How to read tires

[Slide Panda]

Originally in a post by Thought - a video from the On The Throttle series on how to read your tires and what they can tell you about suspension set up and bike geometry

Long video, but very informative
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6516891

[thought]

 

[chitown]

that video was great. 

[Slide Panda]

So after inspecting the tires of my KTM after a track day. I've realized that I'm pretty good at amateur suspension setting- pat on back. Front is about as good as it's going to get even wear across the surface, beach sand ripples with no torn or harshly abused sections. The rear is close, but looks like I could tweak the rebound- adding a little. The leading edge of the sipes is showing a bit more wear. All in all it seems my fussing and note taking have paid off, and thanks to this video I have further insight to guide my twiddling.

Of course that's all with the stock suspension bits... which do leave a bit of wanting. Not bad, but not great.

[thought]

I'm going to be taking more notes the next TD I go to too... I remembered enough to note that I didnt have any cold or hot tears on the tires and got a good sandy beach pattern... but I also had some uneven wear on the sipes of my tires too.  At that point I forgot what they meant as I had seen this vid a while before I started to go to the track but I'm going to pay more attention next time.