Did you know that choosing the wrong tire pressure for track day can ruin your motorcycle, your race, and worst case scenario even A CRASH! It's true, and many riders don't realize how crucial this decision is until it's too late. In this blog post, I'll show you how to choose the right tire pressure for a track day or a race, based on your motorcycle, your tires, and the track conditions.
Don't risk your safety and performance on the track. Read on to find out how to choose tire pressure for track day like a pro.
TL;DR ask the pit mechanic in the pit to set it up for you but if you don't have one or you would like to maximize your performance as much as possible through the critical tire pressure gaining an advantage over your competitors this article which teach you how.
By the end of this article, you will know the:
Understanding Tire Pressure
Understanding Tire Pressure is essential before we dig deeper in this post. Tire pressure is the amount of air inside your tires, measured in pounds per square inch (psi) or bar. It's one of the most critical factors that affect your bike's performance, as it determines how much contact your tires have with the road surface.
The more contact, the more grip and traction you have. The less contact, the less grip and traction you have. It's that simple.
But tire pressure is not something that you can set once and forget. It changes constantly depending on various factors, such as ambient temperature, road temperature, tire temperature, tire wear, and riding style.
That's why you need to check and adjust your tire pressure regularly, especially before and after each track session.
Setting the Right Pressure: Bike vs. Tire Considerations
Bike type refers to whether your bike is a sports motorcycle or a cruiser (or something in between). Your motorcycle for a Track day is more likely to be a sports motorcycle.
Sports motorcycles are designed for high-speed performance and agility on twisty roads and tracks. They have lighter frames, stiffer suspensions, lower handlebars, and higher footpegs. They also have narrower tires with less tread depth and more grip.
Cruisers are designed for comfort and stability on long-distance rides. They have heavier frames, softer suspensions, higher handlebars, and lower footpegs. They also have wider tires with more tread depth and less grip.
In general, sportbikes need higher tire pressures than cruisers, as they have less contact area with the road and need more stiffness and responsiveness from their tires.
Cruisers need lower tire pressures than sportbikes, as they have more contact area with the road and need more cushioning and comfort from their tires.
Tire type refers to whether your tires are street tires or track tires.
Street tires are designed for everyday use on public roads. They have more tread depth and grooves to provide traction on wet and dry surfaces. They also have a harder rubber compound to withstand wear and tear and last longer.
Track tires are designed for optimal performance on race tracks. They have less tread depth and grooves to provide maximum grip on dry surfaces. They also have a softer rubber compound to heat up faster and stick better to the road.
In general, street tires need higher tire pressures than track tires, as they have more air volume and need more support from the air pressure.
Track tires need lower tire pressures than street tires, as they have less air volume and need more flexibility from the tire carcass.
Key Factors Influencing Tire Pressures on Track Days
Ambient temperature: This is the temperature of the air outside your tires. It affects your starting tire pressure, as you need to adjust it according to the expected temperature changes throughout the day.
Check your tire pressure in the morning before your first session, and then again before each subsequent session. You should also check it after each session, as your tires will heat up during the ride and lose some pressure when they cool down.
Track temperature: This is the temperature of the road surface that your tires are in contact with. It affects your tire temperature, as it transfers heat to or from your tires depending on whether it's hotter or colder than your tires.
Aim for a track temperature that is close to or slightly higher than your optimal tire temperature, which is usually around 180°F for street tires and 200°F for track tires. You can measure your track temperature with an infrared thermometer or a pyrometer.
Tire temperature: This is the temperature of your tires themselves. It affects your tire pressure, as it causes your tires to expand or contract depending on whether they're hotter or colder than the air inside them.
Aim for a tire temperature that is close to or slightly lower than your optimal tire temperature, which is usually around 180°F for street tires and 200°F for track tires. You can measure your tire temperature with a pyrometer or a tire pressure gauge with a built-in thermometer.
Tire wear: This is the amount of rubber that your tires lose due to friction with the road surface. It affects your tire pressure, as it reduces the volume of your tires and increases their stiffness.
Check your tire wear regularly and replace your tires when they reach their wear indicators or when they show signs of cracking, blistering, or chunking.
Riding style: This is how you ride your bike on the track, such as how fast you go, how hard you brake, how much you lean, and how smooth you are. It affects your tire pressure, as it influences how much heat and stress you generate on your tires.
Adjust your tire pressure according to your riding style and preferences. For example, if you ride aggressively and like to slide your rear wheel, you might want to lower your rear tire pressure slightly to get more grip and feedback. Or if you ride conservatively and like to be smooth and precise, you might want to raise your front tire pressure slightly to get more stability and responsiveness.
The Art of Determining Your Perfect Tire Pressure
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of what is the perfect tire pressure for track day. If you copy your pal's Michelin tires on his Kawasaki on your Ducati with Pirellis, You've just bought yourself a ticket to the back bench of the race. The ideal tire pressure depends on several factors, such as:
Your riding style: Are you a smooth or aggressive rider? Do you lean a lot or brake hard? Your riding style affects how much heat and wear your tires generate, which in turn affects your tire pressure.
Your tire brand: Different tire brands have different recommended pressures for track use. Some tires are designed to run at lower pressures than others, depending on their construction, compound, and profile.
Your track conditions: The temperature, humidity, and surface of the track also influence your tire pressure. Hotter and drier conditions require higher pressures than colder and wetter ones. Likewise, smoother and cleaner tracks require lower pressures than rougher and dirtier ones.
To determine your perfect tire pressure for a track day, you need to experiment with different settings and monitor how your tires perform.
You can use a digital tire pressure gauge to measure your cold and hot pressures before and after each session. You can also use a pyrometer to measure your tire temperatures across the tread.
Ideally, you want to achieve even and consistent temperatures across the tread, as well as even and consistent wear patterns. If your tires are too cold or too hot, or if they show signs of uneven wear, you need to adjust your pressure accordingly.
A Comprehensive Guide to Trackday Tire Pressures by Brand
- Bridgestone: 30 psi front / 28 psi rear
- Dunlop: 32 psi front / 30 psi rear
- Michelin: 31 psi front / 29 psi rear
- Pirelli: 30 psi front / 28 psi rear
- Metzeler: 30 psi front / 28 psi rear
- Continental: 31 psi front / 29 psi rear
Check out these links to see the particular model you have and see the recommendations for that model from the manufacturer.
The Role of Tire Pressure in Optimizing Track Performance
Why is tire pressure so important for optimizing your track performance? Tire pressure affects several aspects of your bike's behavior on the track, such as:
Handling: Tire pressure affects how your bike steers, turns, and leans on the track. Too high or too low pressure can make your bike feel unstable, sluggish, or unpredictable.
Grip: Tire pressure affects how much traction your tires have on the track. Too high or too low pressure can reduce your grip level, causing your tires to slide or spin.
Braking: Tire pressure affects how well your tires stop on the track. Too high or too low pressure can compromise your braking efficiency, causing your tires to lock up or skid.
Acceleration: Tire pressure affects how well your tires propel you on the track. Too high or too low pressure can hinder your acceleration performance, causing your tires to slip or bog down.
Frequently Asked Questions about Motorcycle Trackday Tire Pressures
How much should I change my tire pressure from street to track?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on several factors such as your riding style, tire brand, and track conditions.
However, as a general rule of thumb, you should lower your tire pressure from street to track, as track tires need to run at lower pressures than street tires. This is because track tires need to generate more heat and grip than street tires, which they can do better at lower pressures.
However, you should not lower your pressure too much, as this can cause your tires to overheat, deform, or lose structural integrity. A good starting point is to lower your pressure by 10% from street to track, and then adjust it based on your tire performance.
How often should I check my tire pressure on track day?
You should check your tire pressure before and after each session on track day. This will help you monitor how your tires are performing and how much they are changing due to heat and wear.
You should use a digital tire pressure gauge to measure your cold and hot pressures, and a pyrometer to measure your tire temperatures. You should also inspect your tires for any signs of damage, punctures, or uneven wear.
If you notice any issues with your tire performance or condition, you should adjust your pressure accordingly or replace your tires if necessary.
How much does tire pressure change due to temperature?
As the temperature of a gas increases, so does its pressure, and vice versa. The same applies to the air inside your tires, which expands or contracts due to temperature changes.
A common rule of thumb is that for every10°F change in temperature, tire pressure changes by 1 psi. For example, if the pressure is 30 psi and the temperature rises by 20°F, your hot tire pressure will be 32 psi.
However, this rule of thumb is only an approximation and may not account for other factors such as tire construction, compound, and profile.
How do I know if my tire pressure is too high or too low?
There are several indicators that can tell you if your tire pressure is too high or too low for track use. Some of them are:
Tire temperatures: You can use a pyrometer to measure your tire temperatures across the tread. Ideally, you want to achieve even and consistent temperatures across the tread, within the optimal range for your tire brand and compound. If your tires are too cold or too hot, or if they show signs of uneven temperatures, you need to adjust your pressure accordingly.
Tire wear: You can inspect your tires for any signs of uneven or excessive wear. Ideally, you want to achieve even and consistent wear across the tread, without any signs of tearing, chunking, blistering, or cupping. If your tires show signs of uneven or excessive wear, you need to adjust your pressure accordingly.
Tire performance: You can also judge your tire pressure by how your tires perform on the track. Ideally, you want to achieve optimal handling, grip, braking, and acceleration with your tires. If your tires feel unstable, sluggish, unpredictable, slippery, or bogged down, you need to adjust your pressure accordingly.
Conclusion
Tire pressure is one of the most important factors that affect your track performance on a motorcycle. By finding the perfect tire pressure for your track day, you can optimize your handling, grip, braking, and acceleration with your bike. To determine your perfect tire pressure for a track day, you need to experiment with different settings and monitor how your tires perform. You can also use our comprehensive guide to track day tire pressures by brand as a starting point. By mastering tire pressure for improved track day performance, you can enjoy a smoother, faster, and safer ride on the track.
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