Race Tyres

stuzz
stuzz Posts: 3
edited March 2013 in Amateur race
This is my first time racing and just wanted advice on tyre choice?

I currently have Michelin Lithion 2 tyres on my bike, should i upgrade or will the Lithions be alright to start out with ?

Comments

  • racingcondor
    racingcondor Posts: 1,434
    Fine to start with.

    Tyres don't make enough of a difference (in the dry at least) to really matter in most situations. The things that will get you dropped (if you are) are your fitness and bike handling, tyres and a superlight bike are nice but if you're getting dropped it's not the bike that's the issue. In your first few races I'd advise learning the circuit, working out how the bunch ebbs and flows and staying in the race.

    4th Cat racing is either about being 20% stronger than everyone else or it's about tactical awareness and luck (right place, right time / right wheel for the sprint).
  • stuzz
    stuzz Posts: 3
    Cheers for the advice !

    Well i'm just going to give it a go and see what happens. Think i will be happy to finish with the bunch,and take it from there and try to improve each race. I see it as a challendge and a learning curve!
  • joshvoulters
    joshvoulters Posts: 97
    Fully agree with racingcondor- tyres won't make a material difference.

    Only exception is if you puncture- so tyres with a bit of protection will pay dividends. I've been racing on Conti GP 4 Seasons, and they've been pretty good.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    A top tyre won't win you a race, but a crap one might lose you one... there are some seriously crap tyres out there... make sure you are not racing on a set of budget tyres or some seriously worn ones... a set of Conti GP in good nick are all you need.
    left the forum March 2023
  • okgo
    okgo Posts: 4,368
    Personally I think a good tyre is one of the most important things you can do to a bike. The difference between riding hardcase cheap tyres and a decent lightweight folding tyre is totally night and day to me.

    However as said above, if you're spat out the back then it won't be the tyres that are the issue :)
    Blog on my first and now second season of proper riding/racing - www.firstseasonracing.com
  • apj78
    apj78 Posts: 3
    From experience a decent pair of tyres can improve confidence when cornering, all important in allowing you to relax enough to go with the flow of the bunch instead of being erratic not holding your line around corners. Shop around theres plenty of deals about. Planet x have michelin pro 3's for £38 a pair delivered.

    Andy
  • ju5t1n
    ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    A top tyre won't win you a race, but a crap one might lose you one... there are some seriously crap tyres out there... make sure you are not racing on a set of budget tyres or some seriously worn ones... a set of Conti GP in good nick are all you need.
    This is true. But your Lithion2s are not crap. They're perfectly decent tyres. I won a set in a race last year and have them on my training bike. They feel a lot like Pro Race 3s

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