What race tires do you use?

Mantis · 09-15-2007, 08:27 PM

And what bike are you using them on?

We use Pirelli Supercorsa Pros supersoft front and soft rear. They are great, yet we don't exactly like the guy that we buy them from (although we buy two sets of tires every two race weekends our tire guy makes it seem like we are a PITA and it's an imposition to sell them to us) and we are looking at Dunlops for the next race weekend and I want some feedback.

GSXR RACER MIKE · 09-15-2007, 10:14 PM

You probably already know this, but I have never used anything other than a Dunlop for racing, and of course all my racebikes have been GSXR's. I love the predictability, wear, and ability to slide controllably. I have gone by the theory "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!", since Dunlop's have never given me a reason to want/need to try a different brand I continue to use them and be quite happy with them at that.

silent_R1 · 09-15-2007, 10:25 PM

I also use Pirelli's by preference, but in a pinch (and it has to be a big pinch), I'll use Michilins. I do not like the profile of the michelins by comparison to the Pirelli's. Plus the P's are what I started riding on, I am comfortable on them, love the stick and the turn in. For my riding, they provide excellent feedback and I have yet to want to try anything else. I tried the M's on the urging of other people, and regretted it. This was on my R1 when I raced it and currently on my 636.

Mantis · 09-15-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSXR RACER MIKE

You probably already know this, but I have never used anything other than a Dunlop for racing, and of course all my racebikes have been GSXR's. I love the predictability, wear, and ability to slide controllably. I have gone by the theory "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!", since Dunlop's have never given me a reason to want/need to try a different brand I continue to use them and be quite happy with them at that.

It's funny, all of the fast guys around here use either Pirellis or Dunlops. We thought about spooning some Dunlops on for last weekend but decided not to. What is the contingency like for Dunlop people? I get most of my tires for free but like I said our tire guy has no concept of customer service so we are going to make a change. I think the biggest thing I like about the Pirellis is the predictability of the slides, Dunlops slide well also?

GSXR RACER MIKE · 09-15-2007, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mantis

It's funny, all of the fast guys around here use either Pirellis or Dunlops. We thought about spooning some Dunlops on for last weekend but decided not to. What is the contingency like for Dunlop people? I get most of my tires for free but like I said our tire guy has no concept of customer service so we are going to make a change. I think the biggest thing I like about the Pirellis is the predictability of the slides, Dunlops slide well also?

I had a full bike slide today when I went into a turn way too hot but the tires felt great the whole time, I also had the rear spin up when I hit some fluid on the track at the exit of a turn, I was accelerating hard and the rear did walk to the side but I just stayed in it and it straightened itself out no prob. I think the biggest thing would be adapting to how Dunlop's grip for you on your bike, I don't know with your set-up that they will perform the same as the ones on my bike.

I don't know about Dunlop contingency either, I hadn't pushed hard enough in years to even wonder about it. I just started pushing again and have realized that even though the Expert grids I'm in are fairly small, the competition is fierce. It seems today the people who are competing at the Expert level are a bit more dedicated to the sport than racers I have seen in the past, the difference between the leaders fast lap and slowest racer's fast lap in my race today was only seperated by 4 seconds or so out of 12 Expert racers. On top of that the winner is an AMA Pro racer and ran away with the win on his AMA bike, take him out of the equation and the range between fastest and slowest racers fast laps would have been something like 2-3 seconds - that's not much at all!

Mantis · 09-15-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSXR RACER MIKE

I had a full bike slide today when I went into a turn way too hot but the tires felt great the whole time, I also had the rear spin up when I hit some fluid on the track at the exit of a turn, I was accelerating hard and the rear did walk to the side but I just stayed in it and it straightened itself out no prob. I think the biggest thing would be adapting to how Dunlop's grip for you on your bike, I don't know with your set-up that they will perform the same as the ones on my bike.

I don't know about Dunlop contingency either, I hadn't pushed hard enough in years to even wonder about it. I just started pushing again and have realized that even though the Expert grids I'm in are fairly small, the competition is fierce. It seems today the people who are competing at the Expert level are a bit more dedicated to the sport than racers I have seen in the past, the difference between the leaders fast lap and slowest racer's fast lap in my race today was only seperated by 4 seconds or so out of 12 Expert racers. On top of that the winner is an AMA Pro racer and ran away with the win on his AMA bike, take him out of the equation and the range between fastest and slowest racers fast laps would have been something like 2-3 seconds - that's not much at all!

Exactly the feedback I am looking for, thanks a bunch!

serpentracer · 09-15-2007, 10:59 PM

I hear some guys raving about the Bridgestones. BT-002.
I think if the guy I was buying them from is giving me a shitty attitude I might be inclined to say something to pirelli about him/her.

velocity bmg · 09-15-2007, 11:59 PM

Whatever Woody throws my way.

J/K...

Though I would be inclined from experience to go with Dunlop DOT or slicks.

kz2zx · 09-16-2007, 01:20 AM

Pirelli Dragon Pro, green or blue, depending on the track.

LDS · 09-17-2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSXR RACER MIKE

I had a full bike slide today when I went into a turn way too hot but the tires felt great the whole time, I also had the rear spin up when I hit some fluid on the track at the exit of a turn, I was accelerating hard and the rear did walk to the side but I just stayed in it and it straightened itself out no prob.

On top of that the winner is an AMA Pro racer and ran away with the win on his AMA bike, take him out of the equation and the range between fastest and slowest racers fast laps would have been something like 2-3 seconds - that's not much at all!

Nashville turn 1?

Taylor Knapp?

OFFICER737 · 09-17-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDS

Nashville turn 1?

Taylor Knapp?

Taking Nashville's T1 coming off the banking and holding the turn at 96mph is a little different

I have been running Michelin Pilot Powers for race tires but after this weekend I am switching to Power Race tires. I almost crashed 5 times due to too much track time on the tires (even though they look pretty good).

LDS · 09-17-2007, 05:32 PM

Nashville eats up the left side of the tire really badly. The fast guys are spinning around the sweeper and onto the banking at the front straight as well as going on to the back straight. I didn't see nearly as many 'darkies' going on to the back straight as there were this spring. I did light up my rear tire there pretty good in the first lap of the HWT SS race, though. Some guy came around me on the start then missed a shift, and I had to chop the throttle to keep from ass-packing him, I never quite caught up to my buddy I was racing after that.

Pilot Powers are good tires! I ran them last year and early this season, but switched to the Bridgestone race tires and the difference is pretty big. When the PP's slide, you know you're getting close to losing it, but the Bridgestones seem to keep sliding progressively without trying to let go. I got sucked into turn 1 waaaay to fast on cold tires in Sunday morning practice and both tires slid a lot, but I still felt in control of the bike.

OFFICER737 · 09-17-2007, 05:41 PM

I didn't see as many darkies either compared to the Spring race, either the front or back straights but it was hotter in the spring than it was this time out.

My tire sponsor was on hand for this race and said I would never have to worry about running on cooked tires again and will have stacks of them in the trailer next time!

I also will pick up a generator for the tire warmers. I didn't realize there wasn't any 110 outlets on the camper parking areas so I couldn't use my warmers.

Normally my PPs work great! But I have too many miles on this set and I have totally chewed up the very edges of them.