So I bought racing tires . . . help

A local guy here was clearing out some Michelin Power Race (Pr1 front, Pr5 rear) for $110. Good tread, only a few laps on them. Sounds like a good deal but I wasn't sure initially if he was selling the single or dual compound type. Turns out it's the single. I'm a relatively new rider on my second season with about 6k miles under my belt. I've gotten really smooth and quick, even eating the chicken strips off my last set of tires. However the idea of these needing to "warm up" before being pushed makes me a bit cautious.

Anyone have any suggestions to get the best out of these on the street? I'm not positive I'll be able to get my trackday in as planned this year.

 

I going to assume you are serious...

If so, race tires are only for the track! You must run a track pace ALL THE TIME to keep them at proper tempature.

If you you use them on the street, well, good luck.

BZ

 

I've been researching them a bit. More of a trackday tire than an all out race tire. I took a ride on them yesterday and after a bit of riding and getting comfortable I pushed them a bit with no slipping or scary feedback. They stick a heck of a lot better than the sportmax!

 

They are DOT tires will not last long if best 1 summer but would not worry.
I ran my race tires no prob on street and sold a bunch w/ no neg feed back.
all tires need to warm up - so no problem there -

 

What's the best way to warm them up? Quick accel and decel to make them flex? Slalom on the highway like a squid? (lol)

 

is that a real ?????
just ride a few miles should do the trick.

 

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

 

Alright. Since I'm only a fairly aggressive rider and I often ride in cold weather and across long distances I'm feeling a bit of buyer remorse. Thanks for the advice everyone, in my n00bishness I bought something that wasn't right for me. It's nobodies fault but mine, just not what I need for the street.

Look for these on eBay in a couple of weeks or PM me if you need a good set of trackday tires.

 

Don't feel too bad. I once bought motocross boots thinking they where street boots! Had to sell them at a loss.

What track day org do you ride with? Might be better to post them up for sale on that board instead of EBAY.

Just a thought.

BZ

 

Good point, I was planning my first track day ever with Sportbike Track Time. However most of my money now probably has to go to my Cali trip, SC for a wedding, and LeMons Detroit(ish). Oh well, there's always next year and I'll be an even better rider by then.

 

wouldnt use them on the street, post them to ebay or tracktalk.nesba.com and replace with something more street oriented. Race tires do not like heat cycles from street riding and really need to be HOT (all the time) to be working at their best. The good news is you can prob make $$ on them

 

WOw, hard to believe someone sold you race tires for the street.....thats almost as responsible as me giving my drunk buddy the keys to drive me home when im sober. You may never have pushed em hard enough to find out.......but if you rode those hard you coulda got hurt. And you couldnt have even got those tires hot if you tried, they are meant for bikes with alot more hp than the viffer and more aggresive lean angles. Air pressure is not run the same in those either because they need to build more heat. If you wanna try a better tire for the street I would reccomend the Pilot powers, you dont even need the duel compound, they are sorta half street half track tire that wont last as long as regular PP's.

 

I just ordered these.

Bridgestone - Battlax BT002

After reading this post, I hope I didn't screw up??? I'll be riding 90% street.

 

More info...

OneWheelDrive.Net - New Bridgestone Battlax BT-002 Racing Street Tire

I think they'll be ok?

 

You should be ok for the street as long as you let them warm up sufficiently.

>>> Bridgestone Tires <<<

And they'll probably wear pretty quickly but should be pretty sticky. I'd be cautious with them if you ride in any "cold" weather. Any "race" tires REQUIRE warmth to adhere to the road properly.

 

The "Race tires " you bought are DOT aproved and will be fine on the street.
All tires have to be "warmed up" softer tires will warm up faster then hard compound tires so dont worry about it.

 

Good plan. Use street tires on the street, race tires on the track.

P.S. I am a tried and true Michelin man and the PR1 is a piece of shit.

 

You screwed up. The BT-014 is a very sticky STREET tire. The 002 is not.

 

DOT race tires: The tire companies make tires with just enough rain siping to get a DOT certification. They shouldn't be, and never were intended to be used on the street.

In regular street riding, these tires will never come up to temp. They will work ok when you have them warmed up some. That is not usually when the problems occur though. The problems happen when:

1. It is raining. The tires will be downright cold. Additionally, the rain siping is about useless for channeling rain, there is only enough for the DOT approval.

2. When you first get on the bike and the tires are stone cold. You will turn out of your driveway, get on the gas, and highside yourself to the moon doing 10 mph. OR You will go to the end of the street, grab some front brake and lock the front wheel......

Use street tires on the street and track tires on the track, period!

 

:thumbsup: I agree 100% with this. (SEATTLE) The BT002 Bridgestones are not "Race" tires, but they are intended for a more aggressive sport bike than the VFR and for track days/street use. I liked them on my 06 ZX10 during the hot summer, but they are not good all weather ridding tires. You didnt really F-up as bad as someone using a pure race Mich. But you wont get the use outa that tire that it can give and it wont last a real long time.