Going to Tally in a couple of weeks and it could be chilly. I won't be there, but I expect the same at Barber this weekend. I run Michelin Power Cups at 28 / 22 (off the warmers) in the summer. What do you smart guys recommend for cooler weather? I've heard to increase pressure in the cold, but wouldn't less pressure create more heat?
Good morning and thanks for the question. This can be a very complex answer to a question that seems that there should be one easy answer. Due to so many different elements like suspension, ambient temperature, abrasion level, and other items, here is the easiest avenue for you to take.....Heat your tires for 45 minutes on the warmers and set your Cups at 25 psi in the rear and 35 psi in the front. After your session, check your tire pressure and make sure they are at what you set them at before hitting the track, if they are not, set them back to your beginning setting. It will take a few sessions for you and your bike to heat up before a constant tire pressure can be upheld. Hope this helps and I encourage you to visit Sportbike Tire Service track-side anytime you are at the track for any questions. Thank you
I was just having this discussion. If you tires are ON warmers, it's most likely that they are going to DROP pressure rather than RAISE pressure during your session. So adding a few pounds to your hot pressure on the warmer may take them to their ideal pressure. If your tires are NOT on warmers, it's unlikely that they are going to raise pressure very much, so it might be wise to add a little air to get them closer to what the hot temp you want is. Of course, the only real way to be sure is to check them fresh off the track...
Sooo..to follow up on the post above. This weekend at Barber it was COLD; about 45 on Saturday and 53 on Sunday (Monday was a bust rain). The Advanced riders would come out hot as all were on warmers, and ride the hell out of their tire immediately; that kept the tires hot and they rode thru weepers and cold spots successfully. I was Lead I on Saturday. The intermediate riders, on the other hand, went out warm, but had grip issues because they couldn't move fast enough to keep their tires warm. Cold tire/street tire riders needed several laps to generate any heat. Can't really comment on Novice but I know they couldn't move quick enough to generate heat. Reminder: Heating a tire on the track means increasing aggressive accel/decel on the STRAIGHTS while the bike is straight up and down... I rode in both I and A on Sunday. It was an eye opener. My observation is: A hot tire only stays hot if you ride it hard enough to keep it that way. If you don't, it won't. A cold tire needs time to generate some heat. David Brooks said it best to the A riders: "Take what the track will give you"....