Track tyre life

[98kellrs]

I'm just in the middle of prepping the bike for Trakdayz this weekend, and I'm concerned about the tyres. My main concern is that they've already done 2 track days, the rears have lost all tread and there is a strange colouration over the surface of the tyre (the rainbow colours you see when oil floats on water). From what I've read on the forum a tyre typically lasts 2-3 track days, but I'm concerned about the colouration especially..

I'm only lapping 73's so not exactly shredding the tyres, but I'm just not sure how long they can last. The tyres are Metzeller Racetec's. How many track days do the average set last round Barbs for an average rider?

Hope to see a few of you on Saturday, I'll be on the red CBR600rr with the rainbow coloured tyres!

[MMiikkee]

The rainbow effect is just the weather affecting the tyres, it happens pretty quick if you leave the bike out in the elements. It'll scrub off after a lap or two. How much tread is left on the tyres? if it's with in a couple of mm of the wear limiters on the right hand side i'd think about putting a new one on, did one trackday on a worn out rear and it slid all over the place, wasn't fun.

[XXX3]

If the tread is worn to or past the wear markers, it's unlikely your bike will pass scrutineering.

[98kellrs]

Wear indicators seem fine although they are only in the centre of the tyre and I can't see a way of checking the edge.

It's probably just pre-trakdayz nervousness. Glad the discolouration is nothing to worry about though. :-)

[96]

How old are the tyres? At 73 seconds the tread should last more than 2 days if your pressures and suspension is set half decently...

[BlackFZR]

Not necessarily. If your corner speeds are slow, and then you gas it hard, you get very bad tyre wear. Generally the faster you go, the smoother you are, and the less tyre wear.

The race-tecs still have wear markers on the outer limits of the tyres. If you can't see them on the right side, you need to get another set.

[96]

Hmm, true there tim... More concentrated wear, I guess.

[The Nurse 40]

I'm concerned about the tyres. My main concern is that they've already done 2 track days, there is a strange colouration over the surface of the tyre (the rainbow colours you see when oil floats on water). I'm concerned about the colouration especially..

I'm only lapping 73's Hope to see a few of you on Saturday, I'll be on the red CBR600rr with the rainbow coloured tyres!

hmmm, seems we got the same prob! Ive done 2 days, but as #132 said, my cornering was poo! Only Diff, these are slicks and I only bought them, coz they were brand new and cheaper than normal tyres.................
On the other two bikes, the tyres looked sweeeeeeet....after racecraft/track time
Hopefully Ill be there sunday with the same rainbow tyres....

[Rizzo]

Some say it is the release compound bleeding through, some say heat cycling!

Over pressure can cause blueing as well, tyres experience a lot of torsional cornering forces during a track day, way more than general road use (ie causing rapid heat build up and then cooling) this is why tyre warmers even on your street tyres are worth using.

Also could be part of a (too hard) suspension set up! Be meticulous with tyre pressures and be aware and understand where your suspension setting's are at. Any tyre could be a pile of crap with a shitty suspension set up!

[TurboR1]

Post a photo of your tyre.

Blueing of a tyre is nothing to worry about.

[filbert]

if in doubt swap it out.

Sure it seems a waste and tyres are expensive, but so are fairings, repairs, time off work etc

[thugsfatboy464]

Another consideration is its going to be another hot day at the track and i found the Racetecs to spin up easier going through Skyline and coming out of the Basin

[Scott52]

Four to five uses for a front and three to four for a rear ... and thats flipping them to even the wear. It's hard to improve your laptimes if you go too long on old tyres. As others have said a tyre is cheaper than a crashed bike and broken body.

[Grin]

the rears have lost all tread

If I'm scrutineering, they won't pass, so if you want a ride, better put a new one on. Not much fun getting all prepared only to be turned away at the last minute.

[98kellrs]

In the end took the sensible route and swapped the rear for a spare that's only done half an afternoon round barbs. As for pressures I'm gonna run 30/30 cold for the first session and take it from there. Not sure how much of an effect the hot weather's going to have.

Given it's a track-only bike for the time being, is it worth going full slicks for my next set? Like I said I'm not exactly the fastest thing out there, but decent road tyres are effing expensive, especially if they only last 2 sessions!

Thanks for the input all

[96]

Doesn't have to be slicks, treaded race compound tyres are amazingly similar... Are your tires on the bike street or track compound rubber?

30/30 would be way hard for race compounds...

[JAFA]

30/30 HOT would be more like it, not cold. ( = about 25 cold ).

Check you email too 98kellrs

[96]

going from cold I'd say 27-28 front, you don't want this soft, and it doesn't generate lots of heat.

24-25 cold on the rear would be ok... When you get fast that would be hot pressures though...

[GD66]

If you don't have tyre warmers, at least leave them out in the sun before you go out, to minimise the cold/hot transition : then build up track speed over a couple of laps before you pull the wire tight... sounds like you could drop a few lbs out as well. See what others using your tyre package are using for pressures.
Never stop asking questions, how else will you learn all the stuff you need to know for a day at the track ?
Enjoy your day out...

[Shaunor8]

I'm running Michelin pilot pures. Got a new rear today as I don't think it would have done another session. The front is still good. Any suggestions as to what pressure to run as it will be so hot...again. I normally run about 28rear and 30front (hot).