Wet track tyres
Discussion
Hi all,
I've just put 2 new R888r on the back of my Exige and I'm planning to get on track soon. Obviously things don't always go to plan so I've bought a second set of wheels with the intention of putting some wet weather tyres on. The only problem I have is I don't know what to put on?
All suggestions welcome!
I've just put 2 new R888r on the back of my Exige and I'm planning to get on track soon. Obviously things don't always go to plan so I've bought a second set of wheels with the intention of putting some wet weather tyres on. The only problem I have is I don't know what to put on?
All suggestions welcome!
The old 888s were fine on wet tracks, but didn't cope well with standing water. The new 888Rs look like they have less grooves, so might be worse, but wet track grip (without standing water) is as much about heat as tread. If you can get/keep them hot, they might work well and if you don't trailer the car, will be much more convenient.
Alternatively, have you looked at Federal RSRs or Yoko AD08Rs?
Alternatively, have you looked at Federal RSRs or Yoko AD08Rs?
Uniroyal rainsports? I've used these on an MX5 in the wet on a trackday and found myself being about the fastest thing out there.
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrViperzs said:
Thanks for the advice guys.
I've seen Michelin Cup 2 mentioned before for wet tracks. Would a high end road tyre be more suited to a wet track than a Michelin Cup 2?
I wouldn't go near a properly wet track in a Cup 2 - damp maybe if you can get heat in them, but otherwise no. As others have said, if you are taking spare wheels to the track then nothing touches a proper set of racing wets. I've seen Michelin Cup 2 mentioned before for wet tracks. Would a high end road tyre be more suited to a wet track than a Michelin Cup 2?
If you need them road legal and can get them in your size, an Avon CR28 Sport is the closest thing you will get to a race wet that is road legal - used as the wet option in many race series. It has a very soft compound and will get ruined in the dry.
After that the Yokohama A021R is decent in the wet and traverses the boundary into an intermediate/dry tyre well too.
I wouldn't trust the tyre ratings labels - the Avon ZZS only gets a C rating but is a pretty decent wet tyre and is the wet choice for the assorted caterham racing series.
It's a track day.
Not life and death driving an ambulance on the M25 in a cloudburst.
Not win or lose in a major race series.
My policy, evolved after a 1200 degree spin at 100 mph at Snetterton this Spring on a drying track with a few puddles (I got away with it, but someone else 15 minutes later didn't), is to stay in the warm club house with a nice hot cup of coffee until it is properly dry.
Then when it is fully dry, drive flat out, make up for lost time, and enjoy every minute.
Race tracks dry out faster than normal roads, once the rain stops.
On a track day this summer at Cadwell Park it started out raining lightly. Some brave souls went out on their road tyres, some even braver souls went out on their track tyres. In a 20 minute period, two Lotuses, one an Elise, the other an Evora, lost it coming over the Mountain and pirouetted on the sloping wet grass and into the armco opposite the cafe. I watched both of them.
So please consider treating a dry track day as fun, a wet one as cafe time, and stick to dry running only. Sounds pathetic, but all I can say is that in 30 track days in 3 years I have only completely lost one track day (in December.....) to the weather. Every other day there has been at least 5 hours of dry running, enough to enjoy the 2-3 hours that most of us actually spend on track.
Your car, your call. But I think a Lotus is more likely to spin than a daily driver due to its light weight and rear wheel drive, which are what makes it a fun track car in the dry.
Not life and death driving an ambulance on the M25 in a cloudburst.
Not win or lose in a major race series.
My policy, evolved after a 1200 degree spin at 100 mph at Snetterton this Spring on a drying track with a few puddles (I got away with it, but someone else 15 minutes later didn't), is to stay in the warm club house with a nice hot cup of coffee until it is properly dry.
Then when it is fully dry, drive flat out, make up for lost time, and enjoy every minute.
Race tracks dry out faster than normal roads, once the rain stops.
On a track day this summer at Cadwell Park it started out raining lightly. Some brave souls went out on their road tyres, some even braver souls went out on their track tyres. In a 20 minute period, two Lotuses, one an Elise, the other an Evora, lost it coming over the Mountain and pirouetted on the sloping wet grass and into the armco opposite the cafe. I watched both of them.
So please consider treating a dry track day as fun, a wet one as cafe time, and stick to dry running only. Sounds pathetic, but all I can say is that in 30 track days in 3 years I have only completely lost one track day (in December.....) to the weather. Every other day there has been at least 5 hours of dry running, enough to enjoy the 2-3 hours that most of us actually spend on track.
Your car, your call. But I think a Lotus is more likely to spin than a daily driver due to its light weight and rear wheel drive, which are what makes it a fun track car in the dry.
Each to their own and all that but I've got to place the counterargument to the above.
Wet trackdays are great fun and a different test of the driver and car. Getting suitable tyres is well worthwhile if you have the option and you do have to get your head round how different it can be in the wet but when you do it's some of the most challenging and enjoyable driving you will get to do on track.
We were at Rockingham last weekend, dry morning and good steady rain all afternoon. Rockingham is rightly famous for being slippy in the wet, I'm running 300+brake/sub 600kg and had so much fun that for the first time in ages I was still out driving when the final chequered came out.
There's just as many cars make it to the barriers in the dry as the wet.................
Wet trackdays are great fun and a different test of the driver and car. Getting suitable tyres is well worthwhile if you have the option and you do have to get your head round how different it can be in the wet but when you do it's some of the most challenging and enjoyable driving you will get to do on track.
We were at Rockingham last weekend, dry morning and good steady rain all afternoon. Rockingham is rightly famous for being slippy in the wet, I'm running 300+brake/sub 600kg and had so much fun that for the first time in ages I was still out driving when the final chequered came out.
There's just as many cars make it to the barriers in the dry as the wet.................
Fair enough. It's a free country!
Perhaps it's a case of choose your track for a wet day?
I would probably have a go at Bedford in the damp, or maybe Donington, but on wet tyres.
Somewhere with not too much to hit, and not too close to the track.
But, for me, not Cadwell Park.
Or Castle Combe.
Or Oulton Park.
In a TVR.
Now, if anyone wants to lend me a Clio 172 on road tyres.......
Perhaps it's a case of choose your track for a wet day?
I would probably have a go at Bedford in the damp, or maybe Donington, but on wet tyres.
Somewhere with not too much to hit, and not too close to the track.
But, for me, not Cadwell Park.
Or Castle Combe.
Or Oulton Park.
In a TVR.
Now, if anyone wants to lend me a Clio 172 on road tyres.......
andyiley said:
I just use excellent quality road tyres, typically 1/3 worn Conti S/C 5s. At least that way when the track starts to dry you won't ruin them, especially if you use part worns with 5/6mm of tread on for £40/50/pair.
I would go with this option.I expect the car might be a bit too light to get Cup2s working well in the wet.
No way would I sit out a wet track day (unless there were rivers running across the track). I'm there to drive! It might sometimes feel like you're poking a sleeping lion with a stick, though, but it's a challenge to try to creep up to where the limits are.
QBee said:
So please consider treating a dry track day as fun, a wet one as cafe time, and stick to dry running only. Sounds pathetic, but all I can say is that in 30 track days in 3 years I have only completely lost one track day (in December.....) to the weather. Every other day there has been at least 5 hours of dry running, enough to enjoy the 2-3 hours that most of us actually spend on track.
Your car, your call. But I think a Lotus is more likely to spin than a daily driver due to its light weight and rear wheel drive, which are what makes it a fun track car in the dry.
I also disagree with this.Your car, your call. But I think a Lotus is more likely to spin than a daily driver due to its light weight and rear wheel drive, which are what makes it a fun track car in the dry.
Wet running can be lots of fun. Just slow it right down initially and then build the speed back up as you adjust to the conditions.
If I've spent say £300 on the track day, £80 to stay in a hotel the night before, £80 in petrol to get to the circuit and back, and used a days holiday from work there is NO way I'm going to sit in the cafe all day just because of a bit or rain!
I've done plenty of wet days in my M3, Supercharged Elise, and now my Cayman S. I've had a few 'moments' but never spun off (so far) as I try to leave a decent amount of margin (especially on corners with little or no run off).
Having fun in the Lotus:
And as you mention Snetterton.....these conditions called for decent concentration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlQ3I-rETrw
In fairness though, I ALWAYS have track day insurance. Perhaps I'd feel differently if I could lose everything.
QBee drives a TVR as do I and mine is quite frankly crap in the wet, so little grip it is just frustrating.
Drove a mates M3 in the wet and it was fine, great fun actually, sliding it around as was other mates Exige but the TVR was just an additional chicane that could snap sideways at any moment, even half way down the Senna straight at Snetterton the rear let go big time and I ended up on the grass.
So I can see his point, I also end up having a cuppa while I see if it will dry.
Drove a mates M3 in the wet and it was fine, great fun actually, sliding it around as was other mates Exige but the TVR was just an additional chicane that could snap sideways at any moment, even half way down the Senna straight at Snetterton the rear let go big time and I ended up on the grass.
So I can see his point, I also end up having a cuppa while I see if it will dry.
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff