Trackday-only bike: street or DOT race tires?

anthonyk · 04-27-2010, 03:35 PM

Hey all, I'm taking a break from street riding for a while and turning my Aprilia back into a track-only bike. It has been a long while since I did a trackday, but I'm hoping to change that this year. I'm not fast by any means, but I'm hoping to pick up some speed as the summer progresses.

If you were going to put one set of tires on for a season of maybe 6 trackdays (more if I can swing it), would you put on DOT race tires, or street tires? I don't have tire warmers, though getting a set isn't totally out of the question. How much should I be worried about DOT tires and heat cycles?

All my trackdays thus far have been on street tires, so I'm not opposed to getting a set. I was just thinking I might take the opportunity to try something different.

smileyman · 04-27-2010, 03:40 PM

Never plow with a racehorse or race with a plow horse.

Heat cycles effect both kinds of tires. But the DOTs are made to operate under heat conditions you find on track, while street tires will overheat.

Go to the track with track tires, check your pressures consistently and often, use warmers if you can and replace when worn.

skiergirl · 04-27-2010, 03:46 PM

BT003 RS work great - Been using them for over a year now....and have been through several sets and until i decided to attempt 'just one more track day' on them there worked perfectly.

pdog · 04-27-2010, 04:25 PM

I would use sport-oriented street tires until you are near race pace. Race tires are really designed to be used with warmers.

Homeslice · 04-27-2010, 04:54 PM

Because you're not one of the fast guys I don't see anything wrong with it.

azoomm · 04-27-2010, 05:01 PM

Tires can make or break your trackday experience. Trusting your tires is imperative. Go with Race.

eta: I mean race compound. I wouldn't go with slicks until you have warmers...

smileyman · 04-27-2010, 06:51 PM

I think you can't go wrong with more sticky!

Safe to say if you aren't pushing hard on race slicks it will just be a waste. You have to use warmers with them and beat on em hard on the track. Otherwise a cold or not up to performing temp slick will put you down just like an overheated street tire.

anthonyk · 04-27-2010, 11:56 PM

Right on, thanks all. DOT race compound it is.

goof2 · 04-28-2010, 12:42 PM

If you want to get 6 trackdays out of your tires I'm not sure a race compound will hold up for you. The people I know who go to the track are lucky to get 2 days out of DOT race tires on 600 supersports. Race tires should improve your track experience but could be detrimental to your track budget.

Sean · 04-28-2010, 12:48 PM

Tire life depends on how fast you are, how smooth you are with the throttle, heat conditions, and how fast the track is. I get ~4 trackdays out of a set since I'm a bit of a pussy and am pretty easy on the throttle. I don't slide the bike at all, really. Plus I frequent the lower speed tracks. If you're running big Willow in August you'll need new tires after a day or two.

04-27-2010, 03:35 PM	#1
anthonyk WERA White Plate Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, TX Moto: '01 Aprilia Falco Posts: 1,041	Trackday-only bike: street or DOT race tires? Hey all, I'm taking a break from street riding for a while and turning my Aprilia back into a track-only bike. It has been a long while since I did a trackday, but I'm hoping to change that this year. I'm not fast by any means, but I'm hoping to pick up some speed as the summer progresses. If you were going to put one set of tires on for a season of maybe 6 trackdays (more if I can swing it), would you put on DOT race tires, or street tires? I don't have tire warmers, though getting a set isn't totally out of the question. How much should I be worried about DOT tires and heat cycles? All my trackdays thus far have been on street tires, so I'm not opposed to getting a set. I was just thinking I might take the opportunity to try something different.

04-27-2010, 03:40 PM	#2
smileyman White Trash Hero Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NW Arkansas Moto: Buell 1125R Porco Rosso Edition Posts: 4,895	Never plow with a racehorse or race with a plow horse. Heat cycles effect both kinds of tires. But the DOTs are made to operate under heat conditions you find on track, while street tires will overheat. Go to the track with track tires, check your pressures consistently and often, use warmers if you can and replace when worn. __________________ Arkriders.com To be the best you must first be willing to risk the worst!

04-27-2010, 05:01 PM	#6
azoomm moderator chick Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hill Country TX Moto: Pasta Rockets Posts: 8,917	Tires can make or break your trackday experience. Trusting your tires is imperative. Go with Race. eta: I mean race compound. I wouldn't go with slicks until you have warmers... __________________ We have enough youth. How about a fountain of "smart"? Come Play at the Track!! http://www.elitetrackdays.com

04-27-2010, 06:51 PM	#7
smileyman White Trash Hero Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NW Arkansas Moto: Buell 1125R Porco Rosso Edition Posts: 4,895	I think you can't go wrong with more sticky! Safe to say if you aren't pushing hard on race slicks it will just be a waste. You have to use warmers with them and beat on em hard on the track. Otherwise a cold or not up to performing temp slick will put you down just like an overheated street tire. __________________ Arkriders.com To be the best you must first be willing to risk the worst!

04-27-2010, 03:46 PM	#3
skiergirl Gixxer Girl Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kyle, TX Moto: 05 GSXR 750 & 06 YZ250F Posts: 1,424	BT003 RS work great - Been using them for over a year now....and have been through several sets and until i decided to attempt 'just one more track day' on them there worked perfectly.

04-27-2010, 04:25 PM	#4
pdog Refugee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Moto: Pimped 2005 SV650 Posts: 332	I would use sport-oriented street tires until you are near race pace. Race tires are really designed to be used with warmers.

04-27-2010, 04:54 PM	#5
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	Because you're not one of the fast guys I don't see anything wrong with it.

04-27-2010, 11:56 PM	#8
anthonyk WERA White Plate Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, TX Moto: '01 Aprilia Falco Posts: 1,041	Right on, thanks all. DOT race compound it is.

04-28-2010, 12:42 PM	#9
goof2 AMA Supersport Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4,756	If you want to get 6 trackdays out of your tires I'm not sure a race compound will hold up for you. The people I know who go to the track are lucky to get 2 days out of DOT race tires on 600 supersports. Race tires should improve your track experience but could be detrimental to your track budget.

04-28-2010, 12:48 PM	#10
Sean giggity Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: socal Moto: street, sumo & dirty Posts: 1,071	Tire life depends on how fast you are, how smooth you are with the throttle, heat conditions, and how fast the track is. I get ~4 trackdays out of a set since I'm a bit of a pussy and am pretty easy on the throttle. I don't slide the bike at all, really. Plus I frequent the lower speed tracks. If you're running big Willow in August you'll need new tires after a day or two.