slicks or DOT Race for TLS

[lowside996]

I'm debating on whether to get slicks or not for my TLS. I've been told by one of the instructors at STAR school (Jason Pridmore's) that slicks can last longer than high perfomance street tires (Rennsport Race, Supercorsas, GPs, etc) and you don't need to be a racer to benefit from them.

I would swap them with my M1's for the track and switch them out when I need to do street riding. I'm trying to find ways to cut my expenses on for track days and I don't want to get new buns every 3 track days if I can get slicks and have them last 4 or 5 track days (I didn't know you can flip them over too). Even if they cost more, they may actually be cheaper in the long run.

My speed around the track is nowhere near race speed, but it's not a snail's pace either. Keep in mind I've only done 3 track days, but the second one I crashed in the 3rd session, so I really am not that fast. But if I do get to be faster, I'd hate the idea of spending $350 or so on new street tires every 3 track days. I can get a set of Dunlop slicks for about $400 so they're not that much more than DOT race tires.

What do you think I should do? Having a mortgage and 2 kids in Northern California can make you cash poor very easily.

John

[Screwloose]

i havent been to a track day ...but over here you can buy them at the track...

they will change em for ya....use em all day...
then they will put your street tyres on....at about a third of the price, (maybe less) of a street tyre...

[mstingray]

try take offs for a budget alternative. alot of KFG's throw away perfectly "good" tires cause they're rippin em up @ the pace they're running. slower pace on the same tires even if it's "not good" for those KFG's are cheaper alternatives to paying $400/set for new slicks.

i assume you went to STAR in sept. @ thill?

[lowside996]

Take-offs

mstingray ,

Went to STAR Novice school in Sept last year. I also took Keigwin's Novice school in August at Thill.

Never considered take-offs. How much are they generally? Any idea what kind of life can I get out of them? Let's say I run 2:25s - 2:35s all of next year. Some laps I'll rest a bit and others I'll go a little faster and try to brake a little later, but generally I'm in the 2:35s to 2:45s now taking tight lines most of the time. I plan to take wider lines next time out.

I've redone my suspension so my TL won't wear the tires as fast as b4.

John

[mstingray]

slick take offs should be more than adequate for that pace. if they're fairly fresh (minimal heat cycling, new-ish tire, etc) you could probably run about 2-3 days on them. maybe 4 depending on compound (try getting a harder compound). if you're riding thill alot, just have someone flip flop the sides so the left side doesn't get worn out so much.

i think generally, takeoffs should run approx. $100/set or so.

any plans on future trackdays? i'm planning on heading to the strafers day on the 23rd and the zoom zoom day @ sears in dec.

[Fabri-Tech]

I was running DOT SuperCorsas (good, low wear takeoffs) on my TLS and replacing the rear after 1 trackday because of how it was tearing up/wearing on the right side (mostly rights at the tracks I go to.)
Then I tried a set of SuperCorsa slicks in the same compounds (supersoft front/soft rear) and the rear didn't tear up nearly as bad. I got 3 trackdays out of that rear slick, which was a alrady takeoff when I got it.
The TLR racebike I bought this year came with the same compound Pirelli slicks, which at the time had 1 race on them. So far I've done 2 trackdays with them, and they have hardly even worn down at all according to the wear indicators, and they still feel awesome. They were hooking up this past Sunday in the first 2 laps of each session when my buddies were complaining about sliding around on the same 2 laps of every session.

I am now a pretty firm believer in using slicks. I give them a

[Oldbull]

I was having a conversation with Steve TLS the other day on this very subject.
My mates and I use 'take offs' as you guys call them, we get ours off a few of the National race lads, they have usually done one 8 / 10 lap race at the most or one practice session.
We have been lucky this year as one of the race lads has a good sponser and some of the sets weve been getting have only done a few laps. We usually get the Rennsports or the Dunlops 208's,I prefer the Renns for my TLS as the 208's tend to make her rather Flighty but if thats all they have no worries.
We usually do 2 full track days on them and let the road lads have them, as they are only worn on the edges were very few street riders ever get to
I would definately say 'take offs' is the way for you to go as wel.

The only problem with Slicks is that us everyday, average track day riders cannot get enough heat in them to make them work properly, and consequently they cold tear and wear out twice as fast as they should do. We have cut a few sets of Slicks this year and run them on our bikes to try and get enough heat in them, but still not enough to make them value for money.
Hence tyre warmers .... see trackday sickness thread

Dave UK

[Oldbull]

I allso told Steve TLS that I would get a few pics of the tyres that we get off the race lads so he could see what condition they were in.
I fetched these two pairs last weekend :-

[Oldbull]

view 2

[Oldbull]

Heres his mate I fitted and ballanced at the weekend

[Oldbull]

here is the other pair I got at the same time

[Oldbull]

Its the pair either side of my road bike front wheel

[Oldbull]

As you can see they are in very good condition, we could probablly get at least another full day out of them but we dont like pushing them that far if you get my drift, and some time we get paid off the street lads as well, like I say they are hardly touched in the middle when we have done with them.

Hope my waffling helps you out a little

Dave UK

[Steve TLS]

Now I've seen them

Even I could be swayed to use tyres that have only been used once.

[Seca]

I use race take offs for my track days also. I usually try to buy a few sets at a time. You should be able to get 3-5 track days off of them with out worry. Take-offs run about $75 a set. I always take a look at them before I get them to make sure they arent toast. I get them from a good sourse who usually will have one practice session and maybe 1 race on them then he gets rid of them. For what I use them for I couldnt ask for anything better. Next year when I start racing(cross my fingers) I will use new ones. Till then bring on the take offs!!!!