what to run on a first track day?

[AndyBrad]

Ok folks, i have a dilemma.

A week ago i got a puncture in my rear tyre. Ive had this plugged (against my better judgement) and tbh it seems to be fine, im commuting on it as we speak. Now im off to the AR then down to Devon for the following week on the bike. Minimum 1k miles im thinking. As soon as i get back im on the raf track day! Having never been on a track day (on the bike) before not only am i unsure as to whats going to go off but i am unsure as to what to do about my tyres. Now ive spoken to a member on here who has a set of used tyres he is willing to “rent” to me for the track day! Top bloke and im happy about this. However just thinking about it im wondering if this is a good idea? As im wanting to use the track day to improve my riding/see what my bike can do would i be better off on the rubber i use every day? So i can find out how much grip/lean i’ve got on the actual stuff im going to be using? As i don’t really have any experience of this i wouldn’t mind some other peoples input. The flip side is i could screw my road tyres (but seeing as i still have the whiskers on the sides after 1500miles i doubt i will actually use the sides on the road.) and i cant afford to replace them after the track day... so in summary,

a) Stick with the road rubber and rent the used rubber for the day (this is what im thinking is the best option, and it just means rebalancing the wheels when i get home)

b) Spend the money i’ve saved (not a lot ) from not renting and buy a new rear tyre (roadsmart) before the ar so its run in for the track day (and whack another 100 notes on the cc :( )

c) Stop being a wuss and run the plugged tyre on the track after all whats the worst that could happen?

Your thoughts please?

[cuffy]

B
A
Definitely not C

[Dicky Ticker]

Buy your new rear tyre and ride it till the track day,then use it on the track day.
You still have the tyre you will have taken off to replace it when worn out,done your track day on the rubber you normally ride on,it hasn't cost you any extra cash,you have piece of mind over the rubber you are using.
May be costing a few bob up front but definately the better option

[dizzyblonde]

Non of the above!

[andrewsmith]

get a new tire or look round for a partworn

[AndyBrad]

Non of the above!

constructive there dizz, what would you suggest based on your experience?

[Whitty]

Don't use the plugged one! Especially if you are lowering pressures on track. Get a new tyre on that you can use on road afterwards. If its your 1st t/day you probably will still have plenty life on it afterwards as most wear occurs on sides (If you are riding properly).So plenty in middle to kill off on boring road rides.

[Lozzo]

I ran a plugged tyre on two trackdays with no bad effects, but I only ran it because I'd forgotten it had a plug in. I wouldn't have taken that tyre on track had I remembered

Buy a new tyre, not worth the risk of the plug failing and I wouldn't bother with the faff of swopping tyres around unless they were already on wheels I could use.

[rictus01]

to be honest, it's a good idea to do one of the RAF day's as they aren't as intense as a normal trackday, I still do the Northolt one.

I would say it's all about confidence, and although a plugged tyre maybe fine, do you want to be worried about it all day ?, I wouldn't be looking to use any tyre you don't on the road, as it'll give a false sense of what the bike can do, making it less relevant to the bikes road manners, the golden rules still apply however, know your own limits and push gently or pay the price.

Cheers Mark.

[hardhat_harry]

Get a set of part worn Diablo Corsas and use them on the road too for the errrr summer.

[Bluefish]

Buy a new tyre, or buy a new bike which comes with new tyres, simples ;)

[TazDaz]

I think the interest on the £100 on the cc will be far less than the cost of a potential mishap if the plug lets go.

What size tyres do you run?

[flymo]

Plugs are glued and inserted from the inside right? No reason why it should fail.

Use the plug until the tyre needs replacing.

I wouldn't bother reducing your rear tyre pressure for the track on a tack day, leave it as it is you'll be fine.

[Biker Biggles]

Depends how seriously you want to take it.Me.I just use whatever tyres are on the bike as long as they are not totally sh&gged out,but Im slow and everyone passes me.
And I dont care a bit.Id use the plugged one as long as it was done properly.

[Red Herring]

As per Flymo. Stick with what you have provided the profile is reasonable. Loads of people make the mistake of turning up for a track day with a well worn road tyre in the belief that they will generally only need the bit on the edge at the track. This is not the case. Sure the bit you will wear out the most is the shoulder, but the feeling you get from a squared off rear is horrible and will do nothing to inspire any confidence. As for the plug that will be fine.

[Ratty]

Definitely stick with what you have if the plug was fitted professionally from the inside. When I queried how secure it was, the guy who plugged my front Michelin said he races on plugged tyres that people don’t want to do track days on,. I’ve since done 8 track days on that Pilot Power 2CT and worn it out no problems. I run 30 – 30 PSI at the track on my SV1000S. Pic taken after Mallory I think ?

http://forums.sv650.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=532&d=1190014678

HTH

Ratty

[AndyBrad]

well unfortunatly i believe the decision has been made for me. There appears to be a split comming from the area where the plug was used and is now about 5mm into the tread. Im going to see how it looks tomorrow after a 5 mile run into work but i think its goodbye to this tyre :(