These manufacturers see the interest in proving themselves at the TT, the toughest road motorcycle race in the world. TT`s efforts are focused on creating a better road tire that sells to people like you and me. For an experienced rider, the difference between the best track tire and a slick tire is only a second or two. In fact, professional road tester Michael Neeves tested Dunlop`s range, completing a lap on the Dunlop test track in 1.21.6 on their full slick and 1.23.6 on their streamlined trackday tyre. Combining an excellent blend of absolute grip, durable performance and fast warm-up time, the Pirelli Rosso 4 Corsa is a road-legal track tyre that can win races. It was introduced in 2022, will replace the Pirelli Rosso Corsa 2 and is located directly below the Supercorsa SP. Fast road racers will appreciate the fast warm-up time and longer life of this tire and track riders will love the fact that they can easily get a few track days out of a set. Either you opt for a road homologated but track-oriented tire, or you opt for a sports tire. These days, some tire manufacturers like Continental use Teflon molds, so you don`t have to rub your tires. However, this does not take into account the transport, storage and assembly that unwanted substances can leave on the tire and that could reduce grip. It`s always a good idea to ride the first few kilometers quietly.
Metzeler Racetec Interacts are arguably the most popular track tyres and the ones I use myself, offering excellent performance at a decent price. My opinion has always been that if they are good enough for the British Superstock guys, then they are good enough for me. Interacts are available in the following three compounds: All Option 3 tires are road homologated and offer different efficiencies on the track. You don`t need a racetrack-oriented tire to ride your bike on track day. More important is the condition of your tires. If they are close to wear marks or square, they won`t offer the same grip as a pair of new tires and won`t help your bike as well as possible. A talented driver could take a lap on a circuit with a touring tyre like the Bridgestone T31 at enough speed to earn a spot in the Fast Group, so don`t worry too much about the tyres you have, focus more on their condition. Dunlop KR106 front + KR108 rear – Full of motorsport slicks used by some of the best TT racers in the Isle of Man. They are expensive and hard to find, but they are as good as they get. Do I have to rub new tires? You always had to rub your tires, but do modern tire production methods make this superfluous? What is the legal requirement for tread depth? Here in the UK, the legal requirement is that the tread depth is no less than 1.0mm around the mid-three-quarter circumference of the tyre. If you mainly drive on the road and want something that`s super grippy but warms up quickly, holds up well, and can also cope with a downpour, check out the options below. It`s hard to put a price on a MotoGP tyre.
Michelin claims to spend £1,000,000 per lap on tyre supplies. These include tyres, logistics and personnel. Considering that around 1,000 tyres are used per weekend, this equates to £1,000 per tyre! How should I store my bike if it is not rolled? Your tires lose pressure over time. If you store your bike for a month or more, it`s worth keeping it on the paddock mounts instead of sitting on the tire on the side stand. If you go to trackdays, keep in mind that most companies will be able to rent you paddock mounts and tire warmers, so no matter what tire you use, you can warm it up, which means you won`t risk a cold tire accident and you`ll wear your tires better during the day. especially in the back. Option 1 tires aren`t road legal, even streamlined motorcycle racing tires or medium rain tires that seem to have more tread than a typical road tire, but they`re not legal on the road. If in doubt, check the sidewall of the tire for signs that the tire is approved for road use. But even within this definition, there are many track-oriented high-performance tires, sometimes even in different compounds, and many compromises in terms of performance compared to a pure slick – especially for non-professional drivers. You`ll never forget driving on a slick tire for the first time. Especially if it`s a complete race track (sometimes called a motorsport tablecloth). It`s me driving through Jerez in a BMW HP4 and loving every second! If you`re not sure which tire is best for your next motorcycle track day, check out the table below.
We`ve included a few common scenarios in the table to help you get a better idea of which tire category you`ll be moving forward with. If I reduce the pressure in my tires, do they work better in wet conditions? When it comes to slick tyres, it makes no difference – they will be terrible when wet. If the tire is a streamlined road tire or a racing tire, you don`t want to reduce the pressure in wet conditions. This only closes the tread pattern, which means the tire can`t cut and distribute water. The successor to the RaceTec Interact is available in three different compounds – K1 (soft, more grip, but shortest life, so some are only used at the front), K2 (medium, the most popular choice for track riders due to its balance between grip and durability) and K3 (is the most difficult, so best for drivers who spend most of their trip on the road, but also do one or the other trackday). You can get a track tablecloth, which is half a step between a road homologated racing tire and a full glick on the race. A track sheet has similar characteristics to a racing sheet (more precision when tilting or changing lines and the ability to brake harder when leaning), but they also offer a little more feel than a rigid racing tablecloth. Michelin Power 5 – One of the best sports tires on the market. A recent winner of RiDE magazine`s Best Sport Tyres test (with the M9RR). At each GP, drivers have the choice between hard, medium or soft slick tyres.
Over the course of a weekend, a driver has a maximum allocation of 10 front tires and 12 rear tires. Drivers who move from Q2 to Q1 get an extra front and rear in each complex of their choice. K2 Medium – The most popular for rear tires, the K2 has a long life, but still adheres well and correctly. Can a slick tire be reversed? You can on some tablecloths, but not on others. Check if you have a directional arrow on your tablecloth. If you do, you shouldn`t cancel it. The reason for this is that the rubber is wound on the tire in one direction and with some tires you may risk unrolling the rubber, especially with hard braking. K1 Soft – These are much more popular on track days and are often used as front tires in combination with a rear K2. Some people use them as a backdrop, but they`re not as popular because they don`t offer the same lifespan for track days. The Power Ones were a very popular tyre in its old form with many track riders and racers who swear by them. The tire has also been used as a control tire in some club races, further cementing its capabilities.
Michelin introduced Cup tyres to replace the One, so I have no doubt they will be just as good and probably much better. Here`s a look at the three connections: They were new for 2011 and now had a few full seasons for people to try out. Looking at insider reviews and listening to a lot of what is being said on the forums, it seems that these tires are highly rated by the vast majority of those who have tested them, some well-known websites say that they give a grip feel like they have never tried before.