After seeing Romans' pic a couple years back(can't find the thread), I've been seriously considering buying a set of slicks for my next street tires. I've been using street race/tires with minimal sipes since 09 and they seem to be gripping just fine on the street for me despite the fact they probably never get up to racing temperature. They also seem to last me at least 6000 miles.

How will slicks perform on the street for me and does anyone recommend a certain brand or model with particular tire compound?

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Can't image running slicks on the street.

Getting them to correct temp without warmers might be hard.

Most slicks are very susceptible to heat cycles as well and
will harden fast with not so many heat cycles.

If your using an aggressive type DOT trackday/street tire and
getting 6k out of them that's very, very good.

On the track I get 350-400 miles out of michelin Super sports and
about the same on Pirelli Diablo super corsas. I've run the super sport
on the street and usually need to replace around 1,500 miles, maybe stretch to 2k

Even on my track bike I don't want to run slicks.

But....... my best guess for a slick to use on the street would be...

(I'm sure you probably already looked at them)

The Pirelli Superbike Pro (red stripe)

http://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/motorcycle/all-tyres/sheet/diablo-superbike-pro

hmmm... maybe not... Tire sizes listed for rear

200/55 R 17 NHS TL - PRO
180/55 R 17 NHS TL - PRO

* Last updated by: piken on 12/27/2015 @ 12:03 PM *

Without pre-heating slick track tire would be dangerous on the street and even if you did warm them you would need to ride aggressive enough to keep them hot.

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Is tire temperature going to be much different with a set of slicks than a set of DOT tires with hardly any sipes?

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Once they are both warmed up prob not.

The issue is the compounds are "very" different.

DOT tires are going to handle a much wider range of temps, handle heat cycling much better.

If you do not ride a slick hard enough the temps will be to low and you will "cold tear" the
slick. Even off of warmers you can cold tear slicks if you don't get out on the track and ride
hard enough to keep the heat in them. A couple of sighting laps is enough to let them cool down
to much and ruin them.

Slicks do not handle heat cycles very well, another reason to put them back
on warmers off the track. May only handle a couple dozen heat cycles before becoming
to hard.

Not sure what you are trying to gain by using slicks on the street.

$400 a set and you will not get any better performance then a good track/street tires
and life will be much shorter. How hard are you planning on riding the twisties in your part of the woods?
Planning on scraping your elbows?

Even at the track, full on, you'll only gain marginal improvements on grip over some of the track/street tires
they are putting out. Slicks are a hassle at the track and not really needed unless you are really trying
to eek out every second you can, ie. racing.

Sorry, this is a bad idea.

Maybe a second set of rims, warmers and a generator. Then head to the track, change rims, have
fun and then change back when you get home.

* Last updated by: piken on 12/27/2015 @ 8:43 PM *

I can't make full use of street/ track tires. The main attraction to having slicks on the bike is that they look so COOL! No one can see the dif once the bike is rolling but it would look awesome parked. I know my cumulative staring time alone would amount to several hours. You're starting to talk me out of it though. A cold tear sounds pretty scary. Hit a bump at 140 mph and tear the tire? No thank you.

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The main attraction to having slicks on the bike is that they look so COOL!

A bike on the street with slicks, not what I would think.

Now, a fat tire, extended swing arm and some neon ground lighting, now we're talking!

I agree with the input, Rook. Way too much spent on slicks to profile with. Better off asking for a spent set at some trackday; where a tire jobber came out to sell/mount slicks. Find the deepest dots kind of torn up but who cares. You'll smooth those back out as they wear. I doubt a few 140's will start to chunk the tire. But why are you going that fast if but to 'park-n-profile.' Get it out of your system in the cheap seats.

I can't make full use of street/ track tires.

Short shifter raises hands too. The other day the bike felt like it was stepping out or the front was drifting. I tipped it over, was somewhat windy so who knows? I wasn't about to look down at the speed. I love this bike.

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Rook here is a couple of old pics. I know I'm probably not the right person to ask or give opinions on tires but I can tell you only this. I Loved Them. I go through a shit load of tires. Tried them all. That particular summer I went through 6 tires in less than 7000km clowning around. These were all big name brands. Huge Money spent. Fact is I needed more stick.

Once the slicks were installed drifting was no more. And Man did these tires make me Look Good lol. Harder faster corning. Confidence was always so high. The two times I got caught in the rain did have me a little stressed due to all the crap you're here but the Drama nowhere near what was described.

I still like trying Everything. This is where the fun is. If it's on your bucket list Go For it. Or, always wonder

Cheers.

Romans what you say makes sense. Most grip is simply mechanical force. The basic force exerted upon the tires by the weight of the motorcycle (and rider, etc.) This is just a wild guess at 75% mechanical, which is the weight of the bike on the tire and the tires basic construction/purpose. 15% conditioning as in warmed up. 10% chemistry grip additive compounds.

Or to say, just because a tire isn't 100% silica (the hot thing for wet traction these days) doesn't mean with a 0% silica tire there's no grip at all in the wet. I no longer recall for certain but I believe MSF used to state that wet roadways reduced traction around 80%. So, with a regular street tire grip is 20%, in some cases manufacturers add compound (silica) to help with wet grip and this increase grip another 10%, or 30% wet grip total. When we're talking 20%, another 10% makes a difference but it's not going to save the day in a SHTF situation like a car pulling out. Just because a tire isn't warmed up doesn't mean it has 0 traction, no it probably has around 80% of it's traction in the dry.

Perhaps that's one area a 14's weight comes in an advantage. Slicks and wet/rain? Well, when I really think about it a tire is a tire is a tire and my guess is a slick's mechanical grip is probably the same as pretty much any street in the rain except one instance, and that's hydroplaning. Even puddled water is traversable with no sipes, and it is possible to hydoplane with sipes as well.

If slicks were good in the rain why do Motogp switch to rain tires?? I can't imagine groove less tires on wet surfaces..

J

I don't think anyone's saying "good in the rain". More like tolerable, not 100% loss of grip. Slick in the rain isn't going to negate all grip instantaneously.

To me it does increase risk considerably, but mostly from the increased risk of hyrdoplaing. Riding on a slick through a puddle might require slowing down to <10 mph where as with a street tire 20-30 might be safe. Mechanical grip is mechanical grip (gravity -> tire -> ground) whether it's a slick or street tire.

Slicks would be fine on the street. At least until you hit your first puddle of spit in a turn, then you'd be on yer ass.

Slicks are meant for dry, smooth pavement. I would never rely on any public road to provide that more than a little bit every now and then.

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To me it does increase risk considerably, but mostly from the increased risk of hyrdoplaing.

The sipes are supposed to channel away water or dust. If you ride on water or dust with slicks, I'm sure you have more of a chance of slipping. The Power Ones I had were not too far from being a slick. The compound type is more of a concern the the lack of sipes. If they get hard and are succeptible to cracking, I'm a little apprehensive but I think it may be worth a shot to try just one time. It will come down to finances. A set of Pirelli slicks is about the same as a set of Super Corsas but they do not come in 190 width. I believe the 200/55/17 tire will fit the 14's 190 rim. Should be a bit more aggressive in shape than a typical 190/55 because the tire will be squeezed 10 mm narrower which will force it to be a few mm taller.

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You might also figure the insurance question if in case you did happen to have an accident running on illegal
street tires.

* Last updated by: chrly on 12/28/2015 @ 8:40 PM *

I'm not sure about this, but I thought slicks were also more susceptible to punctures.

You might also figure the insurance question if in case you did happen to have an accident running on Dawn street little liars

I have never carried anything but liability. If a crash results in personal injury to some one else, i could be on the hook. If i get hurt, I have insurance (thank you Obama). Damage too the bike is a loss. So far, I've come out ahead but that busa tip over set me back for sure.

I'm not sure about this, but I thought slicks were also more susceptible to punctures.

IDK?

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/28/2015 @ 7:58 PM *

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Next Question, have you decided on what size ?

I think the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V2 with very minimal stipes look very cool, IMO better than slicks. But whatever you decide it's your bike and it looks great now, sure it will look great anyway you go

* Last updated by: cruderudy on 12/30/2015 @ 8:49 PM *

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Next Question, have you decided on what size ?

If I get them, it will be the Super Corsa slicks. I only see the rear in 180 or 200/55 so I guess it will be 200/55.

I think the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V2 with very minimal stipes look very cool, IMO better than slicks.

Got those on the busa and I believe that is my fav tire so far. Funny thing is the slicks are a lot cheaper than the DOT Super Corsas. Maybe about a hundred bucks less for slicks and that is with a 200/55 as opposed to 190/55 in the DOT.

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Rook, I'm going to take the contrarian view here and say I think this is a bad idea for all the reasons already stated above. If you just want to pose on bike night it's probably fine but falling on your butt is no fun, ask someone who has the hospital bills to prove it.

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Kruz. You Are NOT Alone With that opinion..Too Many reasons to not Run Slicks on the street..

I'm glad to hear all the opinions but I think this is something I might have to try one time just to see for myself. The fact they are cheaper than street tires makes the allure impossible to resist. If slicks are slippery even on hot, dry roads, I'll get a few photos for memories and go back to street tires. The tire that really impressed me the most was a fairly mundane street tire that was said to be good for sport riding. That was the only tire I came close to losing chicken strips on the street with. You might note I'm doing my darnedest to not turn this into a tire thread.

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/31/2015 @ 7:00 PM *

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Someone beat me to the low priced supercorsa slicks i saw online. They're available elsewhere for the same price as a normal set of DOT Diablo Supercorsas. bummer.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/25/2016 @ 9:31 AM *

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I went and bought a set of Diablo Pros at STG. Cost slightly less than a set of DOT Supercorsas. It's designed for lower temps without tire warmers and long ware. Seems like the best choice if you're concerned about using a slick on the street. Hope I like it as much as the busa's Supercorsas ...or more.

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