Using Slicks on a Track Day
Discussion
I've been offered a (very) cheap set of Hankook Slicks for my Ariel Atom.
Having never driven a car with slicks I fancy buying them and giving them a go. Any advice?
They're described as "...used for a few light track days in an Ariel Atom, hardly worn as you can see from the markers"
How many track days would you expect a set of Hankook slicks to last and do they have a 'use by' date and similar date codes as road tyres? There's obviously no point in me buying them if they're waaay old and hard as nails.
Having never driven a car with slicks I fancy buying them and giving them a go. Any advice?
They're described as "...used for a few light track days in an Ariel Atom, hardly worn as you can see from the markers"
How many track days would you expect a set of Hankook slicks to last and do they have a 'use by' date and similar date codes as road tyres? There's obviously no point in me buying them if they're waaay old and hard as nails.
I'd have thought the big problem would be getting heat into them.
I'd want to know what they were, other than a vague name, as you have no idea what class of car they're designed for.
If they're meant for a touring car, you'll never get them warm, which would explain the lack of wear on a used set!
If they're for something with aero, you'll be in the same position.
I'd want to know what they were, other than a vague name, as you have no idea what class of car they're designed for.
If they're meant for a touring car, you'll never get them warm, which would explain the lack of wear on a used set!
If they're for something with aero, you'll be in the same position.
As far as I can remember Hankook only do one slick the F200 I think (need to check)
These are a medium compound and would be fine on your Atom, after 2 - 3 laps they will heat up enough.
If you want some better initial grip then treat them with some tyre softener like "Grip" a few days before the event
If they are that cheap what you got to loose.
I just checked they do two compounds C5 Medium and C7 Soft so both should work fine
These are a medium compound and would be fine on your Atom, after 2 - 3 laps they will heat up enough.
If you want some better initial grip then treat them with some tyre softener like "Grip" a few days before the event
If they are that cheap what you got to loose.
I just checked they do two compounds C5 Medium and C7 Soft so both should work fine
Edited by hkp57 on Thursday 24th November 14:12
F355GTS said:
Ian
Given they ought to give you additional grip you should consider if oil surge maybe an issue. In the Caterham world there's a general view that you should have a dry sump if you want to run slicks
Good advice, but fortunately its an Atom Cup race car with baffled sump.Given they ought to give you additional grip you should consider if oil surge maybe an issue. In the Caterham world there's a general view that you should have a dry sump if you want to run slicks
http://www.motorsportdays.com/championship-profile...
Edited by 100 IAN on Thursday 24th November 19:20
B19TOY said:
Have run my Cup chassis on slicks this year, factory set it up. They tell me the Cup has more scope for appropriate geometry than the standard road version kit.
How do you find it compared to using 'normal' tyres? Is it more exciting?Do you alter your driving style/line in any way. I'm guessing that as you can carry more speed through the corner you are actually doing less braking into the corner(?)
ps Just looked at your profile and see you've had a supercharger fitted. I was thinking about possibly adding one once I've done a few track days. The kids are also desperate for me to add the wings, which on-track I think look fine but on the road I'm not so sure.
Edited by 100 IAN on Thursday 24th November 20:36
One note of caution - slicks will cause everything else on the car to wear faster because of the extra forces. May not be as much of an issue on the atom, but running slicks will cause more stress to the drivetrain, hubs, brakes, suspension bushes etc. Aside from the mentioned oil surge, I've seen the E46 M3 cup cars breaking diff mounts, a track prepared clio roll quite spectacularly at bedford (luckily with a cage fitted) because the hub failed and sent one of the front wheels into the brake disc.
General advice is if the car wasn't engineered to run them, I'd be weary. of course, if the atom cup is, go for it. Also, if they are old knackered hard slicks they probably wont be that much grippier than semi-slicks but with the bonus of lasting forever
To get the most out of them you'd want to run loads of camber which won't work so well with a road tyre - however, the atom is pretty easy to adjust the geo if you have the gauges to measure it trackside...
General advice is if the car wasn't engineered to run them, I'd be weary. of course, if the atom cup is, go for it. Also, if they are old knackered hard slicks they probably wont be that much grippier than semi-slicks but with the bonus of lasting forever
To get the most out of them you'd want to run loads of camber which won't work so well with a road tyre - however, the atom is pretty easy to adjust the geo if you have the gauges to measure it trackside...
100 IAN said:
B19TOY said:
Have run my Cup chassis on slicks this year, factory set it up. They tell me the Cup has more scope for appropriate geometry than the standard road version kit.
How do you find it compared to using 'normal' tyres? Is it more exciting?Do you alter your driving style/line in any way. I'm guessing that as you can carry more speed through the corner you are actually doing less braking into the corner(?)
ps Just looked at your profile and see you've had a supercharger fitted. I was thinking about possibly adding one once I've done a few track days. The kids are also desperate for me to add the wings, which on-track I think look fine but on the road I'm not so sure.
Edited by 100 IAN on Thursday 24th November 20:36
Supercharger fitted partly to compensate for the inevitable drag from the wings. And of course the improved torque transforms acceleration at lower engine speeds. The s/c whine is intoxicating but what is missing is the noise, and feel stepping up when the cam liberates a naturally aspirated Honda K20.
I can see a potential concern with the wings on the road, they are vulnerable to knocks, especially at the front, but understand several folks do run them. However this Atom is not used on the road, it is trailered to track days.
The difference in lap times on a properly set up BMW with 500bhp was 4 sec per lap on a 1:26.5 average time - Dunlop Touring Car slicks vs Michelin Pilot Cup 2. Same day, same driver. I would say the strains imposed by slicks are much greater on the bigger/heavier cars - thank you, Sir Isaac Newton 
An Atom - you would be laughing as they are so light to start with...
An Atom - you would be laughing as they are so light to start with...Years ago I used slicks on my b16b Civic, saved me a fortune in tyres, braking is phenomenal, corners the grip was very good. Would I use them again no, it becomes an impossible mission of upgrades, basically they tend to highlight shortfalls in other parts. Fit slicks, fit brakes, fit race dampers, fit cage, more power, stronger gearbox, etc
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