Warming up road tire in cold temp's on the track

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Going to be taking a set of new-ish Pilot Road 2's (2CT) on the track late into the season when temps might be considerably lower than now.

I know they aren't the most ideal track-tire choice but it's what I have to work with for now.

Any advice for getting them up-to temp? When do I know it's safe to push them a little?

Thanks
 
I agree. You definitely want to run lower pressures at the track. Hopefully someone here has a suggestion for you as to what pressures exactly.

Honestly, unless you plan on running near-race pace, it is not rocket science. The track is just a road, right? So, for a lap, ride at a conservative, almost normal road pace (in the corners and braking zones). Second lap step it up a little. If all you are trying to do is maintain a novice or low intermediate pace, then a couple laps on street tires is going to get them hot enough to support that.

I use only street tires at the track (albeit a bit sportier than what you have) and no warmers. I find that I can pretty much get on it after one warmup lap, and after two laps I can put in lap times that are at the faster end of the intermediate group.. My cold pressures are 30F 28R (Dunlop Q2s) but the 2CTs may need something quite different.

Yes it's a bit tougher when it is cold, but these are street tires right? They are supposed to work at those temperatures. Give'em a couple laps and they will be fine. Now, if we are talking like 5-degree temperatures...then I can't help ya. Never tried it, likely never will! Take it easy on the throttle - your rear tire will tell you if it is warm enough or not!
 
rbjeepthing said:
Drop the pressures.
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Drop the pressures from what? what if the pressure is already at the recommended PSI?

Be careful on the advice you give to people, as the consequences to a new track rider can be significant.
 
ZX600 said:
Drop the pressures from what? what if the pressure is already at the recommended PSI?

Be careful on the advice you give to people, as the consequences to a new track rider can be significant.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I was running recommended pressures (40/36) and felt very twitchy in the corners as if it never developed good grip coming out of corners. I've since dropped down to about 32 all around and I already feel the rear more planted coming out of a corner even early in the morning on cold tires. It made a world of difference.. not sure about dropping it more? What do people recommend?
 
e90 said:
Thanks. I was running recommended pressures (40/36) and felt very twitchy in the corners as if it never developed good grip coming out of corners. I've since dropped down to about 32 all around and I already feel the rear more planted coming out of a corner even early in the morning on cold tires. It made a world of difference.. not sure about dropping it more? What do people recommend?
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Speak to the tire representative at the track if there is one, or call the distributor for specifications. Worse case scenario ask a VERY experienced track rider that runs the same tires but most likely they won't be running those tires on the track (I won't even recommend this).

40/36 on track is crazy
 
You are right the temps will be colder with the late trackdays but ride according to conditions and your limits and you'll be fine. I give my Q2's a lap or two before I turn up the pace.
 
For the Michelin p-power 2ct at the track i'll go 28r- 31f - on the street the michelin ppower the air pressure is 34r and 32f. Hope this help.
 
So in my stupidity.. I learned how to burnout... and now the bike is tougher to initiate a turn likely due to a flatter rear tire. What's the best way to curb this? I don't really have the space to drag knees at 120 km/h so scrubbing them down is not likely going to happen.
 
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e90 said:
So in my stupidity.. I learned how to burnout... and now the bike is tougher to initiate a turn likely due to a flatter rear tire. What's the best way to curb this? I don't really have the space to drag knees at 120 km/h so scrubbing them down is not likely going to happen.
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Is it April 1st?
 
Did you burnout all the way to puncture? It's hard to turn with a flat rear tire ;) Must have been one hell of a burnout if you noticed a before and after handling change.

Anyway, I don't know if anyone cares about my past experience since I'm not in the 1:20 club (LOL) but when I started track days I ran street tires, and later DOT race tires, always 30/30 cold. Didn't run warmers, checked them in the morning, and that was it. That was for any tire brand, any tire model, on a CBR600F4.
 
e90 said:
So in my stupidity.. I learned how to burnout... and now the bike is tougher to initiate a turn likely due to a flatter rear tire. What's the best way to curb this? I don't really have the space to drag knees at 120 km/h so scrubbing them down is not likely going to happen.
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Angle grinder with a grinding disk, cutting disk may cut the tire. If the bike shakes after grinding do another burnout and start over.
 
dricked said:
Angle grinder with a grinding disk, cutting disk may cut the tire. If the bike shakes after grinding do another burnout and start over.
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+1. Also, if you can do rolling burnout figure 8's you can profile the tire any way you like.
 
e90 said:
Any advice for getting them up-to temp? When do I know it's safe to push them a little?

Thanks
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Well consider it takes 40 minutes at 20 Celcius to heat soak a tire with good warmers,,with no wind,perfect world! So if you are going to TMP,Shannonville and it's 15 C or under,, you will probably never warm them up. You might be lucky and see 40 C,,but that's about half way there. Those tracks have trouble keeping heat in a race tire with a top running Pro with good warmers. So,,my advice would be not to push them a little if it's under 20 C. For what it's worth.
 
e90 said:
So in my stupidity.. I learned how to burnout... and now the bike is tougher to initiate a turn likely due to a flatter rear tire. What's the best way to curb this? I don't really have the space to drag knees at 120 km/h so scrubbing them down is not likely going to happen.
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wtf?

Just set the pressures and ride the damn bike, if it feels weird then adjust. Is this your first trackday? Don't over think it.
 
e90 said:
Thanks. I was running recommended pressures (40/36) and felt very twitchy in the corners as if it never developed good grip coming out of corners. I've since dropped down to about 32 all around and I already feel the rear more planted coming out of a corner even early in the morning on cold tires. It made a world of difference.. not sure about dropping it more? What do people recommend?
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40/36 sounds like what it maybe said in your owners manual for the bike? Every tire is different, always refer to the tire manufacturer for recommended pressures.

Are you going out to play in novice group? 32/30 or 31/29 will be fine, just dont go out there and try to be rossi. Work on riding technique, do most of your braking straight up and down, turn in, start to open the throttle in a way that you can either maintain or increase it the entire way through the corner.

Most falls in novice group happen because a lack of being smooth, chopping the throttle mid corner or hitting the brakes while trying to turn. Just remember if you do fall down, DONT blame your tires. A more skilled rider could have carried way more speed, at more lean angle on the same equipment and been fine. Just a way to emphasize the idea of working on skills, before worrying *too* much about your equipment.

Disclaimer: thats not to say that properly maintained equipment and good suspension isnt blah blah blah, bugger off all you critics!
 
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