A “COMPETITION ONLY” ROAD TIRE WITH SMOOTH TREAD FOR DRY OR DAMP SURFACES

The external profile and internal structure of this tire are designed to maximize the dimensions of the contact area.
Its belt geometries and materials have been developed to optimize the lateral force generated in cornering on the racetrack.

Slick
TECHNICAL ADVICES

TIRE IDENTIFICATION AND MARKING
FITMENT
TREAD TEMPERATURES
WORKING PRESSURES
Tire identification and marking

The markings that appears on the side of the tires also tells us the basic size of the tire, the rim diameter and the width of the rim.
We will illustrate how to read two different types of branding that may appear on the side of the rally tires.
C: Nominal section width expressed in mm - 225
D: Nominal external diameter expressed in mm - 600
d: Nominal rim diameter of the rim, expressed in inches - 16 
C: Nominal section width expressed in mm - 205
h/C: Tire’s technical series. This expresses the ration between the section height (in mm) and the nominal section width (in mm) - 65
Radial construction - R
d: Nominal rim diameter of the rim, expressed in inches - 15

The treads of the various versions of rally tires are described by one or two letters followed by a number. The letters identify the type of tread. 
The number after the letter indicates the type of use, for example: RX 7

Fitment
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Make sure that tires are fitted by experts, with specialised dedicated machinery and equipment, who follow safety procedures.
Before mounting the tires clean the surface of the beads and the area of the rim that comes into contact with the tire.

Use ONLY special tire lubricants for mounting tires. Do NOT use silicone or petroleum lubricants.

Check the state of the valves to prevent air loss: Check the seals and the tightness for metal ones and check also for any tears or cracks in rubber seals. If necessary, replace them. When the tire is being used, always use the valve cover top.

Follow the indications provided on the sidewall of the tire referring to the rolling direction and the correct positioning of the internal and external sidewalls, if specified.

Use the safety cage when inflating tires.
Before unseating the tire from the rim during disassembly, make sure that the tire has been fully deflated, removing the inner valve mechanism.

Tread temperatures
​​Temperatures measured on the tread are an excellent indicator for deciding the best choice of final compound and for optimising corner adjustments of the vehicle, such as camber and toe.
We recommend measuring the temperature at three different points: inner (innermost side of the vehicle), centre, outer tread.
In particular, average temperatures must be the ones shown in the table, the difference between the values measured internally, in the centre and externally must be maximum 20°, while the difference between the front and rear axles must be no more than 25°.
If these values are exceeded, we recommend a different final compound should be used or the vehicle’s geometry should be adjusted.
Working pressures
​Working pressure values depend on the size of the tire in relation to the load that it is subjected to. In other words, the pressure will vary according to the type of vehicle, its weight, the position of the engine, the aerodynamics and the conditions of use. As the weight of the vehicle, the aerodynamic load, speed and acceleration that the tire is subjected to increase, the working pressure must be increased. Generally speaking, “heated up” working pressures vary from 1.9 to 2.2 bar for GT cars and 2.0 to 2.5 bar for tourism cars. Initial inflation pressures vary in order to obtain these values, depending on whether the tires are preheated or used “cold”. Indeed, preheated tires can be inflated to lower values than cold tires. The difference may amount to 0.3 to 0.5 bar, depending on the type of heater, the time it remains and the environmental conditions. In any case, tires should never be used below the minimum pressure value of 1.6 bar. 

Attention: Using excessively low pressures would bring about the breaking of the tire due to excess force on the sidewall and bead unseating from the rim. 
The use of nitrogen or dry air to inflate the tires means that the variation in pressure, as the temperature increases due to use, is limited, meaning greater precision in deciding optimal conditions of use.

Pirelli Slick motorsport tire

PIRELLI OFFICIAL MOTORSPORT DEALERS