Cold UK tracks - Tyre Choice

[alex]

I'm thinking of doing at least 1 Snetterton day next month. Obviously relatively nervous about tarmac temps and a lack of recent mileage. I've got some Metzeler Racetec RR's on light wheels and Conti Sport Attacks on the std Cast wheels.

Would I be better to use the Conti's in March or just spend an extra lap getting the Metzelers up to temp (no blankets).

 

[DL84]

personally I would go with the Conti's, gives you more time to get into the bike again rather that focusing on tyre temps...... I have my first trackday at the start of april and will be feeling the same.

 

[Rp1]

Got my 1st of the year on Sunday and will be running slicks ... Whoops lol ( unless wet ! )

 

[alex]

I'm probably being over cautious. The RaceTecs are DOT tyres and they are harder (which works better in the cold that soft bizarre I know). I think I'll just wait and see the weather forcast. Cold / dry racetecs. Conti's for the damper conditions. Just have to get some heat into them. Maybe rent warmers and stands if desperate.

 

[mike g]

just make sure you drop the pressures and do a couple of warm up laps

 

[alex]

just make sure you drop the pressures and do a couple of warm up laps

Ahh yes lower pressure more heat too, another oddity of tyres. Guess it's due to higher friction and movement even in a straight line.

 

[bananaman]

Ran RR3's last week, track temp was 8degrees but dry, 30fr 30rr absolutely fine...

 

[alex]

Ran RR3's last week, track temp was 8degrees but dry, 30fr 30rr absolutely fine...

Was that a cold pressure? I read a Visordown review after posting this and they ran 30F HOT / 27R HOT.

 

[DNCN]

Have been on Racetec k2 and k1 before on some very cold days and qualifying sessions and not had a problem. I do usually use warmers but plenty of time in a 20 minute session to take the time yourself to ensure heat gets into the tyres.

 

[fast_ryan]

Metzeler Racetec RR

The K3 (Hard) compound will be more than suitable for a cold track but unsurprisingly they offer little grip in the wet. Metzeler recommended pressure ranges for the Racetec RR (K1, K2, K3) are below.

Front: 29-32 psi Cold / 30-35 psi Hot
Rear: 23-26 psi Cold / 25-28 psi Hot
Tyre Warmers: 50 mins @ 80?C

 

[bananaman]

Was that a cold pressure? I read a Visordown review after posting this and they ran 30F HOT / 27R HOT.

Off warmers

 

[yam-andy]

Got my 1st of the year on Sunday and will be running slicks ... Whoops lol ( unless wet ! )

I used slicks last yeah beginning of April at a cold damp cadwell following on from a few days in Cartagena it never ended well!! Session got red flagged they kept us in holding area for 5 min or so and temp dropped out of tyres, lost the front going into Charlie's, Lesson learnt I'll not be running slicks in uk unless it's a nice warm day!!

 

[alex]

Yeah I'm considering my existing cast wheel/conti sports rather than the racetec rr's

- Sent from Mobile Device

 

[MacRR]

I was talking to someone the other day who did a few rounds of the No Limits race series last year, he reckoned he continuously struggled to get temperature into the Racetec's he had been using