Grooved slicks: Road legal or not?

[scumdog]

Back in your day you were allowed to do everything weren't you?

Bastards.

Back in MY day we didn't need tread..or helmets..or indicators...

[boomer]

Back in MY day we didn't need tread..or helmets..or indicators...

why can i hear the flintstones tune?

[scumdog]

why can i hear the flintstones tune?

'Cos you're old too and can remember them? -- in black and white?

[Ixion]

Back in MY day we didn't have to worry about tyres, cos the wheel hadn't been invented. A right pain it was and very hard on the chains. And the forks.

[Fooman]

I reckon there are also some shops and assessors who KNOW that it's actually safer (if the slicks are cut well).

Race slicks are of a lighter construction than road tires, so can be damaged more easily, e.g. punctures, splits and cuts. They are built for racing on a relatively smooth and clean surface compared to a normal road - this has some impact on their safety on public roads...

Cheers,
FM

[sizzlingbadger]

Racing slicks on the road is a big no no. They are not designed for road use and don't like many heat cycles. You are unlikely to get them to a decent working temperature off the track either (despite what you might think about your riding skills)

This question comes up on many websites and the opinion is always that you just shouldn't do it. There have been soo many accidents with people using slicks expecting them to grip more on the road and they won't.

Tyre manufactureres know a lot more about tyres then we do, so leave it to them to build the tyres and use the right ones. Slicks don't look very cool from an intensive care bed.

[idleidolidyll]

Racing slicks on the road is a big no no. They are not designed for road use and don't like many heat cycles. You are unlikely to get them to a decent working temperature off the track either (despite what you might think about your riding skills)

This question comes up on many websites and the opinion is always that you just shouldn't do it. There have been soo many accidents with people using slicks expecting them to grip more on the road and they won't.

Tyre manufactureres know a lot more about tyres then we do, so leave it to them to build the tyres and use the right ones. Slicks don't look very cool from an intensive care bed.

so then, what's the answer to the great rip off of tyre costs in NZ?

I can buy a good quality rear tyre in the UK for 100 quid ($282.72 at todays exchange rate) that costs $400 here. An extra $100 just for freight or is some importer just ripping us off? (100% markup plus a retail markup?)

[k14]

so then, what's the answer to the great rip off of tyre costs in NZ?

I can buy a good quality rear tyre in the UK for 100 quid ($282.72 at todays exchange rate) that costs $400 here. An extra $100 just for freight or is some importer just ripping us off? (100% markup plus a retail markup?)

Its probably the freight.

But really, $100? Come on, how much is your bike worth? If you think its so great in the UK why don't you go and live there.

[idleidolidyll]

Its probably the freight.

But really, $100? Come on, how much is your bike worth? If you think its so great in the UK why don't you go and live there.

$100 per tyre for freight? I doubt it.

Who says I like the UK? All I'm noting is that compared to the UK we are ripped off. I could have chosen the USA as a comparison but that wouldn't mean I had any inclination to live in the capital of fascism.

BTW: I've actually lived in Pomgolia on a number of occassions and even married a POME but live there permanently? I'd rather chew off my own leg

[kiwifruit]

RRP for bike tyres in nz is a joke. Ive never paid RRP

[SPman]

Tyre prices in Oz are slightly cheaper than NZ, but it still averages $460-500 for a pair of decent tyres.
Be buggered if I'd use grooved slicks, or any sort of pure race tyre on the road. Not worth the hassle for the miniscule amount of extra grip you might get compared to a good road tyre designed for the job.

[idleidolidyll]

Racing slicks on the road is a big no no. They are not designed for road use and don't like many heat cycles. You are unlikely to get them to a decent working temperature off the track either (despite what you might think about your riding skills)

This question comes up on many websites and the opinion is always that you just shouldn't do it. There have been soo many accidents with people using slicks expecting them to grip more on the road and they won't.

Tyre manufactureres know a lot more about tyres then we do, so leave it to them to build the tyres and use the right ones. Slicks don't look very cool from an intensive care bed.

interesting, i reckon the best way to really KNOW is to try them.
an old friend has used slicks on his ducati for years, one up and two up. He's a fast rider and looking at his tyres, he seems to have little problem getting them hot enough to stick.

lets see: $50-100 for a rear slick with 20 laps vs $350-500 for a new road tyre...........yep, i reckon it's worth a test. If I get a safe 2000km from the slick it'd still be better value than the road tyre (I usually get 4000km from a new tyre)

[imdying]

I can buy a good quality rear tyre in the UK for 100 quid ($282.72 at todays exchange rate) that costs $400 here. An extra $100 just for freight or is some importer just ripping us off? (100% markup plus a retail markup?)

Was told today by Pitlane that my 180/55/17 would cost me $300 for a Michelin Pilot whatever suits me, fitted. Quality seems ok... I've always paid about $500 a set fitted, so the price of tyres has never seemed to bad to me?

I've seen the question asked a few times in magazines... apparently slicks have sidewalls not designed for road bumps etc, which makes them bump steer funny (badly?), they don't heat up properly making them worse than good road rubber, and they're more susceptible to road crap damaging them. Apparently. As far as legality goes, Not For Highway use tells you all you need to know

[Motu]

As far as legality goes, Not For Highway use tells you all you need to know

That was the original question,and it has been answered several times in this thread - however,it appears this is not the answer he wants to hear,so he is now building a good set of excuses to justify running illegal tyres on the road.

[idleidolidyll]

That was the original question,and it has been answered several times in this thread - however,it appears this is not the answer he wants to hear,so he is now building a good set of excuses to justify running illegal tyres on the road.

go back and read the first post before making bullshit proclamations about it.

i asked a bunch of questions and the main point was NOT the lagality but the motivation for looking at slicks: that we seem to be getting ripped off