Weird track day tyre wear?

**FrozenTree** · 27th June 2012, 22:15

Hi all. I did my first track day on my zx6r at Pukekohe, running BT016 front and rear. I'm a smooth rider on and off the track.

I know that 'going fast' is a relative term, but whilst I obviously wasn't knee scraping or doing stoppies on the track, it wasn't a Sunday tootle in the park either.

Both front and rear tyres showed normal little bits of tearing you'd expect from track use, but no signs of other damage in terms of incorrect suspension setup or heat issues. Pressures were about 3psi lower than street use.

What I don't get is that my front tyres have worn down to about half (based on tread remaining), but the rears remains largely unworn. Both started with the same amount...

I thought rears were supposed to wear faster?!

Thoughts / experiences welcomed. Cheers!

**gatch** · 27th June 2012, 22:28

Go faster.

Watch your tires disappear.

**Latte** · 27th June 2012, 22:40

As a slow to average track dayer id destroy a bt016 front and still have a 3rd of the rear left. Speakung honestly i'd say i rode tight on the bars, too close to the tank, and the rear was undersprung for my beer gut. But ive read online of 016 fronts having their shoulders wear out quick.

**mossy1200** · 27th June 2012, 22:41

3 less than road? Is that 3 less than 40 or 3 less than 33.

I would think 32 front 34 rear might be good start on your tyres.
Suspension set up good front and rear or just good set up rear.
Riding brakes deep into corners?
Bit worried about putting gas down leaving corners.

Does the front and rear have same tread depth from new on those tires?

**jrandom** · 28th June 2012, 07:41

Originally Posted by FrozenTree

Pressures were about 3psi lower than street use.

It would be more useful if you said what the pressures were.

Originally Posted by FrozenTree

What I don't get is that my front tyres have worn down to about half (based on tread remaining), but the rears remains largely unworn.

Got photos?

Setting tyre pressure correctly is vital. I'm sure someone will be along shortly with recommendations for BT016s. Normally you'd be dropping more like 10psi than 3psi, though.

**BoristheBiter** · 28th June 2012, 07:48

Originally Posted by mossy1200

3 less than road? Is that 3 less than 40 or 3 less than 33.

I would think 32 front 34 rear might be good start on your tyres.
Suspension set up good front and rear or just good set up rear.
Riding brakes deep into corners?
Bit worried about putting gas down leaving corners.

Does the front and rear have same tread depth from new on those tires?

I run 30 30 psi with 016's, but it all depends on the track and weather.

**driftn** · 28th June 2012, 17:53

See I would go the other way with pressures on road tyres at a track day. Road tyres can't handle the heat generated as well as a more track focused tyre. So would usually add 3 or 4 pounds to them to try keep them cooler.

**FrozenTree** · 28th June 2012, 23:40

Thanks all. I was probably running 32 front and 36 rear. Possibly rear should have been lower for track.

Both tyres were near new to start, but very good point on whether the front / rear actually had the same to start with as new, possibly not!

Yea I don't tend to power out of corners particularly hard....

**driftn** · 29th June 2012, 07:00

up the front to 34 next time, lower the pressure the more its going to chew out. Leave the rear where it is.

**BoristheBiter** · 29th June 2012, 09:39

Originally Posted by driftn

See I would go the other way with pressures on road tyres at a track day. Road tyres can't handle the heat generated as well as a more track focused tyre. So would usually add 3 or 4 pounds to them to try keep them cooler.

But they are not just road tyres. they are designed to be used on the track.
I will still say they are run to hard but what track and what weather?

there is this thread.( i know its about the S20 but they are the new 016's)
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...?highlight=016

Give the op from this a PM and he might be able to pick whats up straight away.

**Dave-** · 29th June 2012, 10:56

I find road tyres used on the track do all sorts of odd things.

even track orientated road tyres wont behave as expected when used on the road then the race track.

I'd say you're lucky the front wore out, they're cheaper than rears

**quickbuck** · 29th June 2012, 15:10

Originally Posted by Dave-

I find road tyres used on the track do all sorts of odd things.

even track orientated road tyres wont behave as expected when used on the road then the race track.

I'd say you're lucky the front wore out, they're cheaper than rears

I would say the front wore out at the correct amount, and the rear didn't wear enough.

Advise from me would be to start applying a little throttle once turned in, then gently open up once exit is identifyed.

Yup, drop the rear bu a few PSI as has been said.

Agree with the middle statement in the quote. They need to be used exclusivly at one place or the other to get the best out of them.
In saying that, I get better milage if I tke my bike to the track for a day when my rear had done 5000k.... this may well be that I have overheated it, and made it really hard though....