INSTALLED Q3's...so far so good!

Feedback so far so good. As many have noted, turn down traction control settings for sensitivity/intervention due to difference in shape and profile.

No track time. Going into Chicago winter season and its a bit cold so a slow, careful break in.

Bought them for $260 so they were worth a try for the money. So far so good.

I got my first set a couple months ago. Love the price. They do turn a lil slower than the V2's, but barely. Also, you have to let them warm up a bit more compared to the V2's, so be careful for sure. Once they're warm though...very sticky.

What tyre pressures are you guys running?

What? No one likes SuperCorsas' anymore??

Prince Albert said:

What? No one likes SuperCorsas' anymore??

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Oh, I still love the Supercorsa's, but not at the street prices compared to the Q3s. The Q3s do everything that the Supercorsa's do on the street, and have their own unique characteristics. Once I adjusted the bike's steering geometry to the different height of the Q3 rear, they turn as fast as the Supercorsa but are more neutral in their steering. Now that I really understand the Q3's feedback, there is no way I'd go back to the Supercorsa, even if they were the same price.

Carl - I'm running 32 front / 34 rear, PSI.

Ok
Thanks Jeff, i'll try them out next spring...

JeffD said:

Oh, I still love the Supercorsa's, but not at the street prices compared to the Q3s.

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+1

I have 5 track days on the Q3s; no complaints, however, I am running in the intermediate class.

Street pressures 32 front and back.
Track pressures: 29 front and back.

I'm running 33 psi front, 36 psi rear. All street. If price weren't an issue, I'd go with the V2's. They just felt sticky at all times. I've experienced a lil bit of understeer with the Q3's, and never with the V2's. But being over $100 cheaper for a set, I can take a few more minutes to allow them to get up to temp.

@ JeffD
What did you mean adjusting the bikes geometry? Can you elaborate?

I plan on using Q3 myself next season, what level of traction control setting do you put it in?

kickarsmann said:

@ JeffD
What did you mean adjusting the bikes geometry? Can you elaborate?

I plan on using Q3 myself next season, what level of traction control setting do you put it in?

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The 1199 is very sensitive to geometry setup, meaning the ride height front and rear. This is adjusted by lengthening or shortening the rear shock to either raise or lower rear ride height, and/or lowering or raising the forks in the triple clamp - also raising or lowering front ride height.

I have some friends that have dialed in their 1199s through a lot of trackdays and I've used their numbers (sorry I don't have them, my tech does). When switching tire brands/models, it is important to note that there is a difference in circumference between tire manufacturers. Specifically for the Dunlop Q3 vs. OEM Pirelli Supercorsa, the Q3 has a smaller circumference in the rear - resulting in a shorter rear ride height. I had set up my front and rear ride heights with the OEM Supercorsa, so when I changed to the Q3s, my tech adjusted both my front and rear ride heights to be the same numbers as before, so the geometry is maintained from before and the general steering characteristics are also maintained.

These dimension differences also affect the DTC, as on the 1199 is was designed specifically around the Pirelli Supercorsa SP and SC tires. With the Q3, it generally causes the same DTC setting to act one level higher compared to the same setting on the Supercorsa - so DTC Level 3 with the Q3 is like DTC Level 4 with the Supercorsa. I run mine on 4 on the street mostly.

There are many things to consider when setting up geometry, but for my purposes these particular adjustments work well. Differences in tire design also have significant affect on steering characteristics, such as profile, carcass stiffness, belt design, etc. Keeping the geometry the same when switching tires is important to help understand the differences and "learn" the tire characteristics to get the most confidence with its particular strengths.

That's good to know, I ran Q3s on my 848, and am planning to going back to them on the 1199 once I beat these Corsas up. Thanks for the details I'll have to look into the proper set up once I switch it up

+1 on the Q3s. Switched to them 10k miles ago and haven't looked back.

SteveB threw on a set of Michelins a couple weeks ago on his base before he came up to Robbinsville. Might be worth him chiming in here as to specific make and impressions as to how they work compared to the Q3s he's been running. He told me he wanted something with more tread for late fall/winter riding (which they certainly had).

Thanks JeffD
Is it ok to leave the geometry alone and just reduce traction control? I don't want to touch something I'm not comfortable and mess something up. Would dealerships know this info? Seems very useful.

kickarsmann said:

Thanks JeffD
Is it ok to leave the geometry alone and just reduce traction control? I don't want to touch something I'm not comfortable and mess something up. Would dealerships know this info? Seems very useful.

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Sure, you can leave it alone. If you're just going from the OEM Supercorsa tires to the Q3, the rear will be shorter, making your rear ride height a little lower in relation to the front than the OEM Supercorsas, effectively increasing the rake and trail of your front end. This will make your steering a little slower than before.

The measurements are pretty simple and the adjustment not so hard to do. The rear is relatively easy to do, the front needs to be completely supported while you loosen the triple clamps holding the forks and make adjustments. Any relatively competent shop (Ducati or not) should be able to do this for a couple hours or less labor.

Charliem90 said:

+1 on the Q3s. Switched to them 10k miles ago and haven't looked back.

SteveB threw on a set of Michelins a couple weeks ago on his base before he came up to Robbinsville. Might be worth him chiming in here as to specific make and impressions as to how they work compared to the Q3s he's been running. He told me he wanted something with more tread for late fall/winter riding (which they certainly had).

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Chiming... Only one brief dry outing on the PP3's to date and to be honest wasn't impressed with the edge grip. I do have to qualify that by saying that they hadn't been scrubbed to the edge yet after only being put on before heading out for the wet weekend at Robbinsville, plus the roads I was on were bumpy and not exactly clean. Really need more time and messing with pressures to see how they're going to work out, but at first glance they appear to have noticeably less edge grip at the rear than either the Supercorsa's, Q3's or S20's. Front feels pretty decent so far; better than the rear. That said, they are a hypersports tire, and you still can go way faster than you need to on the street with 'em. They did feel quite good in the wet though, and cold, damp, dirty roads are what I got them for since that's what you have to deal with from November to March around here. Will report back after some more time on 'em.

JeffD said:

Sure, you can leave it alone..

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Just like to add to Jeffs quotes.


If you have not tuned the geometry for your liking with the stock tires, there is no need to adjust the 3-5mm out of it.

You may like the new position a hair better having not played with changes

If you have been to the track and have the bike set up perfect then so be it.




On a side note, going out of your comfort zone trying something different may end up making you faster.

last not,e remember, different tracks need different adjustments, and the only way to know what works for you is to play with these different heights, ad nauseam. Know the changes by feel alone.

Steve B said:

Chiming... Only one brief dry outing on the PP3's to date and to be honest wasn't impressed with the edge grip. I do have to qualify that by saying that they hadn't been scrubbed to the edge yet after only being put on before heading out for the wet weekend at Robbinsville, plus the roads I was on were bumpy and not exactly clean. Really need more time and messing with pressures to see how they're going to work out, but at first glance they appear to have noticeably less edge grip at the rear than either the Supercorsa's, Q3's or S20's. Front feels pretty decent so far; better than the rear. That said, they are a hypersports tire, and you still can go way faster than you need to on the street with 'em. They did feel quite good in the wet though, and cold, damp, dirty roads are what I got them for since that's what you have to deal with from November to March around here. Will report back after some more time on 'em.

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Great initial information on the PP3s, Stegve. To the OP and anyone else interested in knowing the exact dimension differences and adjustments necessary to maintain the OEM geometry, please look up Steve B's previous posts on the Dunlop Q3s. I gleaned everything I've spoken about from his posts reporting on his actual measurements and testing. Extremely informative information for which I am grateful.

Just circling back on the PP3's now that I've finally had a chance to give them a go on good, dry roads. Did my usual season-ending day out at the Dragon yesterday (usually last one is about this time of year, since the weather heads south pretty soon), and had great conditions; upper 60's, dry and clean roads, very little traffic. Confirmed my earlier impression of less edge grip at the back than anything I've had on the bike so far (Q3's, S20's & Supercorsa's) with a few fairly lurid corner exit slides, even in sport mode on 195-lo with TC on 3. That at a pace that would have been relatively ho-hum on any of the other tires I've had on the bike. And on top of that, they have an odd feeling mid-lean, kind of an unsettling sensation that's either tread squirm from all the siping they have, or maybe you're feeling the compound change when you hit the transition point. The compound lines are plainly visible to see on the rear, so I'm thinking maybe that's it. The front feels the better of the two, and both felt pretty good in the cool, wet conditions I'd had them out in before.

Bottom line, they're OK as off-season rubber where the road conditions are more the limiting factor than the tires, and they'll keep the rims off the ground 'till Spring; but I've crossed PP3's off my list for future use.

i'm treating these as ok for the average street rider, which is me. the frigid weather has finally arrived so yesterday (temps near 70), i had what might have been my last spirited ride of the season. near the end of almost 2 hrs, at relatively slow speed coming out of a corner, i almost lost the rear end when i gave it a handful as i was getting exiting about taking it home. i'm positive tc-5 bailed me out. it caught me off guard so i wasn't looking at the dash.

kensteele said:

i'm treating these as ok for the average street rider, .

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If your outriding Q3's on the pavement, you already have your racing lic and know better

We only have a few people hitting the canyons with slicks, and ive seen people hanging behind him with pilot road 2s which I have always found to be greasy and slippery.

Never had a Q2 or 3 slip, less my mistakes