Race tires on the street??

1730 Views 19 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Troublemaker400, Jul 14, 2000

Troublemaker400

Discussion Starter · Jul 11, 2000

Long-winded post:

I got a friend who gets slightly used race tires and sells them to everyone around here. He can get me a couple of D207GP's for $180 mounted balanced and all and he claims that they only have 1 heat cycle and about 40-50 miles on them.

When I start looking around at what a new set of street tires and mounting costs it very much seems like this deal is worth a try.

I have heard a few different viewpoints on this subject. Race tires don't last anytime on the street, You never get them up to proper operating temperatures, They are only good for a few heat cycles and then they're junk, They're not made for the street.

Then there's the other side of the story: You can power wheelie in the rain, Street compound tires are scary...blah blah blah

I have gathered that everyone around town that has race tires on thier bikes absolutely love them but I wanna hear it from other people besides the local squids.

Luke

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JDM1200

· #2 · Jul 11, 2000

I would say stay away from them. They are totally diff than street tires and I seriously doubt they are better in the rain. No grooves to displace the water! There was an article a couple of months ago in Sport Rider. They pointed out the huge diffs and why you should stick with street tires.

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Ride the Pace,
JD

Mr.TrevorClever

· #3 · Jul 11, 2000

I don't think it's a good idea unless you get the tires dirt cheap. 180 is not cheap for used take offs. New D207's cost 190 a set, last longer. Don't believe the heat cycle/operating temp hype. There's some thread around that distinguishes these notions. If you want the tires for added traction....well maybe it's time for the track.

Trevor

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Hurricane

· #4 · Jul 11, 2000

These guys are right. Stay away from the race tires for the street. You'll never come close to keeping them at the temperature in which they were designed to work the best.

Instead of spending the dough on track tires for your streetbike, why not spend the dough putting your streetbike on the track for a class? You'll get a nice taste of racing, without having the wrong tires on your bike! Just a thought...

'cane

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cbr600f4gd

· #5 · Jul 11, 2000

You will not do any better on the street with race tires. They will wear out quickly. They cannot handle the multiple heat cycles. You will never see the benefit on the street because it is just impossible to keep them at the temprature needed to see the benefits of the race compound. I see deals all of the time where I can get race take-offs for less than $100/set. For $180 I would spend the money on a tire that will last and give you plenty enough grip. I run street compound 207's for track days and while I would prefer to use the race compound the streets work quite well. The bottom line is street tires are made for the street and race tires are made for the track.

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Ride Fast - Take Chances

Dan F4

· #6 · Jul 11, 2000

I can get a set of take off's for $60 plus $12.50 a tire to mount & balance. $180 is WAY to high.

I am going to try a set of take off's and see if I like them better (on my bike). I have tried a bike with them and I liked the way it felt. But it wasn't my bike so I did want to push it too much.

You will here alot of stuff about race tires.
I think the only way I will get the truth is to try them for myself (also read as much info I can get my hands on).

The info. I have read is they do work really well. And alot of the guys were I ride will never go back.

I will let you all know how I like them..

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Dan F4 Red/Black

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SpeedPhreak

· #7 · Jul 11, 2000

http://www.sportbikeworld.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000502.html

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Troublemaker400

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 11, 2000

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Aril, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mr.TrevorClever:
I don't think it's a good idea unless you get the tires dirt cheap. 180 is not cheap for used take offs. New D207's cost 190 a set, last longer. Don't believe the heat cycle/operating temp hype. There's some thread around that distinguishes these notions. If you want the tires for added traction....well maybe it's time for the track.

Trevor

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

where are you getting new 207's for 190?

Chaparral has them for 230 for a new set roughly but then I have my local shops who will just love to mount them for me at 50 bucks a pop.

I now want to steer away from the race's and try a set of MEZ-3's. I have heard too much bad stuff about the 207 streets.

Luke

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mashuri

· #9 · Jul 11, 2000

Another thing to consider is that the race compounds are TERRIBLE in the wet because they don't have any silica in them. Something to consider if you ever ride in those conditions. I remember a Michelin Rep. talking about the differences between the street and race compound tires in a Sport Rider test. Silica and the resulting wet grip was on of them but he also talked about longevity. He said that the race tires were designed to go through one or two full heat cycles before performance signifigantly dropped off. Now, a race compound tire that is used only on the street may never hit full temperature, therefore lasting longer...but why bother at that price? Like the man said, if you need that much extra grip on the street, you shouldn't be on the street. I'm more worried about the race take-offs that everyone buys for cheap. Those have been through AT LEAST one full heat cycle on the track. You're definitely not getting the same tire they started with. Given the variables with purchasing take-offs and the fact that I have been unintentionally caught in the rain before, I would rather buy new street compound tires.

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1999 Blue/White YZF-R1: 2 Bros. C4 exhaust, Dynojet jet kit, timing tricker, dyno-tuned by Graves
2000 NBM/Lt Oak int/Blk top C5 Convertible - MN6, Z51, Vortex Rammer, A&A Exhaust, C/R X-pipe, Corsa tips, !CAGS

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RCjohn

· #10 · Jul 11, 2000

SpeedPhreak you are da man. I've been looking for that post all day. I new it had been posted before and was one of the best explaination I've heard on the subject.

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Ride Hard!

John

cbr600f4gd

· #11 · Jul 11, 2000

THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ALL WHO WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO RACE VS> STREET. http://207.168.125.101/index/features/michelin/michelin.htm

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Ride Fast - Take Chances

Dan F4

· #12 · Jul 11, 2000

After reading that, I think I will think alittle more before I go and get some take off's.

I kind of got conflicting information between the two articles.......

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Dan F4 Red/Black

SpeedPhreak

· #13 · Jul 11, 2000

i think the conflict can be traced to 2 different things..

1- different companies..

2- liability..

each company can have different oppinions on the subject & both may be correct for that companies tire. dunlop may not have said what was said in my tire info post officially but it looks like the pilot article is an official company article. i have seen lots of people run new & take off race tires w/no problem & i have never heard from someones mouth bad things (just the net). but what is pretty much universal is that track time w/street tires will make u faster than street time w/race tires.

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RCjohn

· #14 · Jul 11, 2000

I'm with Dan F4 on this one. There was some contradictory information in the reading.

I have run a scrubbed race Dunlop before on the front of the VFR. I didn't push the VFR all that bad and didn't use the tire in the rain. I never had a problem with it under my riding conditions. I don't know that I would do it on the RC. Though it is tough to turn down a free tire with 2 laps on it.

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Ride Hard!

John

Troublemaker400

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 11, 2000

Thanks for all the info, it is all very useful and I will go for street tires and tell that guy to shove those race tires up his... well I'll just tell him that I'll pass on it. I might see what he charges to mount some street tires though since the dealers around here rape ya.

I really wish that we did have a local track to ride on but we don't. I ride with a bunch of squids so nobody would want to go to mid-ohio with me. guess I'll just have to settle for the next deal's gap trip.

Thanks again for the info
Luke

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Mr.TrevorClever

· #16 · Jul 12, 2000

Luke-
Both Chaparral and Cycle Gear sell D207's for 190 a set +/- $1, if you are getting that 230 from S/H, this is what you do. Go to your shop, tell them you can get the tires for 190 and ask if they will meet or beat the price, if they can't, go to another shop. I got a set of pirellis. they retailed for 200, but when I snuck a peek at the dealers computer, they were getting them for 110. Most decent dealers will meet the price, becase they are still making 50-60 bucks off you. I can't help with their mount, balance BS. I guess learn to at least take the rims off the bike yourself.

Trevor

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Troublemaker400

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 12, 2000

taking the wheels off isn't a problem. I could probably mount the wheels but I've done that a few times with dirtbikes and I've had enough of it. You can wrestle with a tire for an hour and not have any luck and it's upsetting to take it to the shop and watch them put them on in 5 minutes. I despise changing tires and I won't do it any more. I wouldn't really know where to start as far as balancing goes anyway and I'm sure you need some equipment for that.

Chaparral catlog reads:
D207zr's
120/70zr17.......99.99
180/55xr17......127.99

I don't want 207's anyway but I do want the catalog that you have.

Luke

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cbr600f4gd

· #18 · Jul 12, 2000

Keep in mind that the Dunlop guy was from Race Tire Service. I don't think he speaks for Dunlop but I could be wrong. Just my .02

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Ride Fast - Take Chances

Mr.TrevorClever

· #19 · Jul 13, 2000

Luke, I am looking at the August 2000 issue of Sport Rider. I know you don't want D207's, but I will list the prices for 120/70,180/55 in each of the ads I found.

Chaparral- 84+109=193
Comp. Accessories- 83+105=188..sorry this is for D205's
Motorsport's Warehouse- 84+108=192
Motorcycle Acc. Warehouse- 83+107=190

I'm tryin to help Luke, and I hope this proves I'm not a dirty liar.

Trevor

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Troublemaker400

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jul 14, 2000

Ok, I was looking at the chapparal catalog. I didn't know that they ran sales on tires but thanks for the info.

Luke

I might try 207's....decisions decisions.

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