Tyre life advice for a track day newbie

[rapid van cleef]

i never said anything about saving money. However, I was not sure if i would have enough cash for tyres until late february. It now looks like I will have the cash. But, local dealer have quoted me 640 plus fitting. so say 700+ bucks for a set of michelin pilot power 2ct. an auckland dealer quoted 600 fitted. do i wait, not ride the bike and use whats left of my current tyres on the track day? Or , ride now, spend the extra 140 bucks or so on same tyres locally........hmmmmm

what to do.

[Cracker]

Mate, good on you for having a crack at Pukekohe, an old fashioned speed circuit.

No need to get set on high dollar tyres. I suggest you get up early, go to Drury Tyres ( 15 mins from the track) who specialise in no bullshit service. You could probabbly get a set of Meztler Sportec M3 tyres that will do Pukekohe and all your other riding with no drama for around $520, save the money but spend the tyre money before you go on track.

[rapid van cleef]

ok . that sounds good. how many k's u reckon i'd get to a set of metzlers like u suggest?

[Cracker]

Thats what I asked, he said 4000 hard Kl and thats what if was.

[quickbuck]

M1 Sportecs on the 600: Used to get 4500 - 5000 k out of them on the road, BUT if I took them to the track a couple of times, I could get 7000 out of them.
Simply because I could get rid of that anoying bit that develops after too much straight line stuff..... Cupping, i have since leearnt it is called.

M3's: put one onthe front, and it was wrecked 85 miles later... Went off track and wrecked my rim.

[Marmoot]

Nothing wastes a track day more than having to scrub new tyres in during your first one or two sessions.
Especially road tyres.

I'd be more worried about the tyre shape/profile (e.g., is it squared off from doing too much straight road riding? Or is it still nicely round?) than the actual thread depth.
As long as it's not raining, that is.

But who would want to do pukekohe in the rain anyway? It's slipperier than SH1.

[CHOPPA]

You could just buy some pirelli slicks off me???? $150 done one heat cycle not more then 30 laps and still good for atleast 120 more laps at close to race pace....

[rapid van cleef]

ok, consider this.
A. i need new tyres anyway and i do ride on the road
B. I do not have the gear to remove tyres and re fit new ones

what would you suggest?

[gixerracer]

Better still you could buy the same tyres off me for $100 a set got as many as you like

You could just buy some pirelli slicks off me???? $150 done one heat cycle not more then 30 laps and still good for atleast 120 more laps at close to race pace....

[quickbuck]

Nothing wastes a track day more than having to scrub new tyres in during your first one or two sessions.
Especially road tyres.

I'd be more worried about the tyre shape/profile (e.g., is it squared off from doing too much straight road riding? Or is it still nicely round?) than the actual thread depth.
As long as it's not raining, that is.

But who would want to do pukekohe in the rain anyway? It's slipperier than SH1.

Yeah, good points... To be fair, when I fit a new pair of hoops before a track day they actually get a good scrub in... I make sure of that.

You are right though, you don't actually need the rain groves, and the shape of the tyre is important.....
Don't say ROUND you smart asses....

Oh, and as for changing hoops at the track, at any good track day somebody will turn up with a tyre machine..... Careful you are asking to change the right brand of tyre, if they are sponsored riders though... eh Shaun

[FROSTY:Me]

If in your shoes i'd buy the new tyres and fit them.At pukie it only takes about 4 laps to scrub tyres in. Actually if you have never done a track day the knowledge you are scrubbing tyres in might be enough to keep you sane forthe first few laps.

[rapid van cleef]

thanks for all the comments. seeing as the tyres fitted to my bike are treaded race tyres, therefore will not heat up properly on the road, despite the fact that i take many twisty corenrs at a good pace, ive decided to get a set of michelin pilot power 2ct's

i thought that tyres had to be upto wof standard for a non racing track day. if ive worn the rain grooves off the tyres, i woulndt be allowed on track would I?

the tyres profile is good, not rounded off at all. all my riding is in thw twisties anyway..........and the normal straight bits i have to ride n to get there.