Eating through tires...

[Mapoipoi]

I used the Michelin Power One- Great grip, lasted for only 2.5 track days...
Recently got Q2s- 2 days on them already, looks like the 3rd day will probably kill it.:

I think I have my suspension set up nicely, I max out the rear at 10, and set everything in the front at 7.
I also run the pressures people usually recommend. 30/30 for Power One, 32/30 for Q2 (both of these are warm).

So, my question- is this situation normal? Should I really expect tires to last this much? I've been told it's the sheer horsepower, maybe I should crank it to rain mode but then I might as well sell the bike and get a 600. Might also be my skill level- running in middle group intermediate, perhaps I'm not smooth enough yet...

Any feedback is appreciated.

[AMRRA12]

Originally Posted by Mapoipoi

I used the Michelin Power One- Great grip, lasted for only 2.5 track days...
Recently got Q2s- 2 days on them already, looks like the 3rd day will probably kill it.:

I think I have my suspension set up nicely, I max out the rear at 10, and set everything in the front at 7.
I also run the pressures people usually recommend. 30/30 for Power One, 32/30 for Q2 (both of these are warm).

So, my question- is this situation normal? Should I really expect tires to last this much? I've been told it's the sheer horsepower, maybe I should crank it to rain mode but then I might as well sell the bike and get a 600. Might also be my skill level- running in middle group intermediate, perhaps I'm not smooth enough yet...

Any feedback is appreciated.

The stock suspension is not all the great and if you’re running intermediate you may be over taxing the suspension a bit or your setup is not quite right

Some riding styles are harder on tires than other (I’m a ham fister) I drive out hard and spin up the rear alot, not good for tire management
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If your running to high of PSI you will KILL tires fast due to cold tearing
Remember:

all PSI is,is temp control
------------------------------------------------------------

Make sure you running the right compound tire,
if it’s 90 degrees out you don’t want a soft compound tire

Just like if it’s 40 degrees out you don’t want a hard compound tire

[DrIoannis]

You have the rear stock suspension everything on the max (10)?I think its a bit too much.I do not know your weight but I am 210lbs without gear and I think I had the rear slow compression at 5 and the fast at 4...The rebound damping was at 8 as I can remember but that's depending on the preload of your the spring also.The rear stock suspension is not that bad but the front needs a bit of work.

[crabman]

180 HP is tough on tires.

[1000RR]

Originally Posted by Mapoipoi

I used the Michelin Power One- Great grip, lasted for only 2.5 track days...
Recently got Q2s- 2 days on them already, looks like the 3rd day will probably kill it.:

I think I have my suspension set up nicely, I max out the rear at 10, and set everything in the front at 7.
I also run the pressures people usually recommend. 30/30 for Power One, 32/30 for Q2 (both of these are warm).

So, my question- is this situation normal? Should I really expect tires to last this much? I've been told it's the sheer horsepower, maybe I should crank it to rain mode but then I might as well sell the bike and get a 600. Might also be my skill level- running in middle group intermediate, perhaps I'm not smooth enough yet...

Any feedback is appreciated.

Could be wrong, but I thought someone told me that a good starting point for the Q2's at the track was 30/30 (cold). This of course is a starting point and should be confirmed by what the pressure/temps are coming off the track (hot)... but it sounds like you are running a bit lower pressures, no?

[R35 GTR]

Originally Posted by DrIoannis

You have the rear stock suspension everything on the max (10)?I think its a bit too much.I do not know your weight but I am 210lbs without gear and I think I had the rear slow compression at 5 and the fast at 4...The rebound damping was at 8 as I can remember but that's depending on the preload of your the spring also.The rear stock suspension is not that bad but the front needs a bit of work.

BMW recommended suspension for track is fork= 8,8 shock= 8,9,10 and this for a 185lb rider. You being 210 with those settings are way too low but could work for you because you might not push the back that hard to realize the difference. Theres a sticker under the rear cowl on the fuse box that tells you settings for race/slick, comfort and sport but I notices my buddies didn't have one on there. Its definitely not the optimal settings but I believe is a good base to start with.

[DrIoannis]

I used to have it on 8 (compression damping) and I was loosing tire pretty quick.

[csvanen]

I am also eating through tires. Typically I change rear tire every 2½-4 days depending on the track.

A few considerations

Bridgestone slicks in my experience last longest of the various brands. But, these have a tendency to loose grip with limited/ no warning. In terms of $$ per km this is best deal if you do not calculate cost from repairing from crashes.... :-)

Dunlop slicks in Europe sell the UK and French editions. UK are far superior to French, but also somewhat more expensive. French I have teared up in 2 days. UK I found too expensive compared to Super Corsa

Super Corsa 200 (SC1 or SC2) are in my experience clear number one. Superior grip and feel. Lastability is in the end

If you really want to get longer mileage on your tires, you could consider endurance tires, e.g., from Dunlop. But, you will most likely get your TC activated much more... :-)

[ChrisMag]

What would be the total mileage from one of your track days? Have you spoken to other riders on big bikes to see what kind of wear they're seeing (i.e. is the track really abrasive?)?

Why are you maxing out compression at the rear?

How do your tires look? Can you post a photo of the worn out rear?

30psi hot sounds too low for a Q2 based on recommendations from our local distributor. As another said, you could simply be overheating the tire and destroying it.

Set aside an hour and watch this video:

Dave Moss Unsprung: Tire Wear, how to "see" what your tire is telling you in terms of wear patterns that can easily be recognized and then attended to. Th...

[AMRRA12]

There are sooooo many variables on all this that for someone to say your PSI is to low or your rebound is too slow without knowing the whole picture is just chasing there tail
there is probable no one right answer and without knowing all the variables it’s a hard point to make

here are a few facts
what suspension setting work for me may suck for you ( you may be faster than me) and the faster you go the harder suspension needs to work the stiffer it needs to be!

( case in point: ride a race bike at ¾ speed and it will feel as if your killing yourself tying to get around a track , the bike will beat the hell out of you)

(now dial that up to 95% speed and the bike will ride smooth and will cut a tight apex)

So the faster you are the stiffer things need to be to work at that speed

So taking anything a manufactures manual has to say about “were to set suspension” is kind of like taking driving lessons from caveman …probable not going to work out so good