tires, what should i run?

FriendlyFoe said:
Then run the 003RS. The problem with race tires is if you are slow then you have tons of grip right up until you fall on your head. My experience with race tires is that they only give you predictable feedback if you are pushing them hard enough to be making them slide. I'm only just starting to get to the point at grand bend where i'm starting to get feedback out of the race tires i'm using and thats going faster then i ever thought possible. Until you start to compete, as in just doing track days, you should stick to a track day tire.

they last longer anyway.



Getting hit? The difference between a 1:22 rider at tmp and a 1:18 is mostly in the slow bits. The really fast guys have zero issue going around you if you are predictable, which in my mind is the requirement for red group. I've never run a sub 1:20 at tmp mind you i was on an SV (so lap times aren't good markers because theres kids on 250's who run red safely) but hopefully this year on my lost era kawi i'll be around that mark. There are also very few guys running 1:15's, most people are barely sub 1:20 in red.

Who are we kidding anyway, unless you're there on a long weekend there is usually only enough people to run 2 groups at tmp anyway.

Hope to see you out there.

EDIT: for what its worth when i go to the states and there are AMA riders at a track day id stay the hell out of red group. The amount of people at a TMP day running that kind of pace are slim to none.
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There are alot of people that go to TMP that run in that time bracket. there are some that go even faster than that into the 1:13 and 14s like caboose. and of course they are faster in the tight stuff. thats where the speed difference becomes a problem. If someone is partway though a corner and you are at full speed into the corner and your half a second faster getting though the corner should u just grab a hand full of break so you dont rear end the slower person? The days with only two groups mean that the faster guys dont get any real fast laps in. I have also have a friend that got creamed by a guy with an ego to big and no talent that should have been in yellow. My point is that there are no rules really in red and people should have to earn ridding with no restrictions on passing. to do that at soar you need a race licence.
 
Snipes20 said:
My point is that there are no rules really in red and people should have to earn riding with no restrictions on passing. to do that at soar you need a race licence.
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Some organizations actually do require you work through the groups before being allowed into fast, but tmp doesn't gather that kind of following. For what it's worth i do have a soar license and when i switched from LW twins to lost era was running at the fast end of that group. I'm sure i'm still in the low 1:20's at tmp though so maybe theres some level of discrepancy there. I would however be all for red group being reserved for people who can prove they've held a race license at least at some point in time.
 
FriendlyFoe said:
Then run the 003RS. The problem with race tires is if you are slow then you have tons of grip right up until you fall on your head. My experience with race tires is that they only give you predictable feedback if you are pushing them hard enough to be making them slide. I'm only just starting to get to the point at grand bend where i'm starting to get feedback out of the race tires i'm using and thats going faster then i ever thought possible. Until you start to compete, as in just doing track days, you should stick to a track day tire.

they last longer anyway.
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Thanks. I might try out the 003RS, thanks for the recommendation. I see pete has em for $325 and $16 for shipping, is that probably the best deal around?

EDIT: I see at Pete, the page title says BT003RS: http://www.petes-superbike.com/bt003-rs-c-2234_1_85_92.html
But under the tires, it says 190/55ZR-17 75W RR T/L BT003R

Is the BT003R different from BT003RS??

EDIT2: Ahhh, I see he just lists them as BT003R for rear and BT003F for front.

-Jamie M.
 
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without looking at pete's site i dont think he lists any actual race tires on it. Keep note of the fact that the bt 003 pro is what the R10 is replacing and both are DOT race tires. If you are looking at the racing *street* version he might just have it listed as front and rear. For what its worth donald at platinum powersports is also a bridgestone dealer for all street tires (so up until the RS, but not DOT's or slicks), might be worth getting a tire price from him as well. He's the guy who does tech at all of the GWB days at tmp.
 
FriendlyFoe said:
donald at platinum powersports is also a bridgestone dealer for all street tires (so up until the RS, but not DOT's or slicks), might be worth getting a tire price from him as well. He's the guy who does tech at all of the GWB days at tmp.
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Didn't know that, thanks. I notice on TMP's site they don't list which days are GWB/Racer5 anymore!!?

I'll e-mail Donald and check the price and the deal with the track days.

-Jamie M.
 
Dont quote me on this but i think racer5 might not be running days at TMP anymore. That needs confirmation though. GWB is definitely still running days and i'm not sure which are TMP versus run by them. Definitely check with donald on tire prices, he carries a few different brands even.
 
FF, I think if you're running consistently in the 1:22-1:23 range that's OK for the red group but any slower than that I would say yellow would be better for that pace. I hate the yellow group though, there's just such a huge spread of riding ability and knowledge. Anyhow, if you're doing that pace (especially on an SV) I think you're ok. I have about 100hp more than you, and the closing speeds on the front and back straights will be pretty significant, but it's my job to pass safely and if we're both going in a straight line I see no issues.

I also wish TAFB would not offer any advice regarding anything track related. I think it's going to give me an anxiety disorder.
 
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I'm not a veteran track rider, but I run 1:21+- at TMP. I'm usually in yellow as a choice. Main reason for me is its a track day not a race so I rather pass people at my pace, than screw up faster riders trying to pass me. 1:20-1:25 I've found is a common pace for yellow. I have never found the need to run red group just to have the title of being in red group. Until Some one pays me to do a track day, I'm there to have fun and go to work the following day.
That's why I didn't say what tire to use I gave my experience with the tire I use. I'm pretty sure I've never ran the tire to its max ability because my balls aren't big enough. Lol.
 
caboose483 said:
Anyhow, if you're doing that pace (especially on an SV) I think you're ok. I have about 100hp more than you, and the closing speeds on the front and back straights will be pretty significant, but it's my job to pass safely and if we're both going in a straight line I see no issues.
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Closing speeds are the biggest issue, i fully sympathize as i know what it's like even just trying to judge out breaking someone at the end of a straight because if you both end up turning in at the same time it can end badly. Thats why i would advocate race licenses for red group, because at least you know if you come up beside me touching bodywork i'm not going to panic and will hold my line.

On a 600 now so hopefully will be less in the way :p. By the same token if someone in red came up to me and said they felt i was creating an unsafe condition i would have no issue with bumping down a group. TMP is also a small track, i'm far more likely at a bigger track to run in yellow, at least until i get tired of trying to pass guys who are swerving all over the track way off the race line lol.

EDIT: caboose are you the guy (and i do forget your name if so) whos kawi pop tent flipped over your trailer during a wind storm over night, i think two summers ago?
 
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toysareforboys said:
Donald got back to me super quick :)
-Jamie M.
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yeah he's great like that. Always responds to phone calls and is a top notch tech. Funny i hear people complain about how "strict" he is at TMP. Yeah it's terrible when someone makes you fix something that is going to make you crash, what a jerk. I know people ride from a looong way away to have him work on their bikes, he's certainly never steered me wrong.
 
FriendlyFoe said:
Dont quote me on this but i think racer5 might not be running days at TMP anymore.
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Looks like you were right!

Racer5 said:
Hi Jamie,

Thanks for you inquiry.

As we are working on a rather large project this year, we will not be able to afford to take the time to run any trackdays at TMP this year. If there are any changes to this we will inform you.

Thanks,

Fawaz
Racer5
416-915-4135
100 King Street West, Suite 5700
Toronto
M5X 1C7
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-Jamie M.
 
Ah, that's a shame. TMP is my closest track and I always preferred the Racer5 days, especially the Thursdays. Maybe I need to get over to GB more often this year.
 
smergy said:
I used Q2's up until lower red group which are a fantastic tire at a very competitive price, heat up fast, don't need warmers, etc. Diablo Rosso Corsas are another favorite street tire on the track, but I'd have to give the edge to the Q2's in the price category.
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I would second that. I was running Q2's until I grabbed a set of warmers and bumped up to the 211's last year. I even did a novice open TFR race on them last year at boggie when it half damp/ half dry. I run in upper yellow if that helps.
 
im think im gonna run the pirelli sbk pro until I get back into the low 1:20s then switch up to dots and warmers.

Who are the local pirelli vendors?
 
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