What tires do you like for track days?

[RTNewbie]

I'm going to take the 'ole RT1100 out on a track this spring for a beginners track day and likely flog the daylights out of her. She's just broken in with 93k miles, smoothed out real nice and i don't want to lose her.

I don't want her to get sleepy on me and spit me off because of poor tires. I'm considering getting some new skins on there to ensure i can't blame the inevitable accident on the bike. What do you recommend? I'm considering just getting a new set of Michelin Pilot Roads like i usually run. Would they be completely innappropiate on a track?

[JimMoore]

Do they make Pilot Powers in tha size? If so, that would be a better choice for a track day.

[pffog]

I swear by Metzeler M3's, and they wear pretty decent on the street too.

[PGlaves]

Bridgestone BT56

[BeemerMike]

Since you are probably not planning to RACE your RT, but rather to ride it on the street, I suggest that you use the exact same tire brand and model that you plan to use on the street. That way you will gain experience with how your bike handles under more extreme conditions than you are likely to be able to safely experience and practice on the street, but which may be helpful if you ever have to "use it all" in an emergency situation someday.

[85138]

I think all of the above should suffice if they're fresh tires. Read good reviews on the Michelin Pilot Road 2 (update to original P. Roads) so that's be my pick (plus most of my track days have been on Michelin's). Just remember to take it easy the first couple laps and gradually increase the lean angles to scrub 'em in. After the first session you'll be all set.

Of course the Pilot Power would be stickier but overkill for that bike and wouldn't last very long on the street.

[RoboRider]

As a track bike goes, that's quite a heavy machine! I assume like others have said that you are riding the bike on the track not to drag a knee, but to get some serious fun and decent lean angles on her. Metz Z6 would be my choice as they have all the grip you need for that bike. It's not like you are going to spin out the rear on an over powered exit on a turn. Any of the others really will be fine.

Scrub the new tires in with 60 or so miles before the track day. This is not to get the slick stuff off, but rather to break them in before you ride them hard. Metzler FAQ discusses this and 'microcracking' etc.

I use Pilot Power IICTs on my dedicated track bike, the CBR600RR. But this is a serious track machine, with much more power to weight ratio than any BMW R twin. You'd have a problem with the weight range on a pure sport tire. I bet even M3s, a great tire, are in the weight range (but I don't know, I'm not going to Metz to look).

What track are you heading to? What is your purpose? You'll have fun. I take the CBR to VIR in May.

Robo

[JimMoore]

Oh yeah, one more thing. It's so much fun you'll be giggling like a little schoolgirl. Then you'll be selling a kidney to buy a track bike.

[pffog]

Oh yeah, one more thing. It's so much fun you'll be giggling like a little schoolgirl. Then you'll be selling a kidney to buy a track bike.

What he said, but I still find myself riding the R11S at more track days, than the CBR600 track bike. It is just more fun to pass kids on sport bikes with a "touring" bike complete with saddlebag mounts attached, especially when I run the expert class :D

The M3's will let you drag the cylinder heads and still be holding strong, they warm up fast as well, and make a decent high performance street tire. Best combo of decent mileage on a high performance tire.

http://www.easy-clan.com/ski/richard/Pictures/calabogie.jpg

[RoboRider]

Beautiful picture. I doubt I'll ever make it to expert class. But I see your point. On the street, when I see Harleys, the same mentality kicks in and I have to pass, even if I was just cruising before.

[AKBeemer]

Bridgestone BT56

Is the Bridgestone BT-020 the equivalent of the BT-56 for the R12RT?

[PGlaves]

Is the Bridgestone BT-020 the equivalent of the BT-56 for the R12RT?

I don't think so.

When I picked my R1150R up at the dealership it was shod with BT56 tires. I knew what the BT54 and BT57 were/had been, but had never heard of a BT56 so I looked it up on the Bridgestone website. It is a sport tire - and at that time was used as OEM on only two models: the BMW R1150R and the Hyabusa.

I got 3,500 on the rear tire and about 4,000 on the front tire - but boy did those things stick. They were the most confidence inspiring tire I ever rode on.