Supersport Tire pressure: at track w/Michelins? - Ducati.ms

Joe-B · Jul 29th, 2009, 9:31 pm

Anyone remember what the recommended tire pressure for a track day on Pilot Powers would be? It's for a 1997 SS/SP. I'm going to Miller next weekend and it's been long enough that I forgot what pressure to use (and of course I didn't write it down last time

). I know it was less than on the street. I think it was 30-32 front and 28-30 rear or something like that. Thanks!
Joe

brewmaster · Jul 30th, 2009, 5:03 am

Our Michelin rep (Sto from Motorace) recommends 30F - 28R for Powers at Loudon.

froggert · Jul 30th, 2009, 7:44 am

i've run 30/30 or 30/29 in the past and been fine.

ProfessorX · Jul 30th, 2009, 8:08 am

Those are good starting numbers, but you might want to check with the tire vendor at the track. I know that pressures on the race tires are quite low. You're looking for around a 15-percent increase in pressure from cold to hot-off-the-track.

Because it's a street tire, be sure to pay attention if the rear starts to slip a bit. If you are running fast, they will overheat and become slippery. If you don't pay attention when the tire begins to warn you with wiggles, you could find yourself on your head from a highside. Ask me how I know

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C47 · Jul 30th, 2009, 5:32 pm

I'm very interested in what the consensus is going to be in this one, because the owner of the track that I go to (Arroyo Seco) recommends 35f/35b for the Michelin PPs. ???

h60mech · Jul 30th, 2009, 8:24 pm

That seems ridiculously high to me for any kind of riding, except maybe drifting . . .

wacko-ocker · Jul 31st, 2009, 3:14 am

what ever your base pressure is by memeory it should rise by 4 psi when hot to give best perfomance, if rises by more add more air

curveman99 · Jul 31st, 2009, 10:06 pm

29/29 and they heat up just fine. With out tire warmers.

brewmaster · Aug 1st, 2009, 5:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by C47

I'm very interested in what the consensus is going to be in this one, because the owner of the track that I go to (Arroyo Seco) recommends 35f/35b for the Michelin PPs. ???

I am just guessing but that sounds like a hot tyre pressure to me.

There are many factors involving what tyre pressure to run. It is always intelligent to start with what the vendor at that track recommends. You then should start tweeking the pressure from there.
1) Set your cold pressure and note conditions and temperatures (air, track, weather etc.)
2) ride the bike and see how it feels.
3) check your HOT tyre pressure as soon as you come off the track. Write this down!
4) Adjust your pressure and do over.

As an example I run 29F and 26R cold psi for most conditions. The bike is very light and doesn't have a ton of power so the tyres feel better and get to temperature quicker at the lower pressure. However when the track conditions are very cold I run 31F 28R, this will get the tyres into the Hot pressure range I prefer for the handling/response I like (ok am used to).

Bottom line is to take good notes and try different settings and see what feels/works the best for you.