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Old 28-10-07, 02:18 AM   #17
Berlin
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Default Re: Race tryes for road use?

Supercorsa Pro's are incredible. They've got more grip than you'll ever need for the road. But then you'll never need that much grip on the road so it's a bit of a waste.

The harder you ride, the grippier they get, but then that can lead to problems too. Try riding through the gravel at a junction and they pick up that gravel and spray the bike. I found they also pick up autumn leaves too it the roads dry.

If you are looking for most miles on trackdays go for something like Conti Roadattacks or Michelin Pilot Road CT2's They are at the "sensible" end of the scale. They'll still allow you to ground out the pegs though so have more than enough grip. Some use them as intermediates when racing too. The warm up quickly and stay warm longer. They are designed to be effective at a much lower temperature than the Super Sticky stuff. They'll work from ambient up to about 50 degrees. (no problem going higher)

A step up from that woulkd be the Sportier model of each, being the Conti Sportattack and Michelin Pilot Sport CT2's. Both are slightly softer than the above and so wear faster but grip more. These will have a temperature range of 35-60 degrees. They also allow for over 50 degrees of lean (a LOT!)

At the top end you have the super sticky stuff that you only really need for racing. (and don't think you'll be anywhere near racing pace on a track day ) These would be the Pirelli SCorsa pro's, Conti Race attacks, and a whole host of other "race tyres for the road". Everyone has one in their range. Some have several. These run at 65-85 degrees as a rough guide and cool quickly. Not good for commuting or in the rain so much. Not dangerous, just not grippy.

Are they worth the trade off? Well, not for 7 months of the year. Keeping them super sticky is difficult due to the cool temperatures. They still wear quite quickly despite not being grippy so it's not a good trade. I ride about 100 miles at a time and I can physically see the difference after every ride with the SC Pro's.

Far better to have something like the Roadattack that is sticky all year round just not as sticky as the SC Pro's in the summer.

In the rain, the Roadattack or the Michelin pilot road CT2 will run rings round the SC pro simply from being warmer. Its operating in it's temerature range when the SC pro is about 60 degrees too cool.

Saying that, everyone should try some SC Pro's in the summer. They really are breathtaking! You can be ridiculously heavy handed even as far as you can possibly lean and the tyres will just stick. Whip the throttle open on a bumpy B road (on the SV 650) at 45 degrees of lean and nothing but forward motion occurs (tried it!). you just can't upset them! They also give you lots of warning if they are not up to temperature before letting go completely. They tell you when they are ready.

I suppose it comes down to ability. If you can find the limits of lower group, move up to the next group up. If you find the limits of those, then move up again. If you never reach the limits, then you never need to move up.
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