I was at the track a couple days ago and one guy said they were fine and another said they were "shagged". Both experienced racers. I mean, there's some shredded rubber but there's plenty of rubber above the wear bars in the treads (I'm running race DOT's not slicks) and there aren't treads obviously on the outer edges to gauge what kind of wear you've got going on. They weren't slipping really at all...maybe very slightly here and there. I run top novice to mid-intermediate lap times. I have 1 race weekend and 4 track days on the rear tire and 4 track days on the front (Bridgestone bt-003r, not rs). How do you guys decide when to swap 'em? Thanks.

post pictures

Ok...give me a day or so and I'll post some

If there is wear bar still showing on the sides, you are good to go for a while. Just have some other tires on hand so you don't get stuck paying top dollar for new tires at the track, unless you don't care about saving money.

The behavior of the tires does change as the carcass gets thinner. Slides are more abrupt, and happen a little earlier in the last part of tire life. Some people never find that out, because they change out their tires before they really change much.

If there is wear bar still showing on the sides, you are good to go for a while. Just have some other tires on hand so you don't get stuck paying top dollar for new tires at the track, unless you don't care about saving money.

The behavior of the tires does change as the carcass gets thinner. Slides are more abrupt, and happen a little earlier in the last part of tire life. Some people never find that out, because they change out their tires before they really change much.


I can use the wear bars as a gauge even though there aren't any on the outermost portion of the tire because there's no tread out there?

The wear indicators are for the sipes, which is for moving water. so, if they are your "dry" tires, then you can just use the feel of the tire as an indication. I run dunlop gpa's and I do 1 trackday after they are completely bald, then I replace them just so I'm not thinking about how bald they are.

if you have 1 race and 4 td's, id say they were done. do you run warmers?

Typically, assuming you are getting on the gas hard on exits, the very outermost edge of the tire (talking about 1/2" or so from the rim) isn't what sees the most wear. It is the couple of inches up from the outermost edge, where you are really getting on the power while leaned over, that sees the most wear.

I have ran DOT's when they were bald on one side and know people who have put down race lap times with tires showing cords.

Ultimately, nobody can really tell you when your tire is "gone"...you have to be able to feel it. I mean yeah, if it is obviously fucked up with cords hanging out, then it is time to change it. But other than that, just use good throttle control on corner exits and feel for the wheel spinning/slipping.

if you have 1 race and 4 td's, id say they were done. do you run warmers?


Yes I run warmers and they are on all day when I'm at the track to minimize heat cycles

Typically, assuming you are getting on the gas hard on exits, the very outermost edge of the tire (talking about 1/2" or so from the rim) isn't what sees the most wear. It is the couple of inches up from the outermost edge, where you are really getting on the power while leaned over, that sees the most wear.

I have ran DOT's when they were bald on one side and know people who have put down race lap times with tires showing cords.

Ultimately, nobody can really tell you when your tire is "gone"...you have to be able to feel it. I mean yeah, if it is obviously fucked up with cords hanging out, then it is time to change it. But other than that, just use good throttle control on corner exits and feel for the wheel spinning/slipping.

Right on. Thank you man.

Yes I run warmers and they are on all day when I'm at the track to minimize heat cycles

Be careful with that because "baking" them is even worse than heat cycles...at least that is the case with Ntecs.

I put mine on (and plug them in) about 30-40min before i go out on track and then put them back on immediately after i get back in. But if it is going to be a couple of hours before i go back out (like lunch break or a long break between races), I wont plug them in. I will just put them on the tire and let the tire cool down slowly (that helps minimize the "damage" from heat cycling) and then i will plug them in again about 30-40min before i go out again.

It isnt good to leave them on the warmers, plugged in, for 8-9hrs straight.

TJ has pretty much covered everything. Unless you are really experienced all you have to go by is the wear indicators. Either way if you are concerned with the tires I would say change them or you will be second guessing the tires while you are on the track

Hell I got a set on my bike right now that are wore on the top. Sides are barely worn. Can't make up my mind whether to use them at the track or not :lol

Be careful with that because "baking" them is even worse than heat cycles...at least that is the case with Ntecs.

I put mine on (and plug them in) about 30-40min before i go out on track and then put them back on immediately after i get back in. But if it is going to be a couple of hours before i go back out (like lunch break or a long break between races), I wont plug them in. I will just put them on the tire and let the tire cool down slowly (that helps minimize the "damage" from heat cycling) and then i will plug them in again about 30-40min before i go out again.

It isnt good to leave them on the warmers, plugged in, for 8-9hrs straight.


Well when I go on lunch break I just put them on a maintenance temp (120degF). So they aren't at my 20min pre-pit out temp. And then at the end of the day I put the warmers on, unplugged, and let them cool down that way. I read that this is the way to do it to maximize tire life.

if you are concerned with the tires I would say change them or you will be second guessing the tires while you are on the track

That is probably the best advice in the thread and to be honest, that is what i go by more than anything.

I change a tire when...

1. It is sliding and spinning enough that I can't accelerate hard enough to put down good laps. In other words, if a tire is "holding me back" per se because i can't get on the gas the way i could when the tire was in better shape, and it is affecting my lap times (which will affect my race results)...I will change it.

2. When I have lost confidence in it (regardless of how it looks).

1. I'm not that fast...yet. Only intermediate.
2. Here's some pics...

It's all about feel and confidence. After one or two big slides I generally lose confidence in the tire and a new one goes on.

If you are just intermediate or even slower advanced....and they aren't sliding, then going by the wear bars is fine....plenty of rubber left.

Once you get faster, feel and pace are everything. The tire might only have 20 laps on it, but if time drop off....time for new rubber.

Tires still look like they have some life left to me.... Id ride em till they stop doing there job or slow you down like said above!

Those tires look like they have plenty of life left in them, but the feel is really what determines when they need to he replaced. Are they sliding/slipping on you?

:stupid

Obviously we don't know what they are feeling like/doing, but if somebody handed me those tires i would mount the shit out of them. They damn near look new.

Those tires look like they have plenty of life left in them, but the feel is really what determines when they need to he replaced. Are they sliding/slipping on you?


Haven't started slipping yet, but I wasn't sure if it was like a light switch (on/off) or a volume control (progessive degredation) with tire performance so I figured I'd ask...Plus some guy at the track said they looked worn.

:stupid

Obviously we don't know what they are feeling like/doing, but if somebody handed me those tires i would mount the shit out of them. They damn near look new.

Thats what I was thinking too...but just being inexperienced I wanted to make sure. Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

nah, they look fine. you will start to feel them move around under you at first, maybe a front tire push here and there, or the rear tire spinning slightly when you come off a corner. i would use them if that makes you feel any better...

:dunno

Cool...thanks for the help guys.

Late to the game but this is when you need to replace your tire! :lol

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w72/njracer/toast.jpg

I was at the track a couple days ago and one guy said they were fine and another said they were "shagged". Both experienced racers. I mean, there's some shredded rubber but there's plenty of rubber above the wear bars in the treads (I'm running race DOT's not slicks) and there aren't treads obviously on the outer edges to gauge what kind of wear you've got going on. They weren't slipping really at all...maybe very slightly here and there. I run top novice to mid-intermediate lap times. I have 1 race weekend and 4 track days on the rear tire and 4 track days on the front (Bridgestone bt-003r, not rs). How do you guys decide when to swap 'em? Thanks.

GOOD SET STILL

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af265/dazedgraffix/Ntec_Dunlop_1session.jpg

NOT ENOUGH LIFE FOR ANOTHER RACE BUT TRACKDAY WORTHY

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af265/dazedgraffix/Dunlop_Ntec_Slicks.jpg