1st Track day - on old tyres?
Discussion
I have purchased a 997.1 turbo and want to take it on some track days this year.
The tyres on the car are old and require replacing details below:
Front right 6mm sidewall date 2009
Front left 4mm sidewall date 2006
Rear right 5mm sidewall date 2010
Rear left 5.5mm sidewall date 2011
Do I rinse them on my first track day or kickoff my first track day with new fresh rubber?
The tyres on the car are old and require replacing details below:
Front right 6mm sidewall date 2009
Front left 4mm sidewall date 2006
Rear right 5mm sidewall date 2010
Rear left 5.5mm sidewall date 2011
Do I rinse them on my first track day or kickoff my first track day with new fresh rubber?
Another vote for doing the day on those tyres. I don't think you'll wipe them out completely on your first day in the car, in fact you might be surprised how little you use - unless you're sideways everywhere!
Putting new tyres on right before a track day can sometimes be a bad move. When you have 7-8mm of tread block height, the blocks move around a lot more under high loads, heat up more, and can wear incredibly quickly.
Putting new tyres on right before a track day can sometimes be a bad move. When you have 7-8mm of tread block height, the blocks move around a lot more under high loads, heat up more, and can wear incredibly quickly.
tuition especially! Hope you have a good day, but be prepared for the bug to bite..its the rears you'd need to watch out for, and they arent that old in the grand scheme of things.
Also, what brand of tyre are they? i'd presume they're something decent being on a Porsche? but get, run the tyres you have and get to grips with the car, then put fresh rubber in a few trackdays time. by that time you'll be driving the car better and thus the tyres will last longer most likely.
Also, what brand of tyre are they? i'd presume they're something decent being on a Porsche? but get, run the tyres you have and get to grips with the car, then put fresh rubber in a few trackdays time. by that time you'll be driving the car better and thus the tyres will last longer most likely.
The track tyres regular track-dayers use are tyres such as Toyo R888, Yokohama A048, Federal 595 RSR, Dunlop DG03.....none of which have more than 5-6mm of tread on them new. I have done about 6 track days so far on my Federals and still have 4.5mm, and the previous set of Toyo R888s lasted about 9 track days. I have known another driver in a similar car to mine completely trash a brand new set of road tyres by lunchtime on his first track day.
Track tyres come with less tread for a reason, as stated above - deep tread blocks, whose main purpose is to disperse rain on the motorway, move about too much cornering in the dry on track and overheat, then chunk and bits fall off. Remember F1 races that start in the wet and then dry up? The drivers have to come in for slicks because the wet tyres are trashed. Same is true of your Porsche on track - as the guys have said, you will trash new tyres, but have a good day on worn ones. Just look after them, and get a set of track tyres and wheels before your second track day.
Track tyres come with less tread for a reason, as stated above - deep tread blocks, whose main purpose is to disperse rain on the motorway, move about too much cornering in the dry on track and overheat, then chunk and bits fall off. Remember F1 races that start in the wet and then dry up? The drivers have to come in for slicks because the wet tyres are trashed. Same is true of your Porsche on track - as the guys have said, you will trash new tyres, but have a good day on worn ones. Just look after them, and get a set of track tyres and wheels before your second track day.
BTW, when I say you need a set of track wheels, I merely mean a second set of road wheels.....you want to keep your track tyres on a separate set of wheels. They don't have to be Porsche wheels, just the same size, stud pattern, width, offset, centre hole etc. If you are going to fuss about a couple of kilos per corner, then take up racing. Track days are for fun and not competitive.
freeride said:
I have purchased a 997.1 turbo and want to take it on some track days this year.
The tyres on the car are old and require replacing details below:
Front right 6mm sidewall date 2009
Front left 4mm sidewall date 2006
Rear right 5mm sidewall date 2010
Rear left 5.5mm sidewall date 2011
Do I rinse them on my first track day or kickoff my first track day with new fresh rubber?
I'd not be happy with the front left TBH, that tyre is 9 years old. A lot of manufacturers recommend replacement after six years because the rubber begins to degrade.The tyres on the car are old and require replacing details below:
Front right 6mm sidewall date 2009
Front left 4mm sidewall date 2006
Rear right 5mm sidewall date 2010
Rear left 5.5mm sidewall date 2011
Do I rinse them on my first track day or kickoff my first track day with new fresh rubber?
http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/passenger/care...
Change the fronts, but leave the backs 'til afterwards I reckon.
Sorry, not disagreeing about your analysis - the 9 year old tyre is a risk.
But I really wouldn't do a track day on 8mm of brand new rubber, for the reasons given above.
What's the quality of your spare? Could you get a suitable used replacement?
Ask your Porsche dealer if they can recommend somewhere - I would bet if a Porsche driver gets a puncture he changes both tyres on that axle, particularly on a company car.
But I really wouldn't do a track day on 8mm of brand new rubber, for the reasons given above.
What's the quality of your spare? Could you get a suitable used replacement?
Ask your Porsche dealer if they can recommend somewhere - I would bet if a Porsche driver gets a puncture he changes both tyres on that axle, particularly on a company car.
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