Tires

It’s time to start thinking about tires. As I’ve done the last three or four pre-seasons, I’ve been collecting consumables for the upcoming season. Tires, oil and oil filters. With the oil and oil filters already on hand. My mind has been running around in circles over tires. DOTs? Slicks? Or both? Pirelli, Bridgestone, Dunlop, maybe a little of each?

It was this Instagram post the made me do some pondering:

If you don’t have Instagram, the Yamaha Champions Racing School (champ_school, their Instagram name) post reads:

“When should I start using slicks?

You should start using slicks when you can consistently (key word) ride over the limits of a DOT tire. Slicks offer a tremendous amount of grip in a very narrow range of temperatures and conditions, but they require a lot of knowledge and prep to use correctly. They also require a consistently fast pace to maintain the correct amount of heat. If not used correctly or if you are not at pace, a slick will offer much less grip than a DOT.

Slicks are designed to go to the starting grid off warmers and go to 100% in turn one. If you like to ride around at the beginning of your track day sessions to get warmed up, your slicks are getting cold. When its time to go, you will have less than optimum grip. If your pace during a session is more than 10 seconds off the lap record or varies more than 3 seconds over the course of the session, a DOT tire is a much better choice.

We often see track day riders in Novice and Intermediate groups being held back by slicks. Their pace is simply not even close to keep heat in the tires, and as a consequence, the tire has less grip which hurts the rider's confidence and keeps them from going quicker.

We love DOT tires. They work in a huge range of temperatures, they don't require the effort of warmers, they don't heat cycle, they offer a tremendous amount of grip, and they last FOREVER. They also tend to be much easier to use at the limit of grip. When high grip slicks let go, they tend to do so violently.

We use the new @bridgestonemotousa S23's on all our rental and instructor bikes at ChampSchool. We have very unique requirements. Our students require consistent, predictable grip that offer plenty of warning at the edge of grip. Our instructors require tires that work at any temp, last for multiple schools, and allow us to coach students on their race prepped bikes with slicks. The Bridgestone S23 exceeds all those requirements.

We have full technical chapter about tire technology and best practices in our online Champ U: Track Day course. Learn more here: https://ridelikeachampion.com/track-day/"

Well that’s a blow to the ego. Here are the points that I’ve been pondering:

• Consistently riding over the limit on DOTs, that’s not me. Yet.

• I am 4.5 seconds slower than that 10 second mark. Club racing lap record (Andy DiBrino) is a 1:44.0. My best is a 1:58.5, and normally pace at 2:00 when not pushing.

• I know what happens when your pace isn’t enough to keep the heat in a slick. I tore up a set of slicks last year in one day because the track was colder and my pace was slower.

• DOTs: “They also tend to be much easier to use at the limit of grip”. That’s comforting…

• DOTs: “…allow us to coach students on their race prepped bikes with slicks”. Meaning, slicks are no match for skill and technique

With DOTs decided upon. Which brand? These are just my opinions:

• The Dunlop Q3+ were awesome tires. I think a lot of dissatisfied Q4 and Q5 customers would happily buy the old Q3+, if they still made them. Dunlop has almost created a monopoly with their tires through marketing and loyal customers. However, I think that is crumbling. They want too much money for a below bench standard track day tire.

• Pirelli has set the standard. A benchmark and a premium tire. I feel they are resting on their laurels until everyone catches up.

• Bridgestone has something to prove. They are not resting on their laurels, like Dunlop and Pirelli.

So, I’ve decided on Bridgestones. RS11 and S23 tires to start off the season. Why? The champ_school post and I’ve received my personal best (1:58.5) around The Ridge on a set of Bridgestone RS11 tires. Which are DOTs, not slicks!!!

Although you don’t see track day riders on the corner of a stoplight holding a sign displaying they need money for tires. They will be more than happy to accept money for good tires, or good tires themselves.

Reference Points: 

WorldSBK starts off the season at Phillip Island (Australia) Feb. 21-23.

MotoGP starts off their season in Thailand, Feb. 28 - March 2.

Track Time’s first event starts on May 25.

Newsletter #1 has been edited & updated.