Crazy Idea For SX Tires, Hear Me Out

If I recall correctly the FIM does this currently for Enduro in Europe, they regulate the knob height. The average rider usually steers clear of FIM compliant tires as they have less grip and less overall life.

Anyways, interesting concept. 

Edit, Googled to confirm, excerpt below:

the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (International Motorcycling Federation) is only permitting F.I.M approved tires of a maximum of 13mm knobby height to be used in races: they are gentler on the terrain and do not mess it up as much as motocross tires.

I like it.. 

Maybe let them qualify with whatever tire for manufacturer marketing. But practice and race with less traction.

The mud races would become entertaining as everyone slipped around not being able to climb anything 

also I think it would make tracks more one lined , with a defined blue groove and the spinning tires polish the surface 

Wouldn't dig as much but you would spin more? Essentially causing a smoother surface but more slippery thus "blue" ? 

Decent idea. It would have to be ultra soft. Edge grip would be atrocious with that tread pattern. 

I'm not mad at it. You could have different brands make the same tire with whatever materials they want.. Or just stop teams from running scoop tires in SX. 

I was under the impression that was to meet road(DOT) for transfer sections that often are sections of public roads. 

My experience with trials tires on trials bikes is they work really well as long as they are not spinning, so I think it would naturally reward lack of wheel spin, and therefore maybe not get super blue grooved. 

I say bring these back....

I am sure Dunlop is on board with this.

It’s both.   For road legal and also to limit environmental damage 

What about a hp to weight rule? A lot of other motorsports do this to keep the competition close and the budgets in check. 

Good point, I forgot much of Euro has road transfer sections. I had thought it was to limit impact on natural terrain trails.

Maybe an idea for the AMA to explore and test, maybe bring closer racing? I'd like to see more testing and research on the sanctioning body side prior to introduction to racing, ala F1/MotoGP.

This was discussed and shot down on pulp a few months ago.

Can't remember all of the reasons why this is a bad idea.

One I do remember was, lack of traction approaching jumps.

Dumbing down the tracks to fit the tyres isn't going to happen. 

A pretty sound idea. I’ve raced on trials tyres in the past. 
strait line grip is pretty good even in sand and mud but the side walls don’t grip like a mx tyre.

on 250f’s they would probably be quite good but the problem I can see is on 450’s the factory teams would have much better access to traction control that satellites and privateers just couldn’t compete against.

Less traction, more danger. Dudes will still be going balls out on dual sport tires

I'd rather see displacement cut down then see riders slipping and sliding on some crappy spec tire.

250 riders get hurt just as much as 450 riders. Not sure displacement is the answer either. 

Casey Stoner said the same thing on Gypsy Tales a few years ago.....

I think the only solution is to go back to the old formula and only allow 2-strokes to race Supercross, then Yamaha, KTM, Husqvarna, Gas Gas and Beta will rule the championship world for a couple years until Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki acknowledge their error and decide to start building fuel injected 2-stroke 125,250 and 500's because of demand.  Outdoors, keep the 250f/450f's but allow 250 and open class 2-strokes to race against the 4-strokers, maybe Honda will build a 500 fuel injected 2-stroke in a modern frame specifically for outdoor competition and let the Pro's decide what their fastest and most comfortable on.   2-strokes and 4-strokes racing in perfect harmony.  See! I should be running things in the AMA and FIM. 

Do they though? The 450 class is looking real thin right now, and there's something to be said for age and experience in the 450 class the 250 class doesn't benefit from.

But also, I'd like to see 250 be the premier class. 125 is the feeder class. 2 or 4 stroke.

Maybe go back to the old days with a 125, 250, and open class. 450s, 350s, whatever.

Don’t drink the bong water my dude 

You think an innovative company like Suzuki would embrace an old technology like a 2-stroke engine?

Well! I think the Factory teams could build an amazing open class 2-stroke for the outdoors with modern up to date technology.  If the AMA would allow a level playing field for 2 stroke bikes, 250 2-strokes in the Lites class and let's say a 400 or 450cc 2strokes in the Premier class and then if Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki jumped on board making 2-stroke MX bikes again, so the factories could give them the same treatment as the current 450 bikes with fuel injection and they could be lighter, I bet some of the top riders might elect to race a 2-stroke.  I know it's a stretch, but imagine the interest it would create if a level field for both types of bikes was created and some Top level factory riders decided to run the 2-stroke and win races.  Remember James Stewart, he was beating the 250f's aboard a 125 2 stroke, so it's not out of the question they could be competitive.  I just think variety is the spice of life and if Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki started making 2-stroke race bikes, they'd sell a ton of them, because KTM sure sells a lot of them.    Remember, there was a time when nobody thought 4-strokes could be competitive in SX and MX. 

Get rid of heat races. Top 18 in qualifying automatically make it. 

So the crowd gets to see less of the riders they paid money to see?

Yep. Or reduce the number of riders. It’s probably not the only way but it’s a way to keep the tracks in better shape. Do sexton, Anderson, Webb etc really need to race heats. We know they are going to make it. 

Which manufacturer is going to make the one tire that everyone uses? What are you going to tell the other tire manufacturers that support the industry and teams? Or if multiple tire companies are allowed, what happens if one company doesn't make a tire to the exact spec? Now they have to develop a new tire just for SX? Seems like it complicates just as much as it would hopefully solve as a concept. 

There were serious talks with GET Data and Feld/AMA about mandating a restricted ECU for the series. It went high up the chain and didn't end up happening due to logistics. For such a small industry, it sure is hard to get everyone on the same page. 

As much as I think we can all agree something would be better than nothing, I don't think anyone has an answer that everyone likes. It's a tough situation. 

Does it though? Getting stuck more often on a hill off-road and digging a trench trying to get out certainly is not better for the environment. 

They even have to use the FIM approved tires in indoor SuperEnduro (Euro Endurocross). When my son raced those he wasn’t a fan at all. Those tracks got even more chewed up than the US Endurocross tracks, although the dirt is even softer there. 
 

I guess my question is though, why do we need to fix anything? Is something broken? Shouldn’t the best Supercross riders in the world be on the hardest tracks at the end of the night? IMO it should be gnarly!