Testing With Pirelli
Chris
- January 23 2009
- 2,988 views
- 5 comments
Last week, the TransWorld crew met up with Pirelli tires at LA County Raceway for venture into tire testing. As much as we were out there experiencing firsthand what it is like to be a race team testing tires for competition, Pirelli was also doing research of their own. They have been on a tour of sorts through Southern California to get feedback from the guys who consider SoCal their backyard. Other publications were recruited on this tour in various locales; but for us, LACR played host to our endeavor.
We tested two sets of tires in the Scorpion MX family, including the Scorpion Mid Soft and the Scorpion EXTRA. Both tire compounds come in a full range of sizing, including minis.
In the morning, while the track was freshly watered and groomed, we put the Scorpion Mid Soft to the test. Initial reaction from the TransWorld crew was positive, particularly with the Mid Soft front tire.
“The front tire stuck like crazy,” said Pro test rider Pat Foster. “It was really good under braking, and it didn’t want to tuck the front end. It tracked really well and entered the rut extremely well.”
Every rider from TWMX felt the same, and came away with the overall consensus that the Mid Soft front tire was the star of the day.
As the day progressed, and the track deteriorated, we swapped out the Mid Soft for the Scorpion EXTRA. Pirelli wanted some feedback from us on this tire particularly, as much as we wanted to give it a try. This tire is designed for the everyman enthusiast, and not necessarily targeted to the hardcore racer. The EXTRA is a value-driven tire that prides itself on being durable while maintaining workability (i.e. you can change the tire without three hours of cussing and wrestling with super hard, uncooperative rubber). As we mentioned, the EXTRA is very much like the Scorpion Mid Hard, but in a single compound build.
As with the Mid Soft, the EXTRA hooked up great, although it does have a stiffer sidewall because of the construction. Also, LA County Raceway doesn’t really get hardpacked, so it was difficult to really feel the advantages of the Mid Hard design. This tire would be perfect for mid to late day at Perris Raceway, for those who are familiar with Southern California conditions.
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January 23rd, 2009 at 9:15 pm
How do you think these mid soft tires would work at Milestone? I have yet to find a sweet front tire for out there on the main track. Thanks, these tires sound like they might be worth trying!
January 27th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
I’m a Senior B rider in Colorado and I have got to say i wouldn’t recommend the mid hard scorpion for any hard packed track. My 09 CRF 450 just about tore the knobs off the side wall after two (2)
rides. And they wanted me to send the tire back (at my own expense)
to make a warranty claim.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:04 am
The 90 size mid soft front is AMAZING. I rode Milestone with it today and it was like cheating
February 9th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
mx mid soft is incredble for most tracks!!!
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 am
actually, I, a open 350 racer, am the one who whipped those darned knobbies off that tire. good ol’ elbow weighs a ton i was pinned! ho man! and it was only after one (1) ride!