So as much as I love my Q3's, I've been thinking about trying different (more shticky) tires. I don't have as many options being my bike runs 160 60 17 rear, otherwise I'd try Q4's or Bridgestone RS10's. Really want to avoid Michelins. I'm curious about the Pirelli SC V2's. Obviously a great tire, I'm familiar with it's reputation, but everywhere I look they seem to be sold out. Where do you guys buy them? Looked at the Rosso Corsa II's but don't think they'd be enough of an improvement over the Q3's to bother with paying the extra.
Northeast AL. I've just been looking over different tire options and curious on availability and price of the Pirelli's. I'd like to try a set, but that will depend on how much they are if available. I wish more brands made tires in the 160 rear size, I'd really like to run the Q4's. I went ahead and picked up an original Q3 rear (not the Q3+) from STG for $135 shipped just to have an extra on deck, hard to beat that price. LOL
Q3+ or equivalent is probably about all you really need until you're getting to an advanced pace. The Q3 and Q3+ are pretty much the same tire where it matters.
I agree, if I were able to ride the ideal bike. Lol Back story: Back in 2008-2009 I rode an 07 ZX10R with STT, and after riding on Pilot Power 2CT's and always being in the fastest 3 or 4 of Intermediate group, I bought a set of Dunlop D209GP dot race tires.....I'm sure you are aware of the significant improvement I experienced. Holy shit it was awesome. I thought, why didn't I do this 5 or 6 trackdays ago. Eventually moved into Advance group at a back of the pack pace, but only rode in A group once before crashing that bike. March 2010, I crashed that bike on the street in a freak accident and lost my left leg below the knee. Now the knee on that side won't bend past 90 degrees, so after 10 years off track I figured out how to get back on track this past year. Now I ride a Honda NC700X with the DCT auto trans (since I can't shift with my foot) and it's tall enough of a bike that I could mount a highway peg on the left side frame rail so I can ride with my foot out in front of me since that knee won't bend like it should. Anyways, this bike is surprisingly sporty, but not built for track use, front suspension dives on the brakes. It isn't very fast, close to but still a tad slower than R3's on track. Rear suspension is shit, the bump in turn 1 at Tally makes rear end float a bit. Bike weighs a little over 500 lbs, and I weigh 220-225 lbs with track gear on. I was very close to pulling trigger on an Ohlins rear shock yesterday....still might, but think I need to hold off a little longer. I can deal with front suspension, it's not as bad as rear. Given that info and what I feel really pushing this bike on Q3's, I feel like some stickier tires would help me pick up the pace a bit in the slower turns. Mainly at places like Tally and through the sharp left hander at Barber (turn 5? can't remember). The faster turns at Barber, I can haul as much ass as I want and feel comfortable on the Q3's with my only limitation being lean angle. This bike doesn't have sportbike lean angles. Already had to grind kickstand pad down to keep from dragging, it drags some of the plastic on the left side below the engine, and I'm working on putting a stock (shorter) seat on it to help me be able to lean off more to offset the lean angle needed to go faster, as I currently have a touring seat on it that sits 1-1.5" taller than stock. I know I don't NEED stickier tires, but I'd like to try a set just to see. But also, if I had to ride on Q3's for the rest of my life, I wouldn't be mad. Lol
Also, I don't plan on getting into A group on this bike regardless, because they don't allow center stands, even though the way mine is designed it wouldn't drag even if I laid it down. I use mine too much to remove it. I'm pretty content with Intermediate pace anyways. 6,250 rpm rev limiter, 51 hp, 46 ft lbs of tq, R3's have a lot more corner exit power than I do, and pull on me slightly in the straights. Here's vid of last day at Tally this past Nov. I can hang with everyone in the curves, just get left in the straights. LOL
Consider the Pirelli Supercorsa TD. They are the "track day" tire that fit somewhere between an SP street tire and a SC racing tire. They come in many sizes and have received a ton of good reviews. Everyone I know seems to love them. There are Pirelli vendors out there if you look. $150 for a 120/70 and $170 for the 160/60. For reference: https://tracksidetires.com/product/pirelli-diablo-supercorsa-td/
Awesome! Didn't know that tire even existed, price is good too! I believe I will give them a try! Thank you.
Just ordered a set of the Pirelli TD's, thanks again for turning me onto those! They should be just what I was looking for. Looking forward to seeing how they do at Barber 3/29. Will post thoughts afterwards.