Track tire takeoffs.

[nitsuj8686]

Looking for a few opinions about running track takeoffs on the hyper for street use. I can get front and rear installed for about $130. They only have 1 heat on them.


Just curious if anyone else is going this route?
I mainly ride back roads then to campus or work of the weather is good. I have had this bike for about a month and put 1500 miles on it. I won't be riding as much now because school just started and I won't have as much free time. I do ride this bike hard. As in no chicken strips and I tend to drag a peg every other time I ride.

[Steve C]

Not sure they will be worth the effort and cost, depending on what compound they will wear pretty quick and from a safety perspective if they are semi slicks with the little sipes like the Michelin Power One they would be tricky on wet roads. I would compare the take off deal to sportbiketrackgear, they have some killer pricing. Just my .02

[nitsuj8686]

Yeah. That was what I was thinking. I have pilot power 2ct on it now. I guess I should look for something similar that way I can get decent life out of them.

[Decreasing Dave]

If they are true track compound tires, then I wouldn't run them on the street except for commuting.

Track tires are designed to have a limited amount of heat cycles before they start to "go off". Street tires are designed to have an almost unlimited amount of heat cycles by comparison.

Track tires are designed to run at higher temperatures for longer periods of time. Street tires are designed to get up to temperature quicker, but it is a lower temperature due to having to run street speeds, stopping at traffic lights, etc...

If you are doing it to save a buck, again, I would only commute on it, but if you are doing it for performance reasons, you are going backwards.

Dave

[nitsuj8686]

Thanks. I didn't think about that at all.

[Steve C]

Hey Dave, not to start a heat cycle thread but I was under the impression that the new breed of DOT rated track tires were less prone to heat cycle fall off etc.etc. I don't run warmers on my track bike and haven't noticed any fall off, at least not yet Prolly cause I don't ride fast enough to heat em up real good

[sakurama]

Yeah, what Dave said.

I think a lot of people equate tire wear/life with tread depth but it's really not related. Think about a set of tires that have sat on the shelf for 10 or 20 years - they're hard as a rock having lost all their elastomers and oils.

Track tires are like dog years - it's an accelerated life. A fast rider will cook a set of tires in an afternoon if they're really on pace and while you might be tempted by tread left the stuff that actually allows the tire to grip has been cooked out. And as Dave says you won't be able to get them up to operating temps on the street anyway.

I'd steer clear.

Or you could just spray this on:



G

[Decreasing Dave]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

Hey Dave, not to start a heat cycle thread but I was under the impression that the new breed of DOT rated track tires were less prone to heat cycle fall off etc.etc. I don't run warmers on my track bike and haven't noticed any fall off, at least not yet Prolly cause I don't ride fast enough to heat em up real good

Your whole posting is 100% correct, but allow me to expand on it.

Yes, today's DOT TrackDAY tires are less prone to heat cycle fade and probably, to some extent, DOT RACING TIRES are better too. However, even the racing tires being better than they were in previous years doesn't make them at all practical for street use as they still only have just so many heat cycles that they can take and they are designed to work with far more heat in them from track riding than you could consistently get on the street.

Which brings me to the second portion of your post. Yes, you are right about not getting enough heat into your tires at the track to register as a "heat cycle". Sounds goofy, but pay attention. Racers come off the track and immediately install their tire warmers. I never turn mine on but mine are the one-temp cheapies (as if, $300 ) but the adjustable temp ones you can turn them on low. The purpose of this is not to prep for the next race, but to cool the tire down slowly. By cooling the tire slowly, you fool the compounds into thinking they didn't have a complete heat cycle or any heat cycle at all. Thus extending the life of a race tire.

Trackday tires are a whole other breed than race tires as they are made to take the heat of track riding (not racing) but start their grip at a lower temperature.

I hate to do this, but I'm going to....Think of an oil chart. The heavier viscosity (race tire) is designed to operate at higher temps. The lighter viscosity (street tire) is designed to run at lower temps. The medium viscosity (trackday tire)....well you get the picture.

Hope this helps,
Dave

[Steve C]

OMB Dave you almost started and oil thread there, be careful.

I've heard guys complain about street tires falling off too, well before the tread life is up, haven't experienced it myself. Several of the guys I ride with AT&T the track run warmers to combat the heat cycle issues. Maybe next season, if I get really back into it I'll got that direction. Having said all that none, I found a nice divot out of my rear tire and I've got a set of my own take offs sitting there next to the changer.........hmmmm