Motorcycle Racing Forum

Racing Discussion => Racing Discussion => Topic started by: Chris760 on February 03, 2005, 03:12:07 PM

Title: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Chris760 on February 03, 2005, 03:12:07 PM
I saw an ad in RRW, anyone ever try them?
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: cornercamping on February 03, 2005, 03:12:50 PM
No thanks. Them are those "recycled" tires.  
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: tshowrench on February 03, 2005, 03:28:42 PM
They work pretty damn good...

Its the same company that makes Aircraft retreads... that spin to about... ohhhhh.. 300 mph.. so I guess they know what they are doin...

Garth Dillon races for them, in AMA, CCS and WERA, AFM and WSMC...  So....

Ask him...

Garth... How do they work???
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: brian213 on February 03, 2005, 03:50:21 PM
A friend of mine put them on his Aprilia RS250 (not a tire punisher for sure) but he loves them!  He dropped a couple of seconds at the WSIR big track over using branded DOTs.

I'd give them a try out at least if they made little tiny tires.  :)

-Brian
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Bad_Matt on February 03, 2005, 09:13:35 PM
I race them in a couple of round this season.  Made for some interesting changes in my riding style.  I also undestand they have lightened the tires significantly from the one I rode last spring.  They seemed to have a fly wheel effect since they were a bit heavier than the tires i normally run.  I loved the feel under braking.  Felt incredibly stable.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Shady on February 03, 2005, 09:56:27 PM
I'd give em a try....in orange of course  ;)
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: davegsxrold929r on February 04, 2005, 05:40:51 AM
i like my life way too much to even try them...


retreads are fine for planes and trucks., nto for bikes..

Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Protein Filled on February 04, 2005, 05:53:14 AM
Quoteretreads are fine for planes and trucks., nto for bikes..


Yeah, if a plane blows one of the 16 tires, I don't think the consequences would be as steep as the ones for a motorcycle. Also, a plane tire is used under stress for only a minute or so, not for 30 minutes or more...

FYI, I think in the near future we will see rain tires available in multiple colors...except for red. Nobody likes Honda red!  ;D
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: tzracer on February 05, 2005, 11:28:30 AM
QuoteYeah, if a plane blows one of the 16 tires, I don't think the consequences would be as steep as the ones for a motorcycle. Also, a plane tire is used under stress for only a minute or so, not for 30 minutes or more...

Tell that to the families of the passengers of the Concorde that crashed. Airplane tires have huge stresses applied to them, much more than a motorcycle even though it might only be for a short period of time. An airplane tire is not a good thing, they do not happen very often due to the tire standards for planes.

The reason I would not use the retreads would have nothing to do with the retread it self, but with the carcass. When I order a tire to I get the same carcass every time or do I get Michelin one time, Dunlop next, then Pirelli the next.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: PJ on February 05, 2005, 02:35:56 PM
QuoteThe reason I would not use the retreads would have nothing to do with the retread it self, but with the carcass. When I order a tire to I get the same carcass every time or do I get Michelin one time, Dunlop next, then Pirelli the next.

Excellent point. And what about different brand carcasses front vs. rear?
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: LMsports on February 05, 2005, 03:10:04 PM
What is this dig on Honda Red Edgar...You sure looked good on those 600rr's at Freddies school. I thought I overheard you cussing at yourself for not buying one of those instead of the gixxer. It's ok, you can ride mine at track days for now.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Protein Filled on February 05, 2005, 03:17:21 PM
Hey, I got a rash on my legs and hands from riding those Honda's at FSS. Hmm, now that I think about it, maybe it wasn't from the bike! Hey, wait a second, I just realized I own 2 Honda's...

FYI, Regarding the carcass, I have felt a couple of Tomahawk tires. One was a Pirelli carcass and the other a Dunlop carcass and they both were incredibly stiff and very very heavy. I don't know why they are so heavy or the reason for the stiffness, but even though they had different original tires, they felt about the same in stiffness and weight.

Now Brian, would you run the Tomahawk tires if you were guaranteed to always get the exact same carcass? I still wouldn't...
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: tzracer on February 07, 2005, 09:51:15 AM
QuoteNow Brian, would you run the Tomahawk tires if you were guaranteed to always get the exact same carcass? I still wouldn't...

I would give them a try at least. I would not be worried about the retread delaminating.

It is a moot point for me as long as I have a tire sponsor.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: cornercamping on February 07, 2005, 02:22:20 PM
QuoteIt is a moot point for me as long as I have a tire sponsor.

I don't get what you are trying to say.  ???  As long as they are "free" or "discounted" because of sponsorship, you'd be willing to use them  ???  So, if Fulmer Helmets offered you a sponsorship, would you wear one of those helmets  ???  Hmmm..... each to his own I guess.   :-/  Ya wouldn't catch me on a set of those tires, that's for sure.  Free or not, I like my life  ;)
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: cornercamping on February 07, 2005, 02:25:14 PM
Keep in mind, that Fulmer does have a SNELL and DOT certified helmet.  Still wear it  ???
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Spooner on February 07, 2005, 03:50:39 PM
QuoteKeep in mind, that Fulmer does have a SNELL and DOT certified helmet.  Still wear it  ???


I beleive he meant he HAS a tire sponsorship, so he won't be trying any other tires anyways...

-Nick
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Bad_Matt on February 07, 2005, 04:04:26 PM
QuoteExcellent point. And what about different brand carcasses front vs. rear?


They will ship you tires with the specific carcass of your choosing.  I run Pirellis, I get a Pirelli carcas.  Also, I had an Orange colored side wall made special for me.  Very trick...

Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: PJ721 on February 07, 2005, 05:53:55 PM
QuoteI had an Orange colored side wall made special for me.  Very trick...


interesting...any pics of them? run these on the track?
still... not something I think I would be able to  trust...all I can picture are those truck retreads flying all over the highway...
 :o
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: cornercamping on February 07, 2005, 06:17:44 PM
QuoteThey will ship you tires with the specific carcass of your choosing.  I run Pirellis, I get a Pirelli carcas.  Also, I had an Orange colored side wall made special for me.  Very trick...



So.. lemme get this straight.  They take "shot" tires, and do some magic, and all of a sudden the tires are "good" again  ???  How  ???   I don't get how they can replace the rubber that's worn away.  ???  Is there some kind of test they do on the tires before they decide which one's to refurb  ???  Can they actually take a "smoked" tire and make it "new" again  ???  I don't get it, not that it matters because I still wouldn't use them, but hey, if it works, it works.  Just find it weird and also amazing.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: wilsav on February 07, 2005, 07:43:51 PM
Tomahawk will be at our LVMS classic course date on Sunday Feb. 20.  Come give them a try. You may actually win a set. Tomahawk will give away one set of tires at each of our events. ;D

www.dialitintracktime.com
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Zac on February 08, 2005, 07:09:49 AM
Now the real question is:

How do I get Tomahawk to buy my take-offs from me?
 ;D

-z.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Chris_s on February 08, 2005, 09:11:17 AM
i really want to try em out.  but i cant seem to bite the bullet and buy em.   someone try em and tell me how they were.  :P

cant beat 220 for a set of slicks though :o
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: tzracer on February 08, 2005, 10:18:07 AM
QuoteI don't get what you are trying to say. Ê??? ÊAs long as they are "free" or "discounted" because of sponsorship, you'd be willing to use them Ê??? ÊSo, if Fulmer Helmets offered you a sponsorship, would you wear one of those helmets Ê??? ÊHmmm..... each to his own I guess. Ê :-/ ÊYa wouldn't catch me on a set of those tires, that's for sure. ÊFree or not, I like my life Ê;)

I have a tire sponsor (Dunlop). Therefore my using Tomahawk tires is a moot point.

I will not take a product for free or at a discount unless I were willing to pay full price for it.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Bad_Matt on February 08, 2005, 10:23:32 AM
QuoteSo.. lemme get this straight.  They take "shot" tires, and do some magic, and all of a sudden the tires are "good" again  ???  How  ???   quote]

The old tires are milled down to the carcass.  They literally cut the surfacec rubber off of the tire.  The surface rubber is all that is worn.  They spool on a new layer and vulcanize it to the carcass just like it was originally done at the factory in the first place.  

A tire ages by heat pushing the oils out of the rubber.  The carcass is fine.  Think about it:  You run a set of tire on the track for 2 days.  You run the same set of tires for 4 thousand miles.   Tomahawk is looking at how many times they can actually remanufacture a tire.

As far as testing-  each tire must pass laser shearography before it is sent out.  If it fails-  the tire is scrapped.

I ran a set of the DOTs for three weekend before they started to give up.  The surface rubber was hardly worn.  I have never seen longevity out of another set of tires like this.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Bad_Matt on February 08, 2005, 10:28:01 AM
Quoteinteresting...any pics of them? run these on the track?
still... not something I think I would be able to  trust...all I can picture are those truck retreads flying all over the highway...
 :o

I have a half orange and half blue side walled rear in the shop.  Give me some time, I'll take a photo of it.  And yes-  I raced on them.  Got the very first win they ever had.

as far as truck tires-  they are capped retreads.  they only have the tread replaced.  They are built entirely differantly.  The Tomahark tires are milled down to the bead and replaced.  Check their web site.  pretty cool process.

they are also in the works to make a set of inexpensive tire warmers too.  check it out.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Bad_Matt on February 08, 2005, 10:29:01 AM
QuoteNow the real question is:

How do I get Tomahawk to buy my take-offs from me?
 ;D

-z.


Buy a set from them.  :P
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Bad_Matt on February 08, 2005, 10:47:08 AM
Quotei really want to try em out.  but i cant seem to bite the bullet and buy em.   someone try em and tell me how they were.  :P

cant beat 220 for a set of slicks though :o

I loved the way they felt under hard braking.  The front was increadibly stable.  

The tires were a bit on the heavy side-  therfore, you get a greater fly wheel effect from the tire you normally run.  I understand they have reduced the weight since I ran them.  It changed my brake markers and the way I rode slightly.  A differance in turn in speed as well.

The grip was comparable to other big named brand tires I have run on my SV or my Hawk.

The surface wear was far superior to anything I have ever run.  There was no cold tears or chunking of any kind.

The longevity was equivilant to other tires.

Talk to Garth Dillon if you want specific numbers, but, to date there have been no "delaminations" of the tire.  They just are not made that way.    Just like every other tire manufacturer out there, Tomahawk have been a couple of blistering tires.  The blisters formed and never popped.  I saw one in person.  The result was a leak in the original carcass from a flaw that was unrelated to Tomahak.  I believe their rubber is better in this regard to the "big" names.  You hear about Dunlop having all these problems at Daytona-  yet there are guys still running Dunlops.  Same with Michelin, Pirelli, and Brigestone...

I would still be running them if I did not have a sponsor.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: LMsports on February 08, 2005, 06:35:45 PM
What is everyone scared of...tires flying apart...hey people still run Dunlops! :o

Just kidding. Can't believe noone else said it first.
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Bad_Matt on February 09, 2005, 12:38:40 AM
QuoteYou hear about Dunlop having all these problems at Daytona-  yet there are guys still running Dunlops.

>
What is everyone scared of...tires flying apart...hey people still run Dunlops!  
 
Just kidding. Can't believe noone else said it first.

Thought I did..  ;)
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: L8brake731 on February 10, 2005, 02:34:44 PM
Hey Matt:
 
When you post a picture, show us the pink ones you ran at Firebird last season ;D
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: ekraft84 on February 11, 2005, 04:04:47 AM
QuoteBuy a set from them.  :P

Hey Matt, you spelled Suomy wrong.  :D
Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Mongo on February 11, 2005, 05:20:52 AM
LOL - why am I not surprised Mr. Automotive Industry doesn't know how a retread works....

Tomahawks are not made like truck re-caps.  They are made like aircraft tire recaps, totally different process and quality.

Title: Re: Tomahawk Tires
Post by: Bad_Matt on February 11, 2005, 10:12:41 AM
QuoteHey Matt, you spelled Suomy wrong.  :D


Thanks...  Doh!