Discussion
Yeah, Yokohamas. Trouble with slicks is that they 'go off' after a number of heat cycles (typically 6 but less than that with a Dunlop)and although there may be some tread left the performance will completely dissapear. A dunlop GT tyre is good for the bin after 2 hours of hard running - not ideal for a track day toy.
We've been getting quite good wear out of our dunlop Gt slicks on the tuscan.. the rears have done 6 races which is 6 * 15 min qual and 6 * 20 min race.. the fronts have been changed due to wear, induced by a cracked front wishbone.
Last season we ran dunlop do1j's (list 1b) road legal treaded race tyres.. They lasted a full season but they are quite hard now due to the number of heat cycles, still got a reasonable amount of tread but are fubard.
any list 1 b tyre has the advantage you can drive to the circuit on it and if it rains you can stay out.. they are murder in standing water though and will aquaplain like mad so be carefull on the road with them. Im probably going to stick a set of do1/2 j's on my chimaera when i put it back on the road.
for a track dayI cant see the point in slicks, they'll cost you loads to use, you need a second set of rims, and if you loose it everythings going to happen that much quicker.. also you'r more likley to break somthing i.e. diff, drive shaft, gearbox etc if you spin it... and your not going to go that much quicker..
they do look cooler though <LOL>
G
Last season we ran dunlop do1j's (list 1b) road legal treaded race tyres.. They lasted a full season but they are quite hard now due to the number of heat cycles, still got a reasonable amount of tread but are fubard.
any list 1 b tyre has the advantage you can drive to the circuit on it and if it rains you can stay out.. they are murder in standing water though and will aquaplain like mad so be carefull on the road with them. Im probably going to stick a set of do1/2 j's on my chimaera when i put it back on the road.
for a track dayI cant see the point in slicks, they'll cost you loads to use, you need a second set of rims, and if you loose it everythings going to happen that much quicker.. also you'r more likley to break somthing i.e. diff, drive shaft, gearbox etc if you spin it... and your not going to go that much quicker..
they do look cooler though <LOL>
G
I used to have a Subaru Impreza Turbo and did a few track days in it many years ago - long before I started racing.
On one day in particular I stayed out a little bit too long in one session and completely mullered a set of road tyres - chunks falling off them and the edges of all the tread blocks had melted.
At the time the special edition Imprezas arrived in the country with standard wheels which were then replaced with the posh wheels. The importer sold off the standard wheels quite cheaply, so I bought a set and fitted them with part worn slicks which came from the Renault Spider series of the time. A set of part worn slicks cost less than one new road tyre.
I used these for a few track days. You had to be very careful with them when cold, and I agree that full race spec suspension and brakes is required to really get the most out of them. I'd also agree that super sticky new slicks would put a lot of strain through a road car.
However, in my opinion a set of part worn slicks is a pretty good option for someone looking to reduce the overall cost of trackdays, and a set would probably last most people a season of trackdays, unless they were a complete loony
I cannot stress the importance of getting some heat into the tyres before 'pushing on' though.
On one day in particular I stayed out a little bit too long in one session and completely mullered a set of road tyres - chunks falling off them and the edges of all the tread blocks had melted.
At the time the special edition Imprezas arrived in the country with standard wheels which were then replaced with the posh wheels. The importer sold off the standard wheels quite cheaply, so I bought a set and fitted them with part worn slicks which came from the Renault Spider series of the time. A set of part worn slicks cost less than one new road tyre.
I used these for a few track days. You had to be very careful with them when cold, and I agree that full race spec suspension and brakes is required to really get the most out of them. I'd also agree that super sticky new slicks would put a lot of strain through a road car.
However, in my opinion a set of part worn slicks is a pretty good option for someone looking to reduce the overall cost of trackdays, and a set would probably last most people a season of trackdays, unless they were a complete loony
I cannot stress the importance of getting some heat into the tyres before 'pushing on' though.
I agree will all above. Importantly when i have used road tyres they fall apart after two or three short sessions, which is what. I also feel that a set of slicks will (once warm) offer better grip whilst only using 50% of their potential.
Also helps that i have spare RL7's to put them on, hence the request for some 17's.
Appreciate the help, still looking for tyres.............
Also helps that i have spare RL7's to put them on, hence the request for some 17's.
Appreciate the help, still looking for tyres.............
Graham said:
We've been getting quite good wear out of our dunlop Gt slicks on the tuscan.. the rears have done 6 races which is 6 * 15 min qual and 6 * 20 min race.. the fronts have been changed due to wear, induced by a cracked front wishbone.
!! When I ran a tuscan it was murder on tyres. The way the rules worked you had to run the same set for the weekend, ie new on for qually then two 30 (if I remember right) min races. It was very easy to kill the tyres in qually and be in trouble for the races. The car I had was not a good Tuscan so I'm sure there were cars on the grid far kinder to tyres but it was the worst car for tyres I've ever run.
As people are saying, road tyres fall apart on track which is why something like a 48 is a perfect compromise and the performance is not that far away from a slick.
[quote=randy
!! When I ran a tuscan it was murder on tyres. The way the rules worked you had to run the same set for the weekend, ie new on for qually then two 30 (if I remember right) min races. It was very easy to kill the tyres in qually and be in trouble for the races. [/quote]
They used to run the softer slicks when it was the old tuscan challenge. We now run the harder GT slicks to keep the costs down a bit. My Tuscan only has 350bhp (class B) as opposed to the Full on ajp cars 450ish, so I expect its a bit kinder on tyres.
Dunlop supplied the wrong tyre to me at mallory and gave me a soft compund one. this lasted most of the first 20 min race and about 1/3 of the second before being totaly mullered and only slighly more effective than running on the rim !!! although too much toe in due to a knackered wishbone and running it on the outside front around gerrards wouldnt have helped...
what number tuscan did you run ?
G
!! When I ran a tuscan it was murder on tyres. The way the rules worked you had to run the same set for the weekend, ie new on for qually then two 30 (if I remember right) min races. It was very easy to kill the tyres in qually and be in trouble for the races. [/quote]
They used to run the softer slicks when it was the old tuscan challenge. We now run the harder GT slicks to keep the costs down a bit. My Tuscan only has 350bhp (class B) as opposed to the Full on ajp cars 450ish, so I expect its a bit kinder on tyres.
Dunlop supplied the wrong tyre to me at mallory and gave me a soft compund one. this lasted most of the first 20 min race and about 1/3 of the second before being totaly mullered and only slighly more effective than running on the rim !!! although too much toe in due to a knackered wishbone and running it on the outside front around gerrards wouldnt have helped...
what number tuscan did you run ?
G
The old Tuscan slicks were a softer compound and unless you put them through an initial heat cycle and let them cool down fully, it was easy to ruin a set. Ideally you would put the new tyres on for qually and try and get your fast lap in within 6 laps or so, then park up. The slicks would then be perfect for the first race and would start to go off mid way through the second. Or you'd heat cycle a set in free pratice/testing.
On the odd occasion I had to use a brand new tyre straight off in a race the wear would be brutal! This is probably what happened to you Graham.
Sorry, I'm just coming over all nostalgic - free practice - seems so distant from what we get now!!
On the odd occasion I had to use a brand new tyre straight off in a race the wear would be brutal! This is probably what happened to you Graham.
Sorry, I'm just coming over all nostalgic - free practice - seems so distant from what we get now!!
Graham said:
[quote=randy
!! When I ran a tuscan it was murder on tyres. The way the rules worked you had to run the same set for the weekend, ie new on for qually then two 30 (if I remember right) min races. It was very easy to kill the tyres in qually and be in trouble for the races.
!! When I ran a tuscan it was murder on tyres. The way the rules worked you had to run the same set for the weekend, ie new on for qually then two 30 (if I remember right) min races. It was very easy to kill the tyres in qually and be in trouble for the races.
They used to run the softer slicks when it was the old tuscan challenge. We now run the harder GT slicks to keep the costs down a bit. My Tuscan only has 350bhp (class B) as opposed to the Full on ajp cars 450ish, so I expect its a bit kinder on tyres.
Dunlop supplied the wrong tyre to me at mallory and gave me a soft compund one. this lasted most of the first 20 min race and about 1/3 of the second before being totaly mullered and only slighly more effective than running on the rim !!! although too much toe in due to a knackered wishbone and running it on the outside front around gerrards wouldnt have helped...
what number tuscan did you run ?
G[/quote]
Mine was no.58, pale blue with white stripes. To be fair when I started Tuscans I was very green, the car was not good and I didn't have the expertise to sort it myself at that time which meant it wasn't friendly on tyres. You are right about how soft the slicks were on the challenge cars as well. Unfortunately TVR wanted the cars to set impressive lap times to make good press so soft tyres were the simple answer. Didn't do the competitors any favours though.
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