Does hot weather give slippery traction?

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Watched the BSB at Snetterton race tonight on ITV4 and before the 2nd race Josh Brookes said in interview 'there'll be a lot of falls because in this hot weather the tyres will be slippery'. This surprised me as I always thought the hotter the weather the stickier the tyres and better traction.

[benny hedges]

toward the back end of the race the tyres are toasted and the compounds get a bit squidgy....
is a strange feeling, sort of like if you can imagine riding on 2 wet fruit pastilles!

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Yeah, I've seen them tyres up close after the race and know what you mean. I still thought they'd be sticky though!

[tony.mon]

The tyre suppliers bring tyres based on the weather forecast, previous years' data etc.
Race tyres work best in a defined set of conditions, if it turns out much hotter or colder than anticipated then the tyre's performance can be adversely affected.

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Does that happen to our normal retail bought tyres?

[tony.mon]

No, they're designed to work over a much wider heat range a also weight range, pillions, camping gear etc.

Obviously tyres are grippier when the road and the tyre carcase is warm, but road-based tyres wills till grip to an acceptable (safe) extent when the road surface is cold, and although some tyres warm-up quicker than others, all will have a wide band of operating temperatures, which should be reachable for all bikes in all conditions road use is likely to throw up.

But don't expect big grip on cold tyres in January.

[Image]

Yeah, that fits with the traction I feel in hot weather. I think the pro-racers are in a different world with different rules. Have to say I feel safer traction wise on hot days.

[tony.mon]

Only other thing is that overbanding can start to melt in very hot weather, avoid this if temps get into the thirties.
Doesn't go liquid, just gooey, but it will act as a lubricant, not a grippy surface for tyres to grip on.

[Image]

I wonder if they do a hot tolerant tyre for the hotter countries like Turkey, Italy etc?

[tony.mon]

I wonder if they do a hot tolerant tyre for the hotter countries like Turkey?

Yes.

It has chicken strips.

[VTRDark]

And don't forget hot weather directly after a lot of rain is lethal as brings all the oils in the road/tarmac to the surface.

(:-})

[lloydie]

I know over the last few days as I've been riding it harder
I can feel flex in the bike .
First I thought it was the tyres but it's the rear of the bike .
I only really feel it under hard acceleration coming out of bends it .might be time to brace the frame at the swing arm

[AMCQ46]

I know over the last few days as I've been riding it harder
I can feel flex in the bike .
First I thought it was the tyres but it's the rear of the bike .
I only really feel it under hard acceleration coming out of bends it .might be time to brace the frame at the swing arm

As my rear tyre is close to the wear markers I get this rear flexing a lot just now. feels like the swing arm is made of rubber! more damping helps but makes the ride rougher. I am looking at lower tyre pressures just now and increased damping, but am hoping a new tyre will be a big improvement.

[lloydie]

Mine to is getting very low :-( again
I will change it in a few weeks and see if that helps

[Wicky]

Are you sure you're not feeling the rear of bike squatting as you power out of corners (are you running wide?) - If you're feeling lateral movement then check tire pressures and swing arm bearings etc.

I know over the last few days as I've been riding it harder
I can feel flex in the bike .
First I thought it was the tyres but it's the rear of the bike .
I only really feel it under hard acceleration coming out of bends it .might be time to brace the frame at the swing arm