Slick tyres for trackday

[monsterchub]

Hi, Thankx for all the replies, I'm gonna bow to superior knowledge, now thinking toyo 888S, Avons, Yokos or similar for a better option.

[Ziplobb]

I am not a massive TDer but I have done quite a few over the last 9 years in my 1.8 Roadsport. After then first TD I ever did I realised the standard tyres were ste - I went Toyo 888 soft and have run them ever since same tyres for road and my TDs - the difference was amazing. I know people with other 7 type cars and MX5s and the like and unless you are really 'on it' slicks are not an advantage. On a dry day the R888s are capable of delivering.

[F355GTS]

HustleRussell said:

Plus, car which is set up to exploit slicks isn't going to feel, handle or stop nice on radials.

The FR Slicks are radials

[Steve H]

OP, I'd agree with the comments regarding moving to 13" wheels for wide choice of tyres.

Soft 888s are great as wet\inter tyres but in my experience they will chew up pretty quickly in the dry (my Westie is about 580kg/300brake so possibly a bit heavy on tyres though), mediums would last much better but not as good on grip or wet performance.

For dry use I would say that slicks are the best option from the point of view of grip and also economy.

Nick at MoT has a supply of new 13" slicks for very sensible money, I've done a couple of days on my set now and they are working well. A bit more costly than part-worn obviously but at least you know what you are buying as used slicks can vary a lot in quality and longevity.

You can get Nick at [e-mail]

HTH

Steve H

[subirg]

I echo the comments made by others above. Slicks are a complete waste of time. The number of times I pass other caterhams on slicks at track days is too numerous to mention. Getting good quality used slicks is a total lottery. Set up and handling are not easy to get sorted. You need a separate set of wheels and have to change them at the track or use a trailer. And for what? Pretty much a negligible performance gain and the shame of being passed by randoms on road tyres. Perhaps I'm taking a particularly strong negative view on this, but better to be aware of the short comings now than go through all the hassle and feel hard done by later.

[F355GTS]

subirg said:

I echo the comments made by others above. Slicks are a complete waste of time. The number of times I pass other caterhams on slicks at track days is too numerous to mention. Getting good quality used slicks is a total lottery. Set up and handling are not easy to get sorted. You need a separate set of wheels and have to change them at the track or use a trailer. And for what? Pretty much a negligible performance gain and the shame of being passed by randoms on road tyres. Perhaps I'm taking a particularly strong negative view on this, but better to be aware of the short comings now than go through all the hassle and feel hard done by later.

Odd as not my experience at all

[nicemd]

I would say r-tyres are a complete waste of time (and money) :-)

I agree slicks aren't much faster, but much cheaper. And more fun. I can't see the downside.

[BertBert]

Me too. Even the oldest of slicks I've used have pissed all over road tyres.

F355GTS said:

Odd as not my experience at all

[casbar]

subirg said:

I echo the comments made by others above. Slicks are a complete waste of time. The number of times I pass other caterhams on slicks at track days is too numerous to mention. Getting good quality used slicks is a total lottery. Set up and handling are not easy to get sorted. You need a separate set of wheels and have to change them at the track or use a trailer. And for what? Pretty much a negligible performance gain and the shame of being passed by randoms on road tyres. Perhaps I'm taking a particularly strong negative view on this, but better to be aware of the short comings now than go through all the hassle and feel hard done by later.

More than 7 years since I did track days on slicks, but even with a Supersport R, there were no cars on road tyres passing me. And in the wet, with mids on, there were not even many cars out on the track. Slicks were brilliant. So not my experience.

[Hooch747]

Some odd comments here. FR slicks are the way to go,they used to be Michelin radials going back a few years though. On those rims you want the FR fronts on both ends. I had a 200BHP Caterham in which I did many track days. In my experience R888's and most other track day tyres chewed up badly in the dry. Slicks were a revelation, and on my car 3- 4 seconds faster than Type 1A tyres.They only down side is if your driving to track you will have to take the extra wheels and when they do wear out you will basically have bugger all grip...