With the new tires coming out (GP Star, Pilot, Pirelli EVO) rain tracion is going to suck. I have a set of rains but have yet to run them and need some help with their capabilities. Anyone with advice, please give it a go.
Yeah, I'm with WERA 16 as I plan on running Pilots this year and have never ridden on rain tires. Any help you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Rains are nice, but I still ride them like DOT's in the rain...you can do 3 things: Accelerate, brake, and turn. I try to never do any more than one of those in the rain at a time. (maybe thats why I am so slow in the rain!) but I always finish. Even on slicks in the wet at Summit..the old Summit! I absolutly cannot wait to race the new pavement!
Rain tires rock! In 99 was the first time I used them. In March at RA took it easy for first couple of laps and then I got the feel of them. I was dragging my knee in a couple of the corners as well. All slides were controlable. You won't believe how much fun you can have in the rain. Unless your at a slippery track or heavyly patched one.
So it is true that you can access medium lean angles and control the machine. My biggest concern is that if I mount these things up, I want to know if I can push within 2-3 seconds of my dry times.
Not going to happen when it's real wet, trust me. If you're hauling ass in the wet on rain tires add ~15-20 seconds to your dry lap times. (Though, I recall Lee Acree really hauling ass in the rain on DOTs last spring at RA) Anyway, you need to be really smooth and consistent with everything you do in the rain. Pushing hard will usually put you on your head.
Lee was flying but being on regular DOT's is what put him on his head in T-10...twice....in the same race.
oopps!!!My mistake,first time om BBS I agree with Tracee Polcin ,rain tires work beter than most riders think.I dont no how the fast riders do it,But I try to be off the brakes completly going into a turn in the rain.It worked for me in the 600 NATIONAL CHALLEGE at the GNF,3rd place and A tight 2nd against Ernest Maile who dominated the past year as a novice.That was a tough weekend for racers.The rain was several inches thick at certain points of the track!!RAIN TIRES DO ROCK!!