Trackday tyre test

[pritch]

The latest issue of BIKE out here contains details of a test of track day rubber.

They asked the manufacturers to supply a pair of road legal tyres that they would recommend for trackday use.

The results were as follows:

*****
Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP
Michelin Power Race

****
(In alphabetical order)
Avon Viper Xtreme
Bridgestone BT002
Dunlop D209 GP Racer

***
Continental Race attack

BIKE say the Pirelli tyres offered the best performance but the Michelins offer near identical performance and are a lot cheaper (In the UK that is). They would therefore buy the Michelins.

The test bike was a 2008 GSXR 600.

If you want to know the subtle details such as methodology, compounds, and testers comments etc, buy the mag. The shops should have them right now.

[Toast]

Power Race are notorious for losing a large amount of their initial high grip after a very low number of heat cycles...which makes a terrible tyre for a fast road/track day rider.

If they only tested each one for a couple of sessions, they wouldn’t pick such a thing up.

I used them for a few race meets and found this to be the case. Very solid tyres when brand new and decent race tyres if you’re gonna get new ones every meeting, but track day tyre? Not in my books.

The Pirellis are much better in this regard, as are the Bridgestones, which I thought they rated a bit lowly…didn’t see what compound they were using, which will make a huge difference to their experience

Everyone’s got their own opinion I guess

[discotex]

How many heat cycles are we talking before this type of tyre goes to shit? I commute 20km each way on my bike so would be wary about ruining them with heat cycles in like 1000km.

Everything I read suggests it's better to stick with top end sports tyres until I'm getting up there in the fast group at trackdays. Good advice? Certainly seen a lot of people ride pretty quick on PP2ct, DCIII, etc.

[puddytat]

Everything I read suggests it's better to stick with top end sports tyres until I'm getting up there in the fast group at trackdays. Good advice? Certainly seen a lot of people ride pretty quick on PP2ct, DCIII, etc.

I'd agree with that,the Rosso's Im using are going as fast as I....can

[Toast]

How many heat cycles are we talking before this type of tyre goes to shit? I commute 20km each way on my bike so would be wary about ruining them with heat cycles in like 1000km.

Everything I read suggests it's better to stick with top end sports tyres until I'm getting up there in the fast group at trackdays. Good advice? Certainly seen a lot of people ride pretty quick on PP2ct, DCIII, etc.

Varies from one tyre model to another, there seldom is one general answer. If someone tries to give you one, walk the other way.

Fast road tyres are normally plenty fine for the race track. My best time around Puke a year ago was 64s. I did the same time on Bridgestone 002 Streets as I did on Pirelli Diablo Superbike slicks, and could have gone faster on either but was held back by lack of skill and poor setup giving handling that didn’t suit me.

[Mishy]

How many heat cycles are we talking before this type of tyre goes to shit? I commute 20km each way on my bike so would be wary about ruining them with heat cycles in like 1000km.

Everything I read suggests it's better to stick with top end sports tyres until I'm getting up there in the fast group at trackdays. Good advice? Certainly seen a lot of people ride pretty quick on PP2ct, DCIII, etc.

in a nutshell, you are right on the money there. There are a whole bunch of reason's why the super sticky rubber is not desireable for street use, and you are right on it with the heat cycle thing being a wrecker for the sticky stuff.