Race rubber as in SC have different compound make up to road road tyres, race rubber tends to harden with each heat cycle, more so if you use them properly and get them hot n sticky. Great if you understand your tyres but not so good for the average bike rider who just wants a tyre that performs consistently every weekend, although i rate the SC very highly after going through 2 sets on my 16 STR i fitted the 3's this summer as they have a very similar profile to the SC but should last a little longer i hope.
The guy that sold me the Bandit race bike told me that really you should change race tyres after 4 heat cycles, sod that, that is a new set of SC's every race weekend!
Saying that if you ever do a trackday or race at Thruxton use a tyre with 4 heat cycles on it as Thruxton is very abrasive
Let them warm up, then the faster you ride the more heat you will generate, the better they will feel. Liken it to a squash ball. Cold ball is not very elastic but when you generate heat it becomes more squishy & flexible. A tyre works using the principle. Or just buy some tyre warmers (bit extreme but it'll work). Enjoy & keep shiny side up.
One more thing, if anyone's still listening. I had an off a couple of years ago. Pulled out of the entrance to my gym and must have hit some black ice (it was January, sunny but probably around 4° or 5°). Back end spun out and down I went. No broken bones or ruptured spleens etc but I bruised all my ribs down the right side and spent a fortnight sleeping upright on the sofa dosed up with Codeine. Was seriously bloody painful, could barely move - I'm 62 this birthday and I don't bounce that well anymore... Aaaanyway...took the bike into my repair man, who informed me I should be lowering my tyre pressures in the winter, by maybe 5lbs or so. I was sceptical of this and did a bit of Googling - overall opinion from tyre manufacturers was this was all largely bollocks....Currently using standard recommended pressures 34/42psi...wondering what opinions are out there..?
I rode to my first service on my 675R with the very same tyres in the pissing rain. Just keep as upright as possible and take it easy, you’ll never get any heat in them unless you fit tyre warmers before you go out. Just have a slow chilled out “literally” ride
