Looking for a good track tire with a 170 rear for 800ss. Been using the pilot powers and not entirely satisfied. Wondering what else is out there. May be bridgestone bt014. Hard to find 170. Any alternatives? Not ready to go to slicks.
The first issue is you really really need to go to a 180 on that bike. Hands down, the absolute best change I have made to mine. NO!!! You will not loose any "turn in" by going to a 180. A 180 is what's supposed to be mounted on a 5.5" wheel. Trust me, you'll love it. One problem I had with the 170 was I consistently ran out of side wall too early. Not near enough lean angle capability with that tire, IMO. Didn't like that feeling at all, and that was on the street. Going to the track, you should really consider the 180!!!! But, back on subject.
My wife has ran the 014's on the track and really liked them. Hard to say if you would like them since you didn't like the PP's. The only other tire she's ran on the track besides the 014 is the BT-002, but it's a DOT track tire...but it's friggin awesome. If you're not ready for a track only tire, the only other great recommendation I can think of (besides the 014's) would be the new Pirelli Diablo Corsa III. Haven't tried it personally but have never ever heard a bad thing about any of the Pirelli Diablo's. Or try the new PP 2CT's if you were willing to give them another go. They would be the same shape and handling of the current PP just more grip leaned over. Hope this helped some.
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'04 800SS...Strati pipes, K&N air filter/air box, Afam 42t sproket, DID chain, Evoluzione fender eliminator, Bridgestone BT-014's
'05 749s...Evoluzione fender eliminator, Termi 54mm full-system, PCIII/Custon Map, 41t sproket, DiD chain, CF Hugger
I like the sound of this tire at the bridgestone website, but reluctant to go to the 180. So your saying your more confident with turn in with the 180 and the bike feels more stable at the apex???
go to a 180. Turn in will be more affected (lots more) by the profile of your front tire. You will also have many more better choices in fitament. the 170 v. 180 "turn in" difference is nonsense. a 5.5" rim should get a 180 width tire.
Go with the 180 size rear - there are lots more choices in tires with a 180 than a 170. You can alter the geometry to quicken the stearing simply by raising the rear or dropping the front. With the larger contact patch a 180 should be more stable and drive out of corners better as well.
My recomendation is to make a firm decision on tire brand and stick with the same tires while you muck around getting the set-up correct. All too often I see guys changing tire brands before they get a baseline of set-up on the bike or not making changes required going from one set to the other. Once you get the set-up correct you can measure the radius of the rim/tire combination and can make changes as needed if you decide to change brands. If you like the feel of your bike now, measure the radius of the front and rear tires you use compare it to the radius of whatever new tires you are going to and make whatever adjustments to the ride height to compensate.
In my opinion Pirelli is pretty good - I went from running Dunlop slicks to the Pirelli DOT Race tires at the end of last year and the Pirelli DOT tires really surprised me with the amount of traction they offered. However, I will note that traction did drop off fairly dramatically towards the end of the second day of racing on the same tires (your mileage my vary but - after 4 practice sessions and 5 sprint races my tires would start to slide more than stick).
The nice thing I found about Pirelli is that the profile of the DOT Race tires and the slicks are close enough that you don't need to adjust the suspension going from one to the other. I think that with Dunlop and Michelin there is a pretty big difference in right height and profile so you need to make substantial changes in set-up if you want to run the slicks.
And...the number one reason for running a 180 rear [in my best Dave Letterman voice]
you can sell your takeoffs to squids on ebay for minimum $50 bucks apiece[plus shipping].
170's and 160's aren't worth squat
that effectively lowers your, per set, tire bill from around $350, to $300
nobody wants the fronts, so leave them at the pirelli tent, but man they love the shred-to-the-edge rears. before I started running slicks, I sold every 180 DOT takeoff I ever had. [used slicks aren't worth squat either]
matter of fact, I'm such a cheap fu*k, I think I'll start running a DOT rear and slick front next season. I race LW, and honestly can't feel the diff [on the rear tire] between the grip of a slick and DOT anyhow. When I get close to a highside, it's because i'm behaving like an idiot.
lastly, I think the Pirelli DOT's are very good, predictable tires.
I have to agree with the 180 as well. With the 170 you are right on the edge of the rear tire, reducing contact patch and traction exiting corners. The 180 will allow you to get the throttle open all the way, sooner than the 170. There are more tire choices available, I am currently running Diablo Corsa III on my race bike and a corsa III front and standard diablo rear on the street bike. I can drag the fairing on the street with these tires, they really go pretty well.
I have run dunlop slicks before on the track, but never pirelli. I will try them this coming season if they will not upset the chassis set-up too much.
Are you all reccomending a 180 for all SS's, or just the 800? I've got a 99 900SS and tires are getting replaced this winter. The PP's I've got on there now have been absolutely amazing! The profile is so steep, I couldn't get get to the edge on the street. A track day fixed that pretty quick, but on the street they were awesome. A little soft for touring, as the center wore much quicker, but definately a confidence inspiring tire.
Are you all reccomending a 180 for all SS's, or just the 800?
I ran 180 size Sportecs and Diablos on my 01 900SS with excellent results. I'd say anything with a 5.5 inch rim should get a 180. The 620 and 750 SS used a 4.5 inch rim with a 160 series tire. I think the 800 SS uses a 5.5 inch rim like the 1000SS and most of the SBKs. I'd say that is a more important factor in determining tire size than engine displacement when it comes down to handling. Maintaining the tire's profile is the issue. Streching a 170 over a 5.5 inch rim is just as bad as sqeezing a 180 on to a 4.5 inch rim IMHO.
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2001 900SS Red (gone but not forgotten)
2003 ST4s Senna colors.
I am currently running Diablo Corsa III on my race bike and a corsa III front and standard diablo rear on the street bike..
Hey, I'm kinda thinking about trying the Corsa III's as my next street tire. Didn't usued to like the looks of it but it's growing on me. Anyways, why did you choose this combination on your street bike instead of the III on front and rear?? The way I understand it, the center of the rear on the Corsa III is the same as the old Diablo Corsa with the improved traction on the side edges, which means mileage should be about the same down the center between both tires.
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'04 800SS...Strati pipes, K&N air filter/air box, Afam 42t sproket, DID chain, Evoluzione fender eliminator, Bridgestone BT-014's
'05 749s...Evoluzione fender eliminator, Termi 54mm full-system, PCIII/Custon Map, 41t sproket, DiD chain, CF Hugger
My driveway is 1/3 mile of crushed stone and I have a problem with flatting the rear tire on the stones. Just by feel of the two tires off the rim the street diablo seems to have a heavier carcass. You can easily flex the corsa III tread area by hand, the street tire is noticably stiffer. It most likely is my imagination, but I have flatted two different sportec m-1, a pilot power and a pilot road. but not a 208 or the pirelli yet. They seem to flat and the end of their useful lives when the tread is getting real thin.
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