Assuming tire warmers aren't really suited for "street" tires, what options are suggested (other than taking it easy...which is what I THOUGHT I was doing) to get the tires up to temp? Thanks.
+1 That's the best, most straight-forward advice anyone can offer! Cold tires don't cause crashes, poor judgment does... It is the rider's responsibility to take into account ALL of the factors affecting the situation and adjust accordingly. If a rider can't figure out what is going on with his bike in general, or specifically his tires, what else is beyond his comprehension, shifting? braking? proper lines?
Hey Fly, I live in Smyrna and am an engineer for Bridgestone. I also run the BT016's (stock 2007 GSXR 600) and do not recommend warmers. Just take it easy for the first 2 laps and you should be golden.
To be clearer... Taking it easy, doesn't mean tip toeing around. It doesn't take much to warm up tires on 60+ days. The BEST way to warm up a tire, is hard breaking and hard accelerating... WHILE... the bike is up right. Tires build heat, with load. Flexing of the carcass. The best way to load the tire, is riding it hard. Just like riding in the rain, do only one input at a time, till the temps are up. Like everyone else will tell you, "Error on the side of slow, till you gain confidence". XIII
Yes, under RACE conditions, where $$$, championship points or pie are involved. Riding responsibly and within one's ability at a TRACK DAY is an entirely different situation... Generalization or rationalization - crashing due to 'cold tires' at our level at a track day is not the tires' fault... yes, it is harder to take responsibility than lay blame elsewhere.
Exactly, you see people weaving back and forth on the track, that doesn't build the heat in the tires. Its that hard braeaking and accelerating, that does it. But don't pull out of the pits and romp on it either, way till you get through a few turns then start getting on the throttle. I was at beaver run 10/18, last session of the day and a guy pulled out of the pits romped on the gas spun up the rear and highsided all before the 1st turn.
I'm getting some new tires - first time in a while. They are 2CTs through STT. I've heard a lot of different opinions about how slick new tires are when they are first installed. I know some time ago the new tires came with a coating that was awfully slick at first. These days, my thought is that after a couple of laps, gradually increasing the speed and lean angle, they should be pretty much good to go. Would welcome any thoughts you may have.
Several folks have already touched on this. Like X said, work the tires while the bike is upright, accelerating and cranking it up on the straights, to build heat in it. A shiny tire will stick if up to temp. I've drug a knee on pit out with a brand slick tire coming off warmers. Another thing I like to do is to push the bike over a little further and start accelerating a little harder coming out off the turns after a few turns and a good straight depending on the ambient temps. But, you need to be very smooth and gradual on your throttle application or it will step out. My theory is this will flex the tire just a little more and help build heat.
I have run the BT016 for a while now. i am on my 4th set. it was difficult to get them remotely dailed in. I've run from 24 psi cold to 33 psi cold and find that on my bike, 98 CBR900RR, the best pressure is about 29 psi cold rear and 30 psi cold front...I'm still trying to get the front to stop pushing on me so 30 might be a bit off for the front...I can't run these tires to where I want to be, with some time on them it's pretty easy to max out their capabilities and they always seem to get greeeeezy on me by the end of each. session, I've gotten used to the feel of a slightly spooled up rear tire coming out of the hard turns...I've found that easy on the turns, hard on acceleration and braking for a lap or two gets them to stick well, but then if you are not smooth on the gas you'll break loose pretty easily... please keep in mind that for me pressure is a critical variable here...when i ran at 25psi they got so hot i was all over the place, and at 33 psi they felt drifty... one more thing...I had to make triple tree height adjustments on the fork tubes (lower) to help the front from pushing out so bad when entering an apex, but I run a 16 inch front tire which makes is different for me. I'll be in Nashville (bright red bike, Int.) this weekend if you wanna talk more about them because I'm still at the work in progress stages with them too. Not very many people using them out there in STT. I'll be taking it easy though cause it's been a while due to a newborn in the family keeping me at home. I hope this helps. Josh
agree! this is only for the side of the tire that is used less. you think your tire is warm because you just went through 11 turns...but forget that only two of them were left handers. (ie gingerman)