Tire Selection?

[IFLYLOW]

Was it RaceTech?

[00Negative]

(IFLYLOW @ Jun. 17 2007,23:02) Was it RaceTech?

You da man!

Started typing it and "History" took over!

Gracias!

[WWJD]

(00Negative @ Jun. 17 2007,21:59) I plan to go to a hand full of track days this year for experience and tips. Won't go every weekend though.

Any suggestions? I'd like to eventually disintegrate the chicken strips!

yes. don't worry about your chicken strips at all, work on technique. busa too wide to lean like those anorexic 600s, but the strips will be gone before ya know it anyway

prolly wanna tighten suspension even more for track days, oh, and make sure your chain is properly LOOSE enough - too tight is bad at track. have fun!! i removed my peg feelers as they were annoying me.... and to cut weight HA! and don't forget to lower your PSI while on the track. and eat all your vegetables

[Shibumi]

(WWJD @ Jun. 18 2007,07:59) i removed my peg feelers as they were annoying me.... and to cut weight HA! and don't forget to lower your PSI while on the track. and eat all your vegetables

Yeah, I removed feelers too, along with about three pounds of dead weight...

P.S.- Pegs off a Buell firebolt- weird, but Harley guys suddenly started waving back...

[GSXcite]

I don't take my busa to the track, but I have made many passes through the dragon and the nice twisties in Arkansas. I do most of my riding high speed touring. My son and I both have been running Maxxis "Supermax" tires. Great wear,5500+ plus miles on a rear, and the price is the best at $118 for a rear. Never an issue with stick.

[ambulldog]

qualifiers. not because im the most aggressive rider in the twisties but you never know when you will have to crank that baby way over in a turn to avoid something bad. they're great tires

[Spectre]

I run Continentals Sport/Touring tires, but I also am averaging 24K a year in mileage. Currently it is my "battle axe" tire of choice.

Chicken strips are about 1/8" from the edge and for my area where twisties are few and far between I have a full confidence in them.

Caught a nail at 80+ and rear went down. Sidewalls were stiff enough that I had no damage. PATCHED THE TIRE and rode another 3,000 miles+ at "reasonable" speed (didn't bang limiter too much).

Factory tires lasted about 2,500 and these are averaging somewhere around 10,000. will start replacing both tires at the same time as my front had about 18,000 on it when I changed it and was starting to cup and blister a bit.

Never had a problem in the rain and can say that they warm up reasonably quick. Unless something changes these will be on my bike for the majority of my riding.

[dadofthree]

(K Wolf @ Jun. 14 2007,08:45)

(dadofthree @ Jun. 13 2007,11

) The Shinkos aren't Z rated but W rated. Adrenaline is my thing not risk. I just ordered a Michelin PP 2CT For a buddy that's been running Shinkos. He says that if he can get 3500 out of it, it will be cheaper than the cheap shinko. I understand and have seen it at the track. The Shinkos seem to be the drag strip tire.

Just to be sure no one misunderstands, W rating is a good thing. W>Z. Most Z rated performance tires we buy for our busas are actually W rated. The W doesn't get much exposure because it doesn't sound as cool, or have as much hype, as the Z. AFIK, the W rating is the highest rating currently available to us.

Karl

Just to be absolutely clear and check me on this but I believe the Shinko is only rated for 160 or 165 MPH. Now I know that we shouldn't be concerned about this, but.............................

The Busa will easily exceed this in 5th maybe 4th gear

[dadofthree]

(Shibumi @ Jun. 18 2007,10:10)

(WWJD @ Jun. 18 2007,07:59) i removed my peg feelers as they were annoying me.... and to cut weight HA! and don't forget to lower your PSI while on the track. and eat all your vegetables

Yeah, I removed feelers too, along with about three pounds of dead weight...

P.S.- Pegs off a Buell firebolt- weird, but Harley guys suddenly started waving back...

I don't care where ur from, that's sum funny shid right there

[K Wolf]

(dadofthree @ Jun. 18 2007,14:24)

(K Wolf @ Jun. 14 2007,08:45)

(dadofthree @ Jun. 13 2007,11

) The Shinkos aren't Z rated but W rated. Adrenaline is my thing not risk. I just ordered a Michelin PP 2CT For a buddy that's been running Shinkos. He says that if he can get 3500 out of it, it will be cheaper than the cheap shinko. I understand and have seen it at the track. The Shinkos seem to be the drag strip tire.

Just to be sure no one misunderstands,  W rating is a good thing.  W>Z. Most Z rated performance tires we buy for our busas are actually W rated.  The W doesn't get much exposure because it doesn't sound as cool, or have as much hype, as the Z.  AFIK, the W rating is the highest rating currently available to us.

Karl

Just to be absolutely clear and check me on this but I believe the Shinko is only rated for 160 or 165 MPH. Now I know that we shouldn't be concerned about this, but.............................

The Busa will easily exceed this in 5th maybe 4th gear  

From http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=35
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Speed Rating

In Europe, where selected highways do not have speed limits and high speed driving is permitted, speed ratings were established to match the speed capability of tires with the top speed capability of the vehicles to which they are applied. Speed ratings are established in kilometers per hour and subsequently converted to miles per hour (which explains why speed ratings appear established at "unusual" mile per hour increments). Despite the tire manufacturer's ability to manufacturer tires capable of high speeds, none of them recommend the use of their products in excess of legal speed limits.

Speed ratings are based on laboratory tests where the tire is pressed against a large diameter metal drum to reflect its appropriate load, and run at ever increasing speeds (in 6.2 mph steps in 10 minute increments) until the tire's required speed has been met.

It is important to note that speed ratings only apply to tires that have not been damaged, altered, under-inflated or overloaded. Additionally, most tire manufacturers maintain that a tire that has been cut or punctured no longer retains the tire manufacturer's original speed rating, even after being repaired because the tire manufacturer can't control the quality of the repair.

Over the years, tire speed rating symbols have been marked on tires in any of three ways shown in the following examples:

225/50SR16 225/50SR16 89S or 225/50R16 89S


Each of these was an acceptable method of identifying speed ratings.

Early tires had their speed rating symbol shown "within" the tire size, such as 225/50SR16. Tires using this type of branding were not to have been produced after 1991.

225/50SR16 112 mph, 180 km/h
225/50HR16 130, 210 km/h
225/50VR16 in excess of 130 mph, 210 km/h


Beginning in 1991, the speed symbol denoting a fixed maximum speed capability of new tires must be shown only in the speed rating portion of the tire's service description, such as 225/50R16 89S. The most common tire speed rating symbols, maximum speeds and typical applications are shown below:

M 81 mph 130 km/h  
N 87 mph 140km/h Temporary Spare Tires
P 93 mph 150 km/h  
Q 99 mph 160 km/h Studless & Studdable Winter Tires
R 106 mph 170 km/h H.D. Light Truck Tires
S 112 mph 180 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
T 118 mph 190 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
U 124 mph 200 km/h  
H 130 mph 210 km/h Sport Sedans & Coupes
V 149 mph 240 km/h Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Cars


When Z-speed rated tires were first introduced, they were thought to reflect the highest tire speed rating that would ever be required, in excess of 240 km/h or 149 mph. While Z-speed rated tires are capable of speeds in excess of 149 mph, how far above 149 mph was not identified. That ultimately caused the automotive industry to add W- and Y-speed ratings to identify the tires that meet the needs of new vehicles that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

W 168 mph 270 km/h Exotic Sports Cars
Y 186 mph 300 km/h Exotic Sports Cars


While a Z-speed rating still often appears in the tire size designation of these tires, such as 225/50ZR16 91W, the Z in the size signifies a maximum speed capability in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h; the W in the service description indicates the tire's 168 mph, 270 km/h maximum speed.

225/50ZR16 in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h
205/45ZR17 88W 168 mph, 270 km/h
285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h


<span style='color:red'>Most recently, when the Y-speed rating indicated in a service description is enclosed in parentheses, such as 285/35ZR19 (99Y), the top speed of the tire has been tested in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h indicated by the service description as shown below:</span>

285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h
<span style='color:red'>285/35ZR19 (99Y) in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h</span>


As vehicles have increased their top speeds into Autobahn-only ranges, the tire speed ratings have evolved to better identify the tires capability, allowing drivers to match the speed of their tires with the top speed of their vehicle.
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<span style='color:darkblue'>I have no experience with Shinkos.  I just wanted to make it clear that no one should ignore tires based on the fact that they are rated something other than the famous "Z".   I've not yet seen anything "Y" rated.  Maybe some of the newer tires carry a "Y" rating, even if they are only advertised as the cooler sounding "Z".  

Karl</span><span style='color:red'></span>

[Shibumi]

(dadofthree @ Jun. 18 2007,16:24)

(K Wolf @ Jun. 14 2007,08:45)

(dadofthree @ Jun. 13 2007,11

) The Shinkos aren't Z rated but W rated. Adrenaline is my thing not risk. I just ordered a Michelin PP 2CT For a buddy that's been running Shinkos. He says that if he can get 3500 out of it, it will be cheaper than the cheap shinko. I understand and have seen it at the track. The Shinkos seem to be the drag strip tire.

Just to be sure no one misunderstands, W rating is a good thing. W>Z. Most Z rated performance tires we buy for our busas are actually W rated. The W doesn't get much exposure because it doesn't sound as cool, or have as much hype, as the Z. AFIK, the W rating is the highest rating currently available to us.

Karl

Just to be absolutely clear and check me on this but I believe the Shinko is only rated for 160 or 165 MPH. Now I know that we shouldn't be concerned about this, but.............................

The Busa will easily exceed this in 5th maybe 4th gear

4th.

With a Qualifier 190/50 on the rear mine hit the rev limiter in 5th at 179 MPH.

[dadofthree]

Holy shid I been lucky

[WWJD]

I've never seen a Y rated cycle tire either