Road tyre options for track?
Discussion
I've been using Toyo R888s for quite a few years now and have always been happy with how they work on dry and to a certain extent, damp tracks. I can put up with the noise they make on the road and just drive to the road conditions when it rains. However, I've become increasingly frustrated at them being useless on a very wet track. I've had to sit out a couple of wet days recently because the tyres simply wouldn't cope with the conditions. Most notably at Castle Combe last Friday (did half dozen low speed sideways laps).
As I have to drive to and from the track on the tyres because I can't carry spare wheels, I'm thinking of changing to a more road biased tyre. I accept that I'll miss the dry grip of the 888s but I'd rather sacrifice some grip for the ability to still make it out on track when it's wet (and stay on the black stuff ).
So, what road biased tyres have you used on track that work in both wet and dry?
Track car is a Porsche 964C2 and the usual tyre sizes are 225/45/17 at the front and 255/40/17 at the rear if that matters?
As I have to drive to and from the track on the tyres because I can't carry spare wheels, I'm thinking of changing to a more road biased tyre. I accept that I'll miss the dry grip of the 888s but I'd rather sacrifice some grip for the ability to still make it out on track when it's wet (and stay on the black stuff ).
So, what road biased tyres have you used on track that work in both wet and dry?
Track car is a Porsche 964C2 and the usual tyre sizes are 225/45/17 at the front and 255/40/17 at the rear if that matters?
I was there Friday and had to sit out for the exact same reasons as you. I think to cope with those conditions you'd really need a road based tyre that can deal with water that deep. I had another set of rims with Michelin Pilot Super Sports ready to go which would have been IMO ideal (they perform really well in the dry and should have been fine with that amount of water), however on inspection the night before I could see the tread depth of the rears was on the wear markers. Bad tyre preparation once again ruining my day
If the Michelin SuperSport is not available in the right size, perhaps take a look at the Conti Sportcontact 5. They seem to do well in the comparative tyre tests.
I had to put a pair on the back of my GT3 as an urgent stop-gap after a tyre-killing puncture. They have held up surprisingly well on a couple of track days including a wet Donington morning. It's looking like several more track days are needed to wear the damn things out!
I had to put a pair on the back of my GT3 as an urgent stop-gap after a tyre-killing puncture. They have held up surprisingly well on a couple of track days including a wet Donington morning. It's looking like several more track days are needed to wear the damn things out!
AD08Rs could indeed be worth looking at. From the promo stuff I've read they seem to fall right between a track tyre and a road tyre.
I really like what I've heard about the Michelin supersports but as with many of the newly developed tyres they only appear to be available in 18 inch size and upwards.
I really like what I've heard about the Michelin supersports but as with many of the newly developed tyres they only appear to be available in 18 inch size and upwards.
A list of some (summarised) tyre tests including the sportcontact 5P here:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Continental/Cont...
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Continental/Cont...
braddo said:
If the Michelin SuperSport is not available in the right size, perhaps take a look at the Conti Sportcontact 5. They seem to do well in the comparative tyre tests.
I had to put a pair on the back of my GT3 as an urgent stop-gap after a tyre-killing puncture. They have held up surprisingly well on a couple of track days including a wet Donington morning. It's looking like several more track days are needed to wear the damn things out!
Road tyres like the SportContact will hold up OK on a wet track day, but you'll kill them quite easily on a dry one - they'll just overheat especially on a heavier car. It sounds like OP wants something that can take the strain on a dry day, but isn't hopeless in the wet - something like an AD08R should be the right compromise.I had to put a pair on the back of my GT3 as an urgent stop-gap after a tyre-killing puncture. They have held up surprisingly well on a couple of track days including a wet Donington morning. It's looking like several more track days are needed to wear the damn things out!
LaSource said:
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s...everytime.
Great for both dry and wet...and great wear rates too...
I hear they are a huge step forward over the original cup but unfortunately yet another newly developed tyre that they only make in 18 inch and upwards (mine are 17 inch). Great for both dry and wet...and great wear rates too...
There was a 991 GT3 there on Friday which was presumably on cup 2s.....he looked to be struggling in the conditions too. Although I will admit that the conditions were very extreme that day!
I was there in my TVR running my road R1Rs, (usually run R888s in the dry).
It was an awful day and I should have stayed at home and burnt a couple of £50 notes!
R1Rs are good but under the conditions, 2nd time out after pussyfooting around in 4th at a whisper throttle I eased into 5th at about 70 on the pit straight. Tyres broke traction and I slid sideways forever ending up in the middle of the cornfield, no damage!
Combe is a treacherous track in the wet and I had no chance of saving it even though I backed off a split second after it broke free so don't blame the tyres completely!
By comparison on the M40 a couple of months ago, got wheelspin at 90 on a drizzly road in 5th, backed off and it snapped back into line.
Combe takes no prisoners!
Just remembered, I did Bedford a couple of years ago in the wet on R1Rs and I had a ball, one of the best TDs ever. Plenty of grip, predictable and fun.
So much grip that I remember braking hard with the front squirming and rears locked but all under control. No chance at Combe.
Good news is that I am back at Combe tomorrow and should be dry all day
It was an awful day and I should have stayed at home and burnt a couple of £50 notes!
R1Rs are good but under the conditions, 2nd time out after pussyfooting around in 4th at a whisper throttle I eased into 5th at about 70 on the pit straight. Tyres broke traction and I slid sideways forever ending up in the middle of the cornfield, no damage!
Combe is a treacherous track in the wet and I had no chance of saving it even though I backed off a split second after it broke free so don't blame the tyres completely!
By comparison on the M40 a couple of months ago, got wheelspin at 90 on a drizzly road in 5th, backed off and it snapped back into line.
Combe takes no prisoners!
Just remembered, I did Bedford a couple of years ago in the wet on R1Rs and I had a ball, one of the best TDs ever. Plenty of grip, predictable and fun.
So much grip that I remember braking hard with the front squirming and rears locked but all under control. No chance at Combe.
Good news is that I am back at Combe tomorrow and should be dry all day
SonicShadow said:
Road tyres like the SportContact will hold up OK on a wet track day, but you'll kill them quite easily on a dry one - they'll just overheat especially on a heavier car. It sounds like OP wants something that can take the strain on a dry day, but isn't hopeless in the wet - something like an AD08R should be the right compromise.
Like I said, I was surprised how well the Contis held up in the dry, and they were very effective on a sodden track. But it's probably a moot point when it appears that the AD08R is available in the sizes Boxsey wants. braddo said:
Like I said, I was surprised how well the Contis held up in the dry, and they were very effective on a sodden track. But it's probably a moot point when it appears that the AD08R is available in the sizes Boxsey wants.
All suggestions welcome . I use conti SC2 tyres on my road wheels so was interested to hear your thoughts on the new SC5 but a quick search showed that the 255 40 17 rears are not available. I run a tweaked 944 Turbo with the same tyre sizes and am currently on Federal RSR-595s which seem to be lasting very well and giving near enough the grip of my Cups on my spare wheels.
I've run them in very wet conditions and they aren't great so have eyed up the 120 tread wear Nankang NS2Rs or AD08Rs as my next tyre set. As you've found, I'd love to go for SuperSports but the only 17s they do aren't suitable.
I've run them in very wet conditions and they aren't great so have eyed up the 120 tread wear Nankang NS2Rs or AD08Rs as my next tyre set. As you've found, I'd love to go for SuperSports but the only 17s they do aren't suitable.
SonicShadow said:
Road tyres like the SportContact will hold up OK on a wet track day, but you'll kill them quite easily on a dry one - they'll just overheat especially on a heavier car.
They last pretty well on my e36 328 in both wet & dry over the last 2 years with well over 1/2 tread left & around a dozen dry & 2 wet days under their belt.Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff