Tire upgrade for trackday rider?

[tyler500e]

I've lurked here for a while..  Last year I started riding my SV650 on the track, I have been on Pilot Powers since I started. I have reached the point where I can feel the tires start to slide a bit and get the front tire howling under hard braking. I feel as if these tires are holding me back now. There is still plenty of tread left, but I have been on the tires since May. I have done 7 track days on them since mounting them.

Recently I did a

1:50 at Barber and
2:03 at Heartland Park Topeka

Has anyone been able to get a significantly faster lap time on PP's or similar street tires on an SV650?

Would I see a significant improvement from Pilot Power 2CT's? I plan to start racing after I get my degree in two years. Should consider getting some race tires and warmers?

[mikendzel]

Get the Power Race Mediums.  They have a pretty grippy compound, but can still withstand a bit of mileage on the street.

The next step up from that is full blown Power Race PR-Series race tires, but they don't come in a 160 rear.  Getting tire warmers is a good idea.


OR

You can get another set of SV wheels and throw some slicks on there!!!!!!  (USE WARMERS!!)

[benprobst]

I've lurked here for a while..  Last year I started riding my SV650 on the track, I have been on Pilot Powers since I started. I have reached the point where I can feel the tires start to slide a bit and get the front tire howling under hard braking. I feel as if these tires are holding me back now. There is still plenty of tread left, but I have been on the tires since May. I have done 7 track days on them since mounting them.

Recently I did a

1:50 at Barber and
2:03 at Heartland Park Topeka

Has anyone been able to get a significantly faster lap time on PP's or similar street tires on an SV650?

Would I see a significant improvement from Pilot Power 2CT's? I plan to start racing after I get my degree in two years. Should consider getting some race tires and warmers?

Significantly faster lap times are deffinetly possible on those tires, assuming you a riding a race bike. However, any time you get to a point where you have lost confidence in tires its time to move up, running 1.50 at barber should be fast enough to get enough heat in the tires to run real race tires, I would suggest trying the medium 160 rear (cheaper than the medium soft and wears much better) and the PRC front, In my experience the medium power races front tire doesnt work much better than the pilot, maybe worse.

[tyler500e]

I wouldn't call it a Race Bike, but it is a track only bike.  The only upgrades is the suspension front and rear, rearsets, plastic, and triples.

[Super Dave]

I wouldn't call it a Race Bike, but it is a track only bike.  The only upgrades is the suspension front and rear, rearsets, plastic, and triples.

Once you have suspension, and you have it sorted out, it's basically a race bike.

I can't say that the 2CT's will offer you a dramatic reduction in times.  I can't say that a full on Power Race with warmers will net you more than two seconds comparing new Pilot Powers vs Power Race. 

Durability will drop off dramatically on the Power Race.  Do not use the commercial front Power Race.  You'll have to find a way to get a race distribution Power Race C.  It's a different carcass. 

If you're gonna do track days, volume is what you're being sold and it's what you're buying.  Unless you have a lot of money to have more race tires, I'd look to "stick" with the consistency of the thicker rubbered Pilot Powers.

[ktd]

Bridgstone makes a great slick for that bike.  Last much longer than a treaded tire.

[sahli833]

The next step up from that is full blown Power Race PR-Series race tires, but they don't come in a 160 rear.


that is totally wrong michelin has several 160 power race compounds a slick will last u longer but u will have to re do your setup 2 ct are a great tire for track day but your best bet is to go to the races and on sunday ask any of the tires guys if they have any good take off for a track day

[kl3640]

As someone else mentioned, you might be well served to get another set of wheels (you should be able to get a set at a reasonable price on eBay or off of a forum) and some tire warmers and run some real race tires so long as your times are fast enough to keep heat in the tires.  They won't last you as long as a set of street tires but you they will still last a while and when you wear them out then you can probably get lightly used takeoffs from some SV racers that will be good enough for your speed while you're still learning to go faster.  Then, when you get much faster, you'll be all set to run race compounds anyway (which you'll NEED at that point to go that fast safely).

You can always just swap the tires off and on to your current wheels as well, but that'll cost you $40 per day (assuming that you'll want to put your street tires back on to the wheels at the end of the day) and some time...plus, after a handful of track days, you'll have spent as much on tire changes as you would have on a spare set of wheels.

I won't get in to brands, because you'll get as many opinions as there are brands, but as for DOT vs. Slicks, you can go very fast on race compound DOT's and you won't have to alter your geometry/suspension back and forth.

[RCR_531]

Lithium Motorsports is selling  the Conti. Race Attack tires. A lot of top riders have tested this tire this year and have been surprise as of how good the tire is. Give Rob a call 1-800-894-7190

[red900]

Ed Key would be a good person to talk with.  He has a couple SV's and wins championships every year.  He is running pirelli's and loves them. 

Also, you asked about what pace on those tires.  I rode with Jamie James out at barber and he was running 1:34's on PP's with 4000 miles on them..  HE is a pro, but you asked.  Spencer school exclusivly uses the PP's.  Even Nicky hayden uses them when he goes to the school. 

Confidence is important though, do what makes you confident.