Scraping back a few bucks

[ManDownUnder]

I'm not sure how obvious this is, but as a commuter I really like worn race tyres.

You track legends wear the shoulders off the bastards, I wear the centres flat. By the time we're both done with them they're totally done - as they should be ideally.

I'm leaning more and more toward simply buying 2nd hand front tyres (as I did off nicko the other night - cheers chap) knowing that I'm saving some cash... getting reasonably good mileage out of the tyres and you get a few bucks for fuel or whatever.

If it's not something you already push it's something you might want to take a look at.

5c poorer?
MDU

[Pwalo]

It's a good theory mate, but my understanding is that track tyres aren't as good as retaining temperature when it's cold or wet, which may compromise your riding enjoyment at these times.

Perhaps.

[ManDownUnder]

It's a good theory mate, but my understanding is that track tyres aren't as good as retaining temperature when it's cold or wet, which may compromise your riding enjoyment at these times.

Perhaps.

I'm running an AV59 from last year - nicely worn down now... and it sticks like shit to a blanket. Happily heading into doing it again now.

Besides - I don't know that temperature is so critical in road tyres - traction is needed but any time you're riding on the limit (and you need the extra traction) the tyres will warm up anyway.

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

running race tyres strictly for commuting makes perfect sense, but anything other than commuting it may be a false economy as dropping your bike from a lack of lean traction is gonna cost you more than a set of rubbers. after all, they were discarded/sold for a reason....

[MOTOXXX]

good idea

not so good when its wet or when trying to get a wof i guess

[Steve_R6R]

I have some which I can part with for a small fee so you too can feel it .

[JayRacer37]

running race tyres strictly for commuting makes perfect sense, but anything other than commuting it may be a false economy as dropping your bike from a lack of lean traction is gonna cost you more than a set of rubbers. after all, they were discarded/sold for a reason....

Yea, dicarded or sold cause they have dropped their 'edge' and are no longer that last 5 tenths faster than a new one. I happily run my ex-race tyres on the road. BUT - I ride slower than ur nana's nana in the wet; or dont ride at all. Also - the temprature thing "if your on the limit they will warm up quik" - nope. With a genune race tyre, opperating range is 60 degrees c or higher, for the Conti's anyway. They won't perform well below this, also is very hard to bring them up to that temprature without warmers. Also lack of tread (5% serface area is what a DOT tyre must be..therefore thats what 600SP tyres are...) means its very hard to impart the surface movement needed to warm the rubber. Also, wear will be higher when tyre is cold. Baby them in when warming up, weaving does next to nout, just be smooth with the brakes, smooth on the gas and feel the grip...let them come up to you.

[JayRacer37]

I'm running an AV59 from last year - nicely worn down now... and it sticks like shit to a blanket. Happily heading into doing it again now.

Besides - I don't know that temperature is so critical in road tyres - traction is needed but any time you're riding on the limit (and you need the extra traction) the tyres will warm up anyway.

What the hell's an AV59, outta intrest?? Is that an Avon crossply classic racing tyre? Or am I just confusesed, like usually??

[The Stranger:Me]

Come on MDU, tow the line - how dare you. You MUST get new and expensive tyres to be accepted on KB.
You can not run ex race tyres, grooved slicks or Shinko's it is just not allowed.
The tyre nazis will be around to see you soon.

[ManDownUnder]

Come on MDU, tow the line - how dare you. You MUST get new and expensive tyres to be accepted on KB.
You can not run ex race tyres, grooved slicks or Shinko's it is just not allowed.
The tyre nazis will be around to see you soon.

I'll put the coffee on if they bring the bikkies

[Ivan]

haha I just did a unit on tires for bikes,

Now be careful the tire hasnt baked itself eg got really really really really hot and turns to shit or else next time you go to ride that bike with that tire you need to get it up to that temperature if not hotter to get that grip feel back,
And I agree with what Jay Racer said he knows alot about this tire stuff considering he rides for Conti tires.

Now say a tire reaches 170 degrees dont know what they reach but using this as an example next time that tire needs to reach 180ish to work properly, Thats why alot of racers have new tires for each round I think to keep that instant grip and those fast lap times,

And also a old tire is dodgy, It can have perfect grip then all of a sudden let go on you and lose grip, Something you do not want.

Now I have never ridden a 600 supersport bike or used any of there tires but the basic principal applys

Hope this helps

Ivan

[HDTboy]

What the hell's an AV59, outta intrest?? Is that an Avon crossply classic racing tyre? Or am I just confusesed, like usually??

It's an Avon, Viper. They brought them out in 2005 for sportbike fitments, so I assume they're radial.

I'm running Ex race tyres at the mo, I feel bad about it cause the particular set I have on still had race life in them when I took the bike. Not any more though

[vifferman]

Besides - I don't know that temperature is so critical in road tyres - traction is needed but any time you're riding on the limit (and you need the extra traction) the tyres will warm up anyway.

Not from my experience.
I'm running with Avons, and I found last winter that I needed to drop the pressure in the back tyre a PSI or two, or it would spin up in the wet. This had nothing to do with tread depth or tyre condition - the thing just wasn't warming up enough while communtering. I wasn't riding on the limit, nor was I giving the bike heaps.

I guess the differences between race and road tyres have become more blurred in the last decade or two, but even so, they're designed with different performance parameters in mind.

If race take-offs work for you, then good for you. But I'm sure road tyres are designed to 'suffer' more heat cycles than race tyres, and probably have completely different warm-up / heat-retaining characteristics.

[ManDownUnder]

If race take-offs work for you, then good for you. But I'm sure road tyres are designed to 'suffer' more heat cycles than race tyres, and probably have completely different warm-up / heat-retaining characteristics.

Yeah I gotta stress I look at the harder race compounds (which is still reasonably pliable in road speak) - the soft ones would last bog all for me.

I also avoid taking one tyre of a matched set because I know others may want the pair...

[Disco Dan]

having bought a bike with a severly squared off rear from the previous commuting owner i can understand MDU's theory... sounds good.. sitting on x speed on mway, and a couple of easy 'about town' turns and thats about as much as a commuting bike can see some days... with winter looming it's ugly head and NZ weather being what it is, I would rather have a road tyre on and then you just have a good excuse to go for a blat through some twisties before going home to the wife and kids huh??

Also, my rear tyre is a dual compound and im hoping it lives up to its design intentions.... Meant to be hard in the center and soft and sticky closer to the edge...