Cobie Fair
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Posts posted by Cobie Fair
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Honestly, on the street, I don't know that I ever get tires to full temp. It would have to be very warm day. I just don't ride that fast on the street.
At the track (or street too) one thing that can help is in a straight line, accelerate hard, and brake hard-ish too. This will help flex the tire and get some heat. Still have to make sure you increase the pace gradiently at the edges of the tire though, no sudden increases in lean angle, just gradual ones.
See if it helps to be aware of that feeling of a cold tire, and then notice the opposite, how does it feel when it is hot. Might have to wait till you get a warm day for that :).
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This next part is to see how to tell what it feels like, and some simple guides:
No, not necessary to be going fast, this can be felt at slow speeds. This is before sliding of course, the tire just doesn't feel like it's tracking exactly as it should, it doesn't feel positive and planted, it's not turning and holding a line well. One might think, "I'm just being a wuss" but in fact the tire isn't working, the rubber is not filling into the those little dips. Tires do not work below temp, full stop.
A way to check the tire is simply when you pull over, pull your glove off and feel the tires (both front and rear). If it feels cool to your touch, that's stone cold. If it feels tepid/lukewarm, that's cool. If it's for sure warm, you are getting there. If the rear is hot, then you are there. This is just a rule of thumb of course. But the idea is to start to get a feel for what the tire is like as it warms, and when it's finally hot.
When hot, it turns in, and holds the line (sometimes going even tighter than you'd expect).
So a question to all reading: have you experienced this?
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On 11/3/2022 at 11:02 AM, Jaybird180 said:
I’d be interested in knowing how to tell if the tire is ready to perform. When I was on Michelin there was a discernible feel to the tire, but not so (to me) on Dunlop.
This is a question we get often, and as Jaybird mentions above, a part is how does it feel? First, lets refer to one aspect of a tire's grip, contact patch. To somewhat over-simplify, the surface looked at closely is quite rough, with small ridges and dips. A cold tire "skates" over the top of the ridges, and doesn't push into the dips.
Have you ever gone out on a cold tire, cold day and the bike felt like it was skating on the surface? Well, it was! When steered into a corner of any kind, it also didn't turn and hold the line well at all.
Have you noticed this?
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Just got word from CSS HQ (my wife Whitney, in the next office), our first full schools.
That's the 2-day camp at Barber in May, and also the 2-day at VIR.
So...if you have been holding off on signing up for a date...don't dawdle. Even if you aren't sure you can make it, if you give more than 2 weeks notice, won't cost you anything to re-schedule.
Best,
CF
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Jaybird,
Let's touch on your last point. The Q's (3+, 4) are very good tires and as you said do fine at A group pace, but they aren't quite as good as slicks. For example, all my coaches will opt for the slicks on a warm enough day. Even w/out tire warmers. The Q tires are for street and track day as you say, but the full pace of racing is that bit more, and the Q's aren't made for that.
We good on this point? I'm thinking the next part of this would be an earlier point made, about how can you tell when they are working?
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Let's start broadly, then narrow this down, and see about 1 piece at a time.
First issue will be getting the tire up to temperature. What is the correct temperature? That will depend on the type of tire, say street tire vs slick (only meant for track).
A street tire like the Q3+ will work at a lower temp, and broader temp than a slick. I'm not an engineer, and so this will be approx numbers. Q3 would be 120-180, front, a little more for the rear. A slick will be a higher and narrow band. I wasn't able to find much data on this, but maybe 180-200?
The engineers test with a probe, to get the carcass temp, not the surface temp. Surface temp is not as reliable to measure (tire could get spun, be hotter on the surface).
All good on this so far?
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The Schools at the early and later part of the year, when it's cooler have the most issues with tire management. There seems to be a lack of good information regarding tires. Before we launch into that, is this a subject the forum readers are interested in more information?
Potential points of discussion:
- How do they work (general info).
- How to warm?
- How to tell when warm/hot?
- How long to scrub in a new tire?
- Difference between street tires and slicks?
- When should one run slicks?
Let us know if this is of interest to any of the readers/lurkers on the forum.
Best,
Cobie
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Yes, so true!
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Thanks for the summary on the Japanese champs...Spain will be interesting!
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Yeah, the announcers were commenting a lot on how close it got a few times...sure was entertaining :).
If I were on the Ducati management team, think I'd be missing some chunks of hair.
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Dave,
If I'd not said this, I'm jealous of your avatar name, that's perfect.
He had been amazing on the brakes, literally backing it in a number of times. Though, I wonder if that really helped him at all.
I agree with you on this, looked to me like he added lean angle towards the end of braking. I wonder how many riders, even at the top level, have done this and had it bit him in the booty. I guess he got a little greed for those 5 points. Look at what'll have to happen to win the title in Spain...I'd say might not be that likely now. Kinda too bad, I think it'd be good for the sport to have a Japanese champ, when (if ever) has their been one for Moto2? Anyone know?
CF
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What did Ogura do that was different, and caused his incident...?
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All dates are up on our website, https://superbikeschool.com/schedule/
Call, email, or go to the site to register. Always recommend signing up, and cancel if you can't make it, rather than wait too late, not get the exact school and date you want. If you give more than 2 weeks notice, no charge to re-schedule.
800-530-3350. We like talking to our students!
Best,
Cobie
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There is a lot to consider with that race, but I'm curious what you guys think about Ducati team orders? Should there be some, and if so what? The commentators mentioned if a rider is in contention (even if not close) for the title, should he just go for the win?
Long time since Stoner won a title for Ducati...
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Hi All,
Looking like a pretty busy winter schedule. The new schedule will be released in a few weeks (late October approx), we'll be assisting at the RR Fest at Chuckwalla (with Femwalla) in mid-December, sending some staff down to the Philippines and Australia for schools/coach training.
Still looking for office staff at our World HQ in LA, give us a ring if you are interested.
Best,
Cobie
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Full-time position available immediately at our LA office (just north of downtown LA, CA). Here is a brief description from our VP Admin Whitney Fair:
Looking for Office Admin person to take and process student registration, organize paperwork for students and yearly classes, customer service by email and phone, and other duties. Needs to be upbeat, reliable, good with people, trustworthy, detailed oriented, and organized. Hourly pay based on experience plus commissions. Work in-office from 9am-5pm, M-F. Call Whitney at 323-224-2734 or email her at whitney@superbikeschool.com
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The Ridge...right up there as a staff favorite. And July has been great weather for us!
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This is an interesting topic, how to hold onto the bike under braking. We've had many do well with keeping the inside knee on the tank (I do for sure). But some can support themselves with the inner thigh, as is seen by some braking with the knee out, or dangling the leg.
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Hey All,
I've been here 34 years, and never seen anything like the response we are getting! We sold out our first school in 24 hours!
If you plan on attending this year, there is no such thing as registering too early. You can switch/cancel a date if you give more than 2 weeks notice, but once a school is full, then it will be onto the wait list.
And we don't mind talking with people, so feel free to call give us a call: 800-530-3350.
Best,
Cobie
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Dunlop Q5....
in Cornering and Techniques
Posted
Any of you internet savvy folks know about this new tire...?