Track day tire size

[NinjaRick]

Hey I was wondering if anyone here is able to answer a question of mine. I use Pirelli Rosso 2s for racing , size 110/70 front and 140 rear, but I have been wondering if I should try out a 120 front and 150 rear. Anything I could expect to happen or change ? Im happy with the Rosso 2s but I'm still a novice racer and they are the only tires I know, so any tips are much appreciated . A side note, I have slight chicken strips on the front tire , but my rear is completely chewed up, is this a problem in the racing world ?

[sharky nrk]

Originally Posted by NinjaRick

Hey I was wondering if anyone here is able to answer a question of mine. I use Pirelli Rosso 2s for racing , size 110/70 front and 140 rear, but I have been wondering if I should try out a 120 front and 150 rear. Anything I could expect to happen or change ? Im happy with the Rosso 2s but I'm still a novice racer and they are the only tires I know, so any tips are much appreciated . A side note, I have slight chicken strips on the front tire , but my rear is completely chewed up, is this a problem in the racing world ?

There are many people that run a 120 and 150 and are perfectly happy with them. The range of sizes of tire that you can run is wider than you would think (90 to 120 F and 120 to 150 R or so). Bike setup, personal comfort, skill level, vendor support, etc etc etc all play a part in tire selection.

Do you need a 120/150 sized tire ..... no. Can you run those sizes successfully and be competitive ..... yes. Would I run a 120/150 tire if a 110/140 set was available ..... probably not. But each rider is a little different.

[csmith12]

While tires are a personal preference and new seasons may present new tire options... many experienced racers go in the other direction with tire size. 90 in the front and 140 rear (even 95f/115r slicks). Have I raced on a 120/140? Sure, did it really make a difference, not really. Do I want a 150? Not currently, the grip offered by the tires that I am aware of do not warrant the extra weight of the larger tire.

Next would be the tarmac you are racing on, different regions have a "preferred" tire that offers optimum grip on the surfaces you're racing on. Chat with a few of your fellow expert racer buddies and see what they think but don't be afraid to try something new.

No prisoners... only trophies.

[GregS]

I like the Dunlop Alphas. They are pretty cheap and come in 110/150 size

http://dunlopracing.com/tires-products/alpha-13/

[Zaph42]

Originally Posted by GregS

I like the Dunlop Alphas. They are pretty cheap and come in 110/150 size

http://dunlopracing.com/tires-products/alpha-13/

I use these too and they work great. Not on the 250's 3.5" rear rim though, these definitely need the 4" rear rim of the 300, nothing narrower.

It might be interesting to know that Kawasaki Japan just announced that the domestic market Ninja 250 "KRT Edition" (whatever that is) will be getting Bridgestone S20 110/70/17 and 150/60/17 for what they describe as "improved handling".

I've heard a couple of faster guys on 300s tell me that they had to go to a 150 rear because they were running out of edge with a 140. But then again I've heard people say a 140 rear is fine for racing so who knows. In general however, a 150 is generally considered optimal for a 4" rim. 160's need 4.5", 140 need 3.5", 180's need 5.5", and so on. But there is obviously some flexibility to these rules.

[NinjaRick]

Awesome thanks for the reply guys . I'm most likely going to stick with the 110 front , and maybe 150 rear since I can't seem to find a new Rosso 3 in 140. 150 should be a new experience so I'm looking forward to it

[tooblekain]

Ive tried numerous combinations and my favorite combination is a Pirelli DOT race tire or Slick front in 120 size and Rosso II 140 size in the rear.

[cbinker]

i would suggest a 110 front and either a 150 or 140 rear. I prefer a taller rear tire to put more weight on the front.