Benefits of Slicks

[APP_Racing]

Been doing what research I can but wanted to see if anyone  could provide some good old common sense info on the benefits of using slicks or not.

Running LW classes, this will be my second year.  So far I have been using Micheline Pilot Power Race (Fr) and Pilot Power (Rr).  Seems to work pretty good.  Mainly because they are DOT and allow me to run in LWSS and the other classes.

Whats the pros and cons of chaning to slicks for the other classes, GTL, GP Lights, Thunderbike, LWSB, etc....

Thanks for you inputs.

[Protein Filled]

It depends on what bike you have too. Slicks do last longer, but usually they are shaped slightly differently than the DOT's, so you may have to make some small mods to your bike geometry.
They do have about 5% more rubber on the road since there are no grooves, so theoretically you should have more grip.

Some people like slicks a lot more, others hate them, and others can't tell the difference at all.

If you go to 16.5 wheels, it becomes a whole other world though. There are so many more options there!

[Jeff]

The other thing about "last longer" really depends on what you are looking at.

A slick will generally get you more laps with better traction, but a DOT will heat-cycle much better.

A slick, you're looking at about 3 heat cycles before they're toast.  A dot, you can sometimes double that (or more).

A slick, you can do a 100 lap endurance on.  A dot will be REAL shagged out by that point.

[fourandsix]

Why will a Slick heat cycle less?

[Jeff]

Why will a Slick heat cycle less?

Jim, I don't know.  Just my experience with them (dunlop and bridgestone).  Without exception a DOT tire would go through more heat cycles with a constant grip than a slick would.  

I'm not going to argue with you, because you have 100x the tire experience that I do, but from my personal experience slicks have a dramatic decline in traction after fewer heat cycles than DOTs do.  Then again it could just be me.

[Stinger562]

What is the difference in price?  I'm considering slicks this year as well

[Jeff]

Depends... from what I've experienced, slicks are $30-$80 more a set, and have no resale value as a take-off to street guys.

[Super Dave]

If you're gonna run supersport and a class that you can run a slick in, run DOT's.  

Heights and shapes of tires can affect your overall chassis geometry, which you should focus a lot of effort on or have it fixed by the proper people.

We can also talk about the difference the carcass of the individual tire can effect dampening etc.  

Keep it simple.  Talk to your tire guy and trusted suspension person first.  

I haven't found that slicks heat cycle faster because they were slicks.

[tengonada]

Depends on the rider...I swapped from some cheap dots to slicks went about 2secs a lap faster and crashed...they build confidence...sometimes too much as i found out when i slid off the track at VIR

[RUFFSTUFF]

Hi! New poster here...

I may be wrong but looking and using most race tires, there's no tread grooving on the edge of the tire ----> tread compound would be a larger factor between the 2, not tread. I like to think that a good DOT race tire is the same as a slick when you're cranked over... :P

[ducatiracer_#100]

I know that it's crazy but, I got 19 races/practices on one set of Pirelli slicks. I was told that I was nuts but the last couple of races were REALLY fun. I thought that my clutch was going out , turns out just spinning up the rear. Learned to back it in though. :o

[Jeff]

I know that it's crazy but, I got 19 races/practices on one set of Pirelli slicks.

Yep, and I got 4 years out of a set of Dunlop Rains...

Guess what I won't ever do again?  ::)