Here is a question for all those that use Pilot Powers. Can you run Pilot Powers at an extreme Advanced pace without problems (ie. sliding, etc.) I was running a good clip last weekend and Monday at Grattan in Intermediate. Never did I really notice any traction issues, only when the right wrist control was compromised did I even notice a smidgen of slide. I being extremely cheap would love to keep the Powers when I move onto Advanced. I am not looking at running race paces, but would like to safely run fast.
I've been repeatedly amazed by how good they are! If you push them hard for most of a session on a hot day they can get a little greasy, but they are very predictable. A few fun slides have been enough to remind me to take it easy for a few laps & let them cool down.
I never had a chance to finnish burning my BT-014's up on Tuesday like I wanted to.(All the rain :x ) I'll be testing mine hopefully on the Sunday at Grattan in a couple of weeks.
This past weekend with the extreme heat and my quickening pace I reached the limit of the pilot powers plus I ride an 05' Gsxr1000. The tire started spinning up consitently and coming out of T2 at Autobahn north the rearend went side ways and threw me up( I could see the front tire) and somehow I was able to get control and after the next few laps I ended getting some pilot races and will probably never go back. I found the whole thing funny because Monte said that the powers will tap you on the shoulder when they are getting pushed then they will punch you in the shoulder then they smack you in the head and that is very true they are predictable. I would say if you run novice and intermediate on a 600 or so they would probably run great. STT has got a great deal on Pilot Races right now . For a 120/70 PR1 and a 190 med-soft was $310 installed.
A couple weeks ago at autobahn when track temps were reaching 130 degrees I was running consistent 1:12s without a problem. It was also the 4th trackday on those tires.
...a buddy of mine was running 1:29's at Grattan on Pilot Power tires (Duc 999). If you want to do that, you're throttle controll better be in check, but it is possible.
If there is a limit, my bikes not capable of reaching it. On my heavy old underpowered zx6, I never even got a wiggle from them. I may have slid them a little bit at road america, but only because my 3rd gear was starting to go and every time it jumped, the bike would unload and then slide back into line, but it never once felt like it would go out. They stuck like glue no matter how fast I went around a corner, how much I leaned until scraping parts, or how hard I throttled it coming off a corner, good tires indeed. On a bigger bike? yeah I could see them getting outridden.
Kevin Schwantz can get into the 30s at Barber on them according to his MC column ("10sec from a good Superbike lap"). Most of the A group on any given day can't touch that, on any equipment. Any tire will let go if you're not smooth, but fast riders are fast on anything.
NOSquid hit the nail on the head...if you can cut a good lap time and do it smoothly, the Pilot Powers will take you a long way. You familiar with Summit Point? The last weekend I was there I was doing :25's and maybe a handful of :24's on the regular Pilot Powers (not the 2CT's). The tires already had 2 trackdays on them and were being used on a 999. At any rate, I'm pretty sure it's a decent advanced trackday pace for that track (of course the guys winning races in the wera expert classes are in the teens...but hey, I only go there once a year!) I'm sure I could get another second or two out of them with more precise turn-in and throttle timing, but I have to say I was really impressed with the way they gripped, and there are one or two rough transitions at lean at Summit that the tires handled really well. I say stick with the Pilot Powers and use their feedback to make you smoother (= faster!)! otoh, if that tire deal ulster mentioned is still going.... kath
I ran 2 full CCS race weekends on a rear regular pilot power and a PR1 front and won every race but 1. The pilot powers are amazing. Over the summer I think I put 10 track days on one pilot power rear tire. I took it off the race bike just because it had so many laps on it. I put it on my street bike.
Yeah, you lost that one race to me but my rear pilor power had a 16 penny nail in it and I think the sparks were distracting you. Barry Cowart Licensed Plumber BS PHD / # 111