qualify that--With a lighter/slower bike such as a 400 f3 bike or a clubmans bike. Tyres seem to cool from what I've seen
Im pretty sure thats why the F2 guys tried running front wets at Taupo in the dry

I've no experience on smaller bikes. Thinking about it, you have a valid point.

And yes, Get tyre warmers, they are a lot cheaper than repair bills and broken body parts :yes:

moT
18th March 2008, 14:12
yeah i think i will get some i need to make my race stands first lol

boostin
18th March 2008, 14:27
yeah i think i will get some i need to make my race stands first lol
Hey Tom I have a bit of pipe that is bent into shape for a race stand, it just needs some wheels and some sort of fittings to attach to the swing arm if you want it.

ManDownUnder
18th March 2008, 14:31
Well said mate. Race preperation is 95% of the true battle

meh - what would you know??? (p/t!)

sugilite
18th March 2008, 16:55
I feel rider confidence and state of mind counts for a lot too. :yes:

Shaun
19th March 2008, 11:04
meh - what would you know??? (p/t!)




Jack shit, according to the Doctors who bolted/screwed/glued me back together, hahaha Thanks guys

ManDownUnder
19th March 2008, 11:11
Jack shit, according to the Doctors who bolted/screwed/glued me back together, hahaha Thanks guys

LOL :niceone:

Just get your arse back over to the Isle.

moT
19th March 2008, 14:51
Hey Tom I have a bit of pipe that is bent into shape for a race stand, it just needs some wheels and some sort of fittings to attach to the swing arm if you want it.

hey thanks but i already got some materials lined up here

moT
19th March 2008, 14:54
well thanks everyone i guess i will have to practice to see how hard i can go on cold tyres until i get warmers