Track-day Riders: Tire Warmers - What Rubber to use?

Dunlop Q3's are far better than the Pirelli Superbike Pro's. Pirelli even say that they are a slow to intermediate slick designed to last, no fast rider would use them.
Try the Metzler Racetech K series slicks. Very good tyres and reportedly made on the same production line as the Pirelli Diablo Slicks. Price is cheaper too.
I lucked into a set (tried and loved them) and having been using them ever since. They don't come in a 200 but I run the 190 and it didn't affect the T/C too much. I have the DDA so can adjust settings to real info rather than seat of the pants feeling.
Weird though that the Metzler only comes in a 190 when the Pirelli comes in a 200 and they are supposed to be from the same factory???

+1 for ChickenHawk tyre warmers. Very good quality, remember to turn them off before you take them off the tyre. I have a mate who left them on (on the ground) for a 20 min session and they melted.

krikat said:

Dunlop Q3's are far better than the Pirelli Superbike Pro's. Pirelli even say that they are a slow to intermediate slick designed to last, no fast rider would use them.
Try the Metzler Racetech K series slicks. Very good tyres and reportedly made on the same production line as the Pirelli Diablo Slicks. Price is cheaper too.
I lucked into a set (tried and loved them) and having been using them ever since. They don't come in a 200 but I run the 190 and it didn't affect the T/C too much. I have the DDA so can adjust settings to real info rather than seat of the pants feeling.
Weird though that the Metzler only comes in a 190 when the Pirelli comes in a 200 and they are supposed to be from the same factory???

+1 for ChickenHawk tyre warmers. Very good quality, remember to turn them off before you take them off the tyre. I have a mate who left them on (on the ground) for a 20 min session and they melted.

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So I have been riding q2/q3s on my track bikes for a few years now. I finally went with an sc2 slick up front and superbike pro rear. I am on the fast side of intermediate and these things are 1000x better than my q3s. Absolutely no way I would ever go back.

They are wearing nicely after one day.

I heard they redid the superbike pros last year or so and they are way better than the older compound. You could also just be way faster than me. But my 2 cents, no way I would ever go back to a q2 or q3.

IMG_20150315_163636 by DynastySS, on Flickr

flobrandx said:

Thanks Wilks & B for the warmer input. The dual temps and digital look nice but wasn't sure if I really need the extra adjustment for just beginning with slicks and warmers. I want good quality reliable stuff but don't want to over complicate the operation since I still have plenty to learn about tires and temps.

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I've got another brand's digital warmers with a display and all kinds of programming options. To be perfectly honest, I wish they just had a "hi" and "low" switch. The only nice thing about the display is that it has a realtime surface temp on it. The novelty of that wore off in about fifteen minutes even. Not that there is anything wrong with them at all, they perform great. It's just I simply don't find the setup of all the various timing options to be any less of a headache than simply switching a damn switch.

shakazulu12 said:

I've got another brand's digital warmers with a display and all kinds of programming options. To be perfectly honest, I wish they just had a "hi" and "low" switch. The only nice thing about the display is that it has a realtime surface temp on it. The novelty of that wore off in about fifteen minutes even. Not that there is anything wrong with them at all, they perform great. It's just I simply don't find the setup of all the various timing options to be any less of a headache than simply switching a damn switch.

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Thanks for the input shaka. Dumb question...but here goes... When does the dual temp come into play versus a single temp warmer?

flobrandx said:

Thanks for the input shaka. Dumb question...but here goes... When does the dual temp come into play versus a single temp warmer?

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This would depend on the optimal/target temp determined by the manufacturer for a particular tyre.... That would be my understanding at least...

DynastySS said:

So I have been riding q2/q3s on my track bikes for a few years now. I finally went with an sc2 slick up front and superbike pro rear. I am on the fast side of intermediate and these things are 1000x better than my q3s. Absolutely no way I would ever go back.

They are wearing nicely after one day.

I heard they redid the superbike pros last year or so and they are way better than the older compound. You could also just be way faster than me. But my 2 cents, no way I would ever go back to a q2 or q3.

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Thanks for the thoughts on the superbike pro.

So.....a lot of guys have said the superbike pro is ..... Is this because the level of rider using the tire? I'm not arguing the fact as I have never used a slick but am trying to get a better understanding as I'm wanting to make the transition to being a first time slick and warmer user.

I just bought an RSV4 for a track only bike and am gettin setup for the first local track day coming up next month. My concern is since I'll be riding a bike I've never ridden I'm concerned with keeping heat in the tires until I get familiar and comfortable.

Would the superbike pro's be a better start for me as a beginning slick user since I thought they're supposed to heat up easier? I'm open to everyone's thoughts on how I should setup on the first track day for the new bike.

Thanks in advance for everyone's input!

Pirelli Superbike Slicks - tire pressures?

So, this weekend I am running a set of Pirelli Subperbike slick race tires for the first time. Stoked

I'd like to get an idea of what people are running for hot pressures.
The track is fine-grained asphalt typical, not coarse at all.

Thanks

Ambient air temp is foretasted to be around 76 in the AM and a high of 99 to 100 F. It going to be a hot one!

I usually run SC 1 fronts and SC 2 rears . I will run 26PSi in the rear and 36 in the front off the track .

wilkson said:

I usually run SC 1 fronts and SC 2 rears . I will run 26PSi in the rear and 36 in the front off the track .

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Thanks; I am running with the same compounds front and rear.
Those are hot pressures; correct?

Yep hot pressures.

Well Said Man!

DynastySS said:

So I have been riding q2/q3s on my track bikes for a few years now. I finally went with an sc2 slick up front and superbike pro rear. I am on the fast side of intermediate and these things are 1000x better than my q3s. Absolutely no way I would ever go back.

They are wearing nicely after one day.

I heard they redid the superbike pros last year or so and they are way better than the older compound. You could also just be way faster than me. But my 2 cents, no way I would ever go back to a q2 or q3.

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Sweet!
Never ran Q3, but when you find something that works for you to the point of EXTREME pleasure and happiness - why go out looking for something else? Wait- did I just quote what Marriage is supposed to be all about? LMAO

Pirelli is #1 in my book and always will be for any track use whatsoever!

you do not need tire warmers for the q3 at all. unless outside temp is 40 or less. ive posted numerous times about the q3 and what dunlop has found. the email contains track pressure and the questions about tire warmers

mark419ny said:

you do not need tire warmers for the q3 at all. unless outside temp is 40 or less. ive posted numerous times about the q3 and what dunlop has found. the email contains track pressure and the questions about tire warmers

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Very true; you do not NEED tire warmers with the Q3s. That said, during the early-spring/late-fall when the temp is in the 40s and 50s, I found them to be a very good addition to my track day.

Now, in hot weather like the 100 F ambient air temp I am going to be experiencing this weekend, it would probably be a bad idea to use them with the Q3s, since the tires could overheat and feel "greasy."

Got to go now and drive to the track and have my new Superbike racing slicks mounted!
Ciao!

If you are using warmers and are trailering the bike to the track, yeah might as well put slicks on it. It is actually cheaper in the long run (especially if you can buy 2nd hand slicks in relatively good shape at a good price. Lots of racers throw slicks away after just one race). They tend to last better than supercorsa SC1/2 and grip and handling is phenomenal!!
I can pick up a set of pirelli superbike slicks (not the PRO red-banded ones) that only does 20 minutes track time for just $200 of our local currency ($150US ish) and that will last me 3-4 trackdays. With supercorsa SC1/2 brand new $700 of our local currency they only last me 3-5 trackdays. Slicks win.
If you need the bike for street too, it is a no brainer, put SC1/2 on.
If you are in slow/medium group, you're ok with SP compound.

Havingg said that, sc1/2 is good enough for elbow down. Apparently...hahaha

Ran the bike with Pirelli Superbike Slicks for the first time; SC1 front and an SC2 rear.
What a difference! I'm never going back to street tires on the track.
It took me a couple of sessions to get used to the different profile of the 200/60; but, by the third session I could not even remember what the Q3s were like.
Better braking and acceleration into and out of the corners because of the huge confidence they gave and the increased contact patch when leaned over. By the second session of the second day, I had dropped three seconds off of my previous best lap time.
I ran the tires at 33 PSI front and 25 PSI rear out of the warmers, which worked out to the desired 34/35 front and 26/27 rear after coming off of the track. For me, I had the best wear when the front was 34 and the rear was 26 hot off the track.
Photos came with the cost of the track weekend, so I'll post some when the link is live.
Ciao,

Marmoot said:

Having said that, sc1/2 is good enough for elbow down. Apparently...hahaha

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I absolutely believe it! Sometimes, cranked over as I accelerated out of turn 10 in second gear, it felt like I was almost there.

Pirelli Suberbike Slicks in Action!

Love these tires.
Photos, as promised...

Question- Will this Q3 vs Tire Warmer debate EVER END??

Doesn't anyone else think that use of Tire Warmers is a matter of personal opinion and entirely up to the individual riding / racing and track daying ? (just made that up)

Regardless of the brand of tires or warmers its still a decision made by they self!
As stated - UNLESS the manufacturer clearly states "Do Not Use Tire Warmers" with whatever tire one decides to run, I would say leave it up to that individual - No??

Whether or not someone in a race category wants the hottest tire he or she can get right out of the pits (despite the "warm up / sighting lap") or even if they wish to keep the Hot and Cold & Hot and Cold cycle of their tires doing so each time they go out for either 20 minutes or 7 laps, its UP TO THEM!

Someone here posted a comment about a Pridmore School they attended where many of the Instructors stated that the Q3 doesn't need the use of warmers EVER, and that Josh Hayes was one of those Instructors who said this. Today I texted Josh to check in with him and his present tie for the lead in MotoAmerica, and to ask about this statement. Im reading directly off the text reply here now " Fitz, the Q tires are pretty grippy street tires and usually only take 2-3 laps to get them up to temp. We always want to go straight out of pits HARD thus why we use warmers on all our tires to have them at optimum temps immediately. The Qs work better at slightly lower temp ranges too so its tricky getting hot temps on a tire that isn't totally hot first, but its not entirely necessary to use warmers on them unless racing or track day race practices" And that was not redacted whatsoever guys.

So Im just gonna leave this at that (LOL) and say leave it to the person riding the bike to decide what they wish to do. Otherwise, its a never ending debate over and over again on what to do with your rubber or warmers. Hell, since I don't race or do track days anymore it doesnt matter to me at all. Matter of fact it truly doesnt matter to me who does what here with your choice of tires and what you do with them my friends! So Im done running my mouth on this topic! (Phew right?) LOL

Since I always have to get the last word in on myself - All I have to say is this =
Just don't do something insane that inevitably is gonna get you hurt !

Styler said:

Ran the bike with Pirelli Superbike Slicks for the first time; SC1 front and an SC2 rear.
What a difference! I'm never going back to street tires on the track.
It took me a couple of sessions to get used to the different profile of the 200/60; but, by the third session I could not even remember what the Q3s were like.
Better braking and acceleration into and out of the corners because of the huge confidence they gave and the increased contact patch when leaned over. By the second session of the second day, I had dropped three seconds off of my previous best lap time.
I ran the tires at 33 PSI front and 25 PSI rear out of the warmers, which worked out to the desired 34/35 front and 26/27 rear after coming off of the track. For me, I had the best wear when the front was 34 and the rear was 26 hot off the track.
Photos came with the cost of the track weekend, so I'll post some when the link is live.
Ciao,

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I'm glad to hear everything worked out. The pics look great.

Gunny:
That is pretty much what the Dunlop test rider has said. They don't need warmers because they warm up within a lap or two; however, they do help in colder temperatures.
I can tell you from personal experience that if one is going to use warmers with the Q3s (as I have done in colder temps), then one might want to consider only using the high temp setting on the warmers in the morning, dropping the temp during the lunch break to low, and then back up to the medium setting in the afternoon. Warmers tend to draw the oils in the Q3s to the surface rather quickly, making them feel greasy. The result is that one still has plenty of tread, but the tire is less effective because it has been overcooked. The Q3s are particularly susceptible to this and you can easily see it because they turn a bluish hue.
I agree, it is a personal choice. And, to be clear, the Q3s are still my sport tire of choice for the road and what I would use on the track if I was only the occasional track day rider and used my bike primarily as a road bike.
Considering I am only riding my 1199 on the track these days and that I am starting to push the Q3s, I've decided to invest in slicks (or DOT Racing tires) rather than additional body work and medical bills.