Tyre options for RSV4

[ckruzel]

there is a limit, but not 18 seconds, its an eternity on the track, your set up i would say helped a ton and your confidence goes a long way, dunlop has had some racers test the q2's and they were a lot closer to a race lap time than 18 seconds

[boostenmkiv]

I'm using a rented lap timer that is provided by the track day organization I ride with.

And I never told you anything. I never said the Q2's are "super shitty" and "to never buy them" those are your words. The Q2's are a great street tire and a good track tire. But a great track tire they are not. I'm not sure how anybody could disagree with me on that. And not to burst your bubble but the Metzeler K3's are nothing but a harder compound of Metzelers DOT race tire. They are one compound all the way around unlike the Q2 which is soft on the sides and harder in the middle. Thats what makes the Q2 a true street tire. You've been riding on a tire thats more focused for the track instead of the street. The case is the exact same for the Pirelli SC's they put on the factory. Its a harder compound than what you buy aftermarket but it is still a track oriented tire.

And I never said switching to the R10 or any race tire for that matter will allow you or anybody else to drop 18 seconds off their time. I said my motorcycle properly setup for me with aftermarket suspension and R10 tires allowed me to drop 18 seconds off my time over my stock bike with the stock suspension and Q2's.

You shouldn't put words in peoples mouths.

Switch to whatever race tire you want I dont care but I promise you this if your 12 seconds off the lap record and you make the switch you'll be knocking on that records door.

I've been hanging around long enough to have known what I was getting into by posting a reply to a comment of yours but didn't mean any harm by it anyway...

I know on the internet things don't come out like they would in person with body language etc. However I was being a bit sarcastic as I know the difference for the most part in those tires...also realize there are soo many other factors involved and that 18sec on my track (1:11 lap record) is more significant than 18 sec on a track where the lap record is double that time. etc. etc.

Anyway, congrats on the quicker times and don't take offence! Love seeing these bikes getting out to the track, so keep it up and lets continue these reviews and discussions as they will help those that follow our footsteps!

That's awesome that your local track rents timers! (maybe mine does and I just never knew it)

[jgos929]

there is a limit, but not 18 seconds, its an eternity on the track, your set up i would say helped a ton and your confidence goes a long way, dunlop has had some racers test the q2's and they were a lot closer to a race lap time than 18 seconds

Dude I'm just telling you my experience. What I say is not the holy grail. I'm not sure why you feel the need to contradict me or why you are not reading my other posts. I ran the high time on a stock bike with stock suspension and Q2's. I ran the low time on my bike with ohlins properly setup and R10's. Sure I could have went faster on a properly setup bike with Q2's but I believe I went even faster with the R10's. I never said it was only the tires that made me go faster but they did contribute.

And no disrespect but you're not a tire designer, manufacturer or tester. You have no idea what the limit of a tire is. We all know you love your Dunlop ntecs but those are not the end all be all of tires. You dont know me, my riding abilities or what my size and shape is. These racers testing for Dunlop I promise you were more than likely under 6' tall and 175lbs or less. I'm 6,2" and weigh 230lbs. I guess that has nothing to do with it right? Hell I could drop to 200lbs and pick up a few seconds just by losing weight. One mans experience is not what others should expect and I never maid that claim.

I've been hanging around long enough to have known what I was getting into by posting a reply to a comment of yours but didn't mean any harm by it anyway...

I know on the internet things don't come out like they would in person with body language etc. However I was being a bit sarcastic as I know the difference for the most part in those tires...also realize there are soo many other factors involved and that 18sec on my track (1:11 lap record) is more significant than 18 sec on a track where the lap record is double that time. etc. etc.

Anyway, congrats on the quicker times and don't take offence! Love seeing these bikes getting out to the track, so keep it up and lets continue these reviews and discussions as they will help those that follow our footsteps!

That's awesome that your local track rents timers! (maybe mine does and I just never knew it)

So you insult me and congratulate me in the same post. WOW!!!

I took no offense to what you said. You made it sound like I made claims that I didnt make and said things I didnt say. I felt I needed to respond.

No worries I enjoy these types of threads were we can talk about ones experiences and then have everyone contradict them and twist their words around. Thats the beauty of internet forums. Like you said I've earned some sort of rep on here where "you know what youre getting into" when you respond to a comment I make.

Either way guys I was just sharing my experience of swapping to a true DOT race tire from street rubber thats all. Take it wth a grain of salt.

[ckruzel]

i actually complimented you saying your confidence was up, which i'm sure it was with the bike handling better and sticky tires, then actually add that to your riding, sheesh man you should take a compliment better than that

[fastmike]

you should be able to drop another second or two on ntec's

Actually there was a AMA racer at Willow springs sponsored by Dunlop that was running over a second a lap quicker on the R10's. That's why I'm going to try them as my next tire once I wear the NTEC's I have out. I'll continue to use NTEC slicks at the track though.

I also believe JGOS was the same guy telling us that we didn't need to buy a TTX shock. Now here he is posting that he has one. He's also always posting how great Q2's are and that we should use those. No need to buy good tires!

I was only able to drop 5 seconds a lap from Q2's to the NTEC, because I have a TTX already.

[ckruzel]

who was it

[jpbits]

I think unless you are within 5 or so seconds of the lap record then it doesnt mean much to stark talking about the equipment too much. not to say that getting better gear wont make you faster... it will! but its because you get more confidence with it, not because you were at the limit of the old equipment.

From my personal experience the dunlop q2's were approximately 3 sec a lap slower than proper ntecs. my best on ntecs is a 1:22.3, q2's can do 25's. (lap record 1:18.5). im going to try r10's once the season is over, not sure if i want to change tyres mid season.
if i was to get a tire for street use with trackdays thrown in i'd be seriously looking at the q2's.
there is no way i'd use a dot race tyre (r10's, D211's etc.) on the road. they will wear out before you know it, and unless you're at the isle of mann you're really just going to be wasting them

[bennice]

I'm 2300 miles into the stock K3's, and have been very happy with them for the most part. They seem to leave much to be desired when the ground is wet, but are bad ass on dry pavement. I was thinking that I'd go with another set of these until I saw the price. Now I'm thinking of just getting a set of Pirelli and calling it a day.

Those of you that have gone through a set of Q2's - did you experience cupping on the front? My experience with the multi compound tires hasn't been all that good. I had BT016's on my ZX10R, and found the center to be too hard, and the sides were too soft. It made for very uneven wear and shitty handling before long. My K3's have actually worn much more uniformly than those BT's. I'm wondering if the Q2's will wear the same.

And which Pirelli model is most similar to the K3's?

[Pete Gala]

The most similar I'd say are the perelli super corsa SP. The Q2 do wear in uniformity. I have run both and prefer the Perellis. That being said the k3 is a sweet tire in the dry. Warms up pretty quickly. But not a great deal of feedback I must admit. The SPs have a great amount of feedback and I like that. Made me more confident and trusted the front a little more then anything else. Which in turn allowed me to dive In a litle harder. But hey as said many times before. Tires Are a personal choice on what feels right. Some people like to have a little play in the rear and slide it in. Others not.

[fastmike]

who was it

Sean Higbee. I'm not sure if he is sponsored by Dunlop. I thought that was what my buddy told me, but I asked him again tonight and he said he didn't know.

[jgos929]

Actually there was a AMA racer at Willow springs sponsored by Dunlop that was running over a second a lap quicker on the R10's. That's why I'm going to try them as my next tire once I wear the NTEC's I have out. I'll continue to use NTEC slicks at the track though.

I also believe JGOS was the same guy telling us that we didn't need to buy a TTX shock. Now here he is posting that he has one. He's also always posting how great Q2's are and that we should use those. No need to buy good tires!

I was only able to drop 5 seconds a lap from Q2's to the NTEC, because I have a TTX already.

You must have me confused with someone else. I said there is no need for a TTX on the street (and there isnt). Just like there is no need to ride ntecs on the street but some people here do. My bike is track dedicated and will never be street ridden again, so why wouldnt I buy a TTX? I also have commented multiple times about how I'm not a fan of Q2's, I only tried them because of how cheap I got them. I have lowsided on them once and slid around on them all the time. I said they were a great street tire but not a great track tire. I thought they performed ok on the track but I was looking for something better.

[fastmike]

Sorry, if I misquoted you or gave you credit for things that you haven't said.

Let's just agree to disagree. We'll never agree on tires or suspension for the street or track probably. I didn't buy the bike for economy, but I bought it for performance and that's why I use performance parts on it.

[Pete Gala]

You must have me confused with someone else. I said there is no need for a TTX on the street (and there isnt). Just like there is no need to ride ntecs on the street but some people here do. My bike is track dedicated and will never be street ridden again, so why wouldnt I buy a TTX? I also have commented multiple times about how I'm not a fan of Q2's, I only tried them because of how cheap I got them. I have lowsided on them once and slid around on them all the time. I said they were a great street tire but not a great track tire. I thought they performed ok on the track but I was looking for something better.

Why shouldn't you run a TTX on the street? It is an entry level professional suspension not GP grade and the better the suspension the better the ride and the more the confidence . Tires and suspension is the best upgrades you could do on sports bikes in my opinion. Track/street or just track the TTX is the bomb shock for our bikes and a must for the R in IMO

[jgos929]

Sorry, if I misquoted you or gave you credit for things that you haven't said.

Let's just agree to disagree. We'll never agree on tires or suspension for the street or track probably. I didn't buy the bike for economy, but I bought it for performance and that's why I use performance parts on it.

I forgive you. Yes lets just agree to disagree.

Why shouldn't you run a TTX on the street? It is an entry level professional suspension not GP grade and the better the suspension the better the ride and the more the confidence . Tires and suspension is the best upgrades you could do on sports bikes in my opinion. Track/street or just track the TTX is the bomb shock for our bikes and a must for the R in IMO

I didnt say you shouldn't I said there is no need for it. I'm not telling people how to modify their bikes or how to spend their money like you keep suggesting. I'm merely questioning why they are making certain purchases, is that not allowed here Pete??? And if you think the TTX is "entry level" than you dont know your aftermarket suspension very well.

[zvez]

Well after reading some reviews, etc. I'm going to get a set of Dunlop Q2 tires. I'm amazed at the price variance. from cycle gear, a set for $460+ vs. chapparal for $362.