Tread Carefully

Hypersport hoops are so good nowadays it begs the question, do we really need slicks to go fast?

- Frodo

Slick tyres… we all seem to love ’em, don’t we? I’m not sure about you, but whenever I have them underneath me I feel like Marc Marquez. The trouble is, they’re a lot of aggro unless you’re racing… I mean, just think about the pros and cons for a second. For starters, it’s only the diehard track riders who can really have them, as there’s no chance of riding to and from a track day on them – unless you fancy a night in the cells and subsequently an ass that’s as ruined as Boothies. Not to mention the painstaking need for tyre warmers and heat before you head out on track…

Oh, and don’t even get me started on the various compounds for different temperatures, alongside the fact that even a few spots of rain can offer a rather sketchy situation. And at the end of the day, do you really get much more out of them? Especially as a set of slick tyres costs a fair amount of cash: a set of Michelin’s Power RS hyper-sport-worthy hoops will set you back about £251, while the same size set of slicks comes in at £307. Okay, it’s not breaking the bank, but if they do the same job I’d rather have that extra cash to spend on some beers after a track day. So yes, they look cool, and yes they offer superior grip when on the very edge, but when tyre companies use the same tech in their whole range of hoops, surely a few tiers of tyre down won’t make a difference unless you fancy going out and performing like Rossi?