Best tyres for motorcycle track days
How to choose the best motorcycle tyres for track days? Read on to find out all you need to know.
Contents of the article:
• How to choose the best motorcycle tyres for track days?
• Level of skill: EXPERT
• Level of skill: INTERMEDIATE
• Level of skill: NOVICE
• What to do if you have a cylinder capacity of less than 600 cc?
• What to do if you have to drive on the circuit in rainy weather?
• The importance of riding at the right pressure during motorcycle track days
• What are tyre warmers for?
• Why choose MICHELIN motorcycle tyres for track days?
• Set up your motorcycle for track day
• Discover our best tyres for motorcycle track days
How to choose the best motorcycle tyres for track days?
How to choose the best motorcycle tyres for track days?
To make sure you get the most out of this experience, we've listed the best motorcycle tyres for track days, depending on your level of skills, your engine size and the desired performance.
What is your level of skill?
Level of skill: EXPERT
Refer to the cylinder capacity in the table and choose the performance you prefer.
Rider's level of skill: Expert | |||
---|---|---|---|
600 cc | 1000 cc | ||
Performance | High speed performance & longevity | High speed performance | Longevity |
Front tyre | MICHELIN Power Performance Slick Soft ¹ | MICHELIN Power Performance Slick Soft ¹ | MICHELIN Power Performance Slick Soft ¹ |
Rear tyre | MICHELIN Medium/Soft+ ¹ | MICHELIN Power Performance Slick Soft ¹ | MICHELIN Power Performance Slick 24 ¹ |
¹ TYRE WARMERS MUST BE USED
If you are an expert and have a 600cc engine:
Opt for the MICHELIN Power Performance Slick Soft front and the Medium/Soft+ rear for an optimal performance and a good longevity.
If you are an expert and have a 1000cc engine:
Opt for the MICHELIN Power Performance Slick Soft front and rear to prioritise performance at high speed. If you want to focus on longevity, choose the MICHELIN Power Performance Slick Soft at the front and the MICHELIN Power Performance Slick 24 at the rear.
Note that these two tyres require the use of tyre warmers before driving.
These tyres are "non-road legal". It is therefore forbidden to use them outside the track.
Level of skill: INTERMEDIATE
| ||
---|---|---|
>= 600 cc | ||
Performance | High speed performance & longevity | |
Front tyre | MICHELIN Power Slick 2 | MICHELIN Power Cup 2 |
Rear tyre | MICHELIN Power Slick 2 | MICHELIN Power Cup 2 |
If you are an intermediate rider with a >= 600cc engine, you can choose between a MICHELIN Power Slick 2 and a MICHELIN Power Cup 2 which both offer a good compromise between performance and durability.
Note that MICHELIN Power Slick 2 is "non road legal". If you have to come to the track on your bike, then opt for the MICHELIN Power Cup 2.
Note that this range does not require the use of tyre warmers before driving.
After riding on the track and before street riding, you will need to adjust the cold tyre pressure to the manufacturer’s recommended setting.
Level of skill: NOVICE
Rider's level of skill: Novice | ||
---|---|---|
>= 600 cc | ||
Performance | High speed performance & longevity | |
Front tyre | MICHELIN Power Cup 2 | MICHELIN Power GP |
Rear tyre | MICHELIN Power Cup 2 | MICHELIN Power GP |
If you are a novice and have a >= 600cc engine:
The MICHELIN Power Cup 2 or the MICHELIN Power GP will both offer you a good compromise between performance and longevity.
The MICHELIN Power Cup 2 is a road legal tyre oriented for track, compared to the MICHELIN Power GP oriented 50% for the track and 50% for the road.
Note that this range does not require the use of tyre warmers before driving.
After riding on the track and before street riding, you will need to adjust the cold tyre pressure to the manufacturer’s recommended setting.
What to do if you have a cylinder capacity of less than 600 cc?
In this case, opt for the MICHELIN Power Cup EVO, which is more suitable for this type of engine.
As this tyre is "road legal", you can use it on the road to get to the circuit.
Note that this range does not require the use of tyre warmers before driving.
After riding on the track and before street riding, you will need to adjust the cold tyre pressure to the manufacturer’s recommended setting.
What to do if you have to drive on the circuit in rainy weather?
The MICHELIN Power Rain will be the tyre of choice to ensure good grip on wet surfaces, whether they are damp, wet or full wet.
This tyre is "non-road legal" and can only be used on the circuit.
Note that this range does not require the use of tyre warmers before driving. If it is used, they should be adjusted to temperature of 40°C.
<= 600cc | Rainy weather | |
---|---|---|
Front tyre | MICHELIN Power Cup EVO Road legal | MICHELIN Power Rain Non road legal |
Rear tyre | MICHELIN Power Cup EVO Road legal | MICHELIN Power Rain + Non road legal |
The importance of riding at the right pressure during motorcycle track days
Tyre pressure is essential and should be adjusted when the tyres are at ambient temperature.
If you ride with under-inflated or over-inflated tyres, performance is not optimal and the tyres will wear out prematurely. For more information, please refer to our motorcycle tyre pressure guide.
What are tyre warmers for?
Circuit tyres are designed to operate within a temperature window. This means that their performance is optimal only when this temperature is reached. But a tyre is cold before it is run. It will therefore take time to reach the ideal temperature for performance when riding.
Tyre warmers allow the tyre to reach this temperature window more quickly and thus shorten the period during which the tyre is less efficient.
On very high performance tyres used in competition, the use of tyre warmers is mandatory.
Why choose MICHELIN motorcycle tyres for track days?
Competition and performance have always been a part of Michelin's DNA. Since its return in 2016, Michelin is the official and exclusive tyre supplier to MotoGP™
Since 1973, Michelin has had more than 440 wins and 31 world championship titles in the Premier Class with 15 different riders.
In 2018, the brand also returned to national level motorcycle racing with the MICHELIN Power Performance range, winning several championship titles in both the 600 cc and 1000 cc categories, notably in Spain, France, Greece and Nordics.
In 2020, the MICHELIN Power Slick 2, Cup 2, Power GP and Power 5 were launched in the market to meet the needs of sports riders from the road to the track.
Set up your motorcycle for track day
On the track, a well-tuned bike will give you peace of mind. Suspension, bike balance, spring hardness, preload or hydraulics (compression, rebond) are all areas that may need adjustment.
Find the nearest professional to adjust your bike for track days.