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Question for my old pals

1172 Views 22 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  BABETTE
I posted this on SBN and got no serious replies.

How far do you SAFTELY let your tires go. I guess what I am wondering is, is it safe to go down to the indicators then replace, or should you replace well before the indicators. What do you all think, and what has your experience been. Oh yea and I'm on BT010's in case anyone cares.

I'm asking cause I think my ties although haveing a decent amount of tred left before hitting the indicators, are going away, they seem to be sliding around. But I think it may also just be a mental thing too, as in I'm wacking the shit out of the gas in first gear tight coreners, sliding, and then thinking hmm, my tires must be going. But if I ride with a bit more finess, no problem. Then again I have had the front tuck a few times, but then again, they have been kind of dirty corners, and I don't know that I would considered the tires prperly heated. I just can't tell if they are really losing preformance or if I am just sikeing myself out. Thanks.

Nick
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Here's a simple answer. When in doubt change them, remember these 2 tires are the only thing in contact with the ground, if you have doubts about them change them why play chicken with your life??
Some tires can stand the heat cycles better than others. It's very possible a tire can lose it's grip after heating up and cooling a couple times. I used a Dunlop 364 at the drag strip (it's been a while) and it wasn't worth a shit after one trip.
The more heat cycles, the less grippy the rubber becomes. Example: The Macadam 90's on the BMW, when new, they gripped really good on cool 60 degree days enough that I was dragging peg feelers, cylinder heads, centerstand, etc., and the thing felt glued to the road. Now with 6500 miles on them, tread is still sort of ok, but the thing is real squirmy, and it is warm out now too so the tires are warm. Reason...the rubber gets harder with age/heating. Ever seen some 10 year old tires that are new? (check a gas station), the rubber will be somewhere in the hardness scale of tungsten and diamond. Check a nice new fan belt and compare it to the one under the hood of your car for further examples of the age/heat relationship, same goes for the tires. Also, tires tend to square off riddin on the street, the different profile changes the handling as well, but alot of it is due to the rubber changing too.
See, I new all this but you know how sometimes you use the board in hopes that somone will tell you something you don't know, and that you would prefer to hear (yes I'm cheap). My experience with Kart racing taought me all those lessons, so I need to go home and order me some new buns.

:eek:t SBN sucks for getting good serious feedback, you guys rock and I wish to god we had a board of folks up here like I did back there with you all.

However it is pretty frekin cool living up here, did I mention that my tires are worn almost as badly on the edges as they are in the middle. That never happened to me in Chi town :twofinger

Nick
Or just change them every few weeks, when ever a comapny comes out with a new tire like Ken does :D :D
NICKY MY BOY!!!! who's ya daddy?:laughing

Hey man how's the baby?...hope you guys are doing well.

anyway,,,since your a daddy...this is my rule of thumb.

For the front...usually you can go 3 rear tires to the front tire.
So when do ya change the front?
ANSWER: ass soon as it cups, cupping front tires are inconsistent in cornering grip due to the variations in raising and sinking contact patches.


The rear.

My rule of thumb is...the CENTER of the tire...once the tread has worn down to ALMOST the deepest part of the INNER thread almost to the thickness of a match book, in the next 100 miles get some rear tires put on.

i have ran MANY tires to the BARE minimum to the point of (being an idiot) having the cords show as i save my self 4 times in 1 ride while leaning it full over and the rear tire was clasping on itself because it wasn't able to hold it carcass together right (REALLY STUPID). also too most tires...and i KNOW FOR A FACT on the bto10's they don't have much rubber between the cords and the inner tire...MEANING that you have LESS then 1/2 a match book thickness, and TEMPS like we have now..non the less highway cruising, heating the tires..and HIGH speeds 75mpr and up...your ass COULD have a blow out...i was fucken freaked when i had my bto's took off when the rubber started flicking off and showing the cords that when i put my finger from the inner side of the tire and pushed out...i could almost see my FINGER NAIL:(


And to think..i was doing 170mpr runs the day before.


heres a tip, from what ya said. DON'T be ripping ass in 1st gear around corners...UNLESS you know how to play the slide. ON ANY TIRE. 2nd get ya self a pair of M1 sportechs.

they can run lower, (closer to race pressure all the time with no side affects and nothing but GREAT feel)


bto's 10 &12ss , Dunlop's 207s, pilot races, ALL CUP nasty when you run nothing less the FULL Max load pressure (Max psi is for carry that g/f when she is on the back) in general, run COLD PSI 33f and 34r
that's a good mild all around pressure


Ya wanna get more aggressive in canon carving? Run 31/31 will feel alittle sluggish in parking lot moves, but once up to speed (normal riding and cornering) the tire will heat a touch more and have better contact patch to the street, up or while leaned over.

oh fuck...looks i wrote a book.
anyway go with M1's and run 32/32 and your gonna fucken love them, the front NEVER cups and the rear stays pretty consistent OVER IT TOTAL life, heats up fast, sticky ass tire, and great flick in grip!!!!;)
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Well here is a pic of my tire today b4 I decided to burn off what little was left. New M1's supposed to be in tomorrow. I new the tires were gettin thin after BHF but I took it to Madison then to Reedsburg for a Funeral. Noticed the strands then. Rode home 3 hours on this. Fortunately, it was nasty stop n go so not too much highway speed. I really think I lucked out.
And here is what you do to dead tires. Havin some sun in the neighborhood. Think everyone came out to watch.
champ your supose to do it till it pops...ya newbie..lmao
Too many little kids runnin around. But thats exactly why I didnt go out of the neighborhood. Ida been more encouraged to pop it and then I'd have to push the bitch home. Lupi sure wasn't going to do more than take the pic.
Hey Nick,

So how many miles did you put on that set of BT010s? Just wondering because I'm getting the same feeling on mine after only 4700+ miles on it. I can definitely feel the difference on the road now compared to a few months ago when I just got the bike
good call with the kids around:rofl about lupi
holly shit ernie..you got 4700 miles out of bto10's?
even breaking the bike in 1000 miles, that 3700 worth of normal driving...dude give me that gixxer:laughing
Ernie said:
So how many miles did you put on that set of BT010s? Just wondering because I'm getting the same feeling on mine after only 4700+ miles on it. I can definitely feel the difference on the road now compared to a few months ago when I just got the bike
I'm getting the same feeling on my BT010s too, but I'm at 7000 miles which includes 2 whole track days.... I guess I'll need some new tires soon.

Nick 600 F3 said:
However it is pretty frekin cool living up here, did I mention that my tires are worn almost as badly on the edges as they are in the middle. That never happened to me in Chi town :twofinger
Ah, I've got to come back up there and hit RT 61 soon........... SWEET :D I'm going to do HWY 1 in about 3 weeks, can't wait. (By the way, this is Anna with a diff. name)
Thnaks for the book ody :twofinger

Serioursly thanks.

Anna, your doing hwy one in three weeks? Have you been talking to neal? Where planning to head up on the 10th and back on the 11th. Were camping at a freind of neal's, he lives in two ports, or two rivers, whatever the name of the place is, some po dunck ass town right near the begining of hwy 1 on the lake. Sweet, hope your joining us, your more then welcome to crash at my place for a half way point.

Oddy, earnie. I got about 4000 miles on these tires. And as far as the whole three rears to one front, umm I think with my bike and my not quite so aggresive exit technique this theory won't hold true. My front is as eaqually worn as my rear, and recently has tucked on me a few times. Remember this is me were talking about not you on a freakin 9R from hell :thumbsup . As well my pressures are pretty close but I think I have been running to high of a differnece between front and rear. I have been running 32 and 38 since I got these at the begining of the season. On the street I'm not gonna run 32/34 and for track days I'll droup down to your recomendadtions.

How's life up here? Its fantastic, busy as hell but fantastic. Seeing my daughter and GF everyday is so wonderful, I am so thankful for the job that has alowed me to get up here. As well, I love my new job as compared to my old one, much more satisfying, and cool people to boot. And to top it all off, the raods are really decent, again, compared to chicago, sorry, and I am putting on decent miles condiering all that is going on.

Thanks for everyone's info.

Nick

Here's a pic of me and the bambino
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NICK!!!!!!!!!! Whazzzaaapppp!

The kid is cute, bro. Glad things are going good for you up there, and glad your still riding. Good Luck.

...oh yeah, change yer tires.
cute kid Nick!
Nick 600 F3 said:
Anna, your doing hwy one in three weeks? Have you been talking to neal? Where planning to head up on the 10th and back on the 11th. Were camping at a freind of neal's, he lives in two ports, or two rivers, whatever the name of the place is, some po dunck ass town right near the begining of hwy 1 on the lake. Sweet, hope your joining us, your more then welcome to crash at my place for a half way point.

Neal told me about this ride in Missouri and I really want to do it, especially since I have the time now. I'm just concerned with the camping aspect since obviously I can't bring any gear with me on the bike. I was planning to come out earlier (Fri) since Hwy is up by Canada :rolleyes that way I would be in MN on Saturday morning and able to take off with you guys. It would be awesome if I could crash at your place again... thanks.
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