Topic: Tire recommendations?

[fastbroshi]

   What other race tires are out there for vintage sizes besides the Avon AM series?  I know I saw some Dunlops at a race before, can't remember the designation.  Thought it was K124, but can't find anything.  In any case I'll be calling Dunlop for rec's, thought I'd ask you guys about any other known good ones. 

[bwaller]

The Dunlops you mention are KR, probably 124 front and 164 rear?

[turboguzzi]

The Dunlops you mention are KR, probably 124 front and 164 rear?

+1, 124/164 are what many winning guys use here.

The only other  option I know of are german Heidenau. a step bellow Avon / Dunlop but half the price too  might give them a try next season on my kawa

http://www.reifenwerk-heidenau.de/modules/reifenliste/view.php?point=3&rtyp=19&sv=1

Bridgestone BT45 are not race compound but a good cheap option if you are just starting, have them on my list too. rear is double compound

Sounds like your bike is ready if you are looking for tires.... any pics?

TG

[fastbroshi]

No it's not ready guys, just trying to think of these things ahead of time.  Those Avons are pretty pricey!!

[turboguzzi]

Those Avons are pretty pricey!!

oh yeah, tell us about it....

On the other hand, unlike modern race 17" rubber they can last quite a few meetings.

You got to wonder what would happen if different race organizations would simply go for a spec road tire, like the BT45 or sport demons, at least for the production based racers, dont think it would be much less fun, but surely save you 1000-1500 $ a year.

but try suggesting to racers something to make them go slower.... no way!

[fastbroshi]

I think there was someone selling their RD400 on the 13x forums, said his tires lasted him all season.  He didn't say how fast he was going though

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=274807&highlight=rd400

[turboguzzi]

I think there was someone selling their RD400 on the 13x forums, said his tires lasted him all season.  He didn't say how fast he was going though

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=274807&highlight=rd400

mmm... but how many races in a season?

rider + bike weight? a light RD would be 125 kg, a cb500 more like 145-150.... more weight = more load when cornering = more wear.

top riders with good sponsors fit fresh tires for the race itself  and use them for next meeting's practice, then pass them on to poorer riders like me

seriously, it all starts to be an issue when you get up to lap times that are close (2-3 secs ) to race's leader's, hope you get there fast

rubber compound grip will go down with each heat cool cycle of the tire, so its up to you to decide how long you want to push them, defientetly dont expect them to be good till the last 2-3mm of thread depth like you'd do in a street tire.   

TG

[simon#42]

the avon fronts seem to last ok , i used them for three or four races , the rear Dunlop's a different matter , as tg said would fit a new one for the race then leave it on for the next practice . being realistic you only need new tyres every meeting if the half to three quarters of a second they give you is crucial . if not i would fit a set of avons and spend my money on track time, the more you practice the faster you go .
one trick with the avons is to do a few steady laps on them when they are new then come in and let them cool , seems to prolong there useful life

[736cc]

The BEST modern street tire for CB750's is Dunlop GT501.

[turboguzzi]

The BEST modern street tire for CB750's is Dunlop GT501.

I believe broshi was talking about racing tires...

Seen some guys using 501's in bracket road racing (quite a popular class here) but never for outright lap times.

TG

[Aaron Richard]

this site has mentioned tires

http://gearhead-racing.com/index.htm

[turboguzzi]

this site has mentioned tires

http://gearhead-racing.com/index.htm

Nice! extremely useful for us here in Northern Italy, East Switzerland or Austria, thanks indeed for the link

TG

[bear]

I'm using Dunlop DZ30's usually an M compond.
I think you blokes might have trouble fitting them though.

Cheers,
Brian

[Sam Green Racing]

I'm using Dunlop DZ30's usually an M compond.
I think you blokes might have trouble fitting them though.

Cheers,
Brian

We use a similar tyre on the Kwak but made by Avon, never have any trouble fitting them.
My Boss races a Formula Ford single seater and uses the same slicks. I asked him how often he changes them in the hope that we might get some part worn ones. I run them to the canvas was his reply.
He's only a multi, multi, multi millionaire.

Sam.

[bear]

Yep these are the same as your boss uses Sammy, just a different brand.
Slicks with tread.
Tell the tight ass he's costing himself time.
Their good for 8/9 heat cycles and that's it.


Cheers,
Brian
 

[Sam Green Racing]

Yes Brian, I think Lee recut them once and found he was into a different compound below the tread.

Sam.

[lordmoonpie]

KR124/164s for me on the 750 but the 350/450 I raced I used avons all the time - very nice predictable tyres. One trick where you have to use treaded tyres like in the classic classes is to talk to avon's race department about their street legal wets - wet compound in a treaded pattern and they are SUPER sticky. OK so they're shot after one race meeting but they are sooooo good.

Best tyres I ever rode on were Michelin intermediates. I was sold them for the Moriwaki VTR as being "left over from a set ordered by some racer for testing"....one of the Tyres had "Tohru Ukawa" chalked inside it!

They were mad things - stickiest on the first lap after tyre warmers and shot to hell in 6 laps but man you could lean them things over