Tyre condition after track day

[Stuart444]

This might be daft, but it's worth asking......

I've done a few track days in different cars and am looking forwards to my first go at Oulton in a few weeks in my Boxster S.

When at Anglesey a few years ago, they warned me to watch my tyres as the police often amuse themselves by waiting outside, or on the A55, ready to nab people and inspect their tyres, as that track is known to be very hard on tyres. So I was duly careful and went home legal.

I'm wondering if I manage to get my Porsche tyres illegal, how will I get home in case Mr Cheshire Plod is bored? Of course I could hire a trailer, or buy a set of spare wheels, but that's rather expensive.

So I wondered, if I towed it home (only about 15 miles), would that be legal? I know trailers have to have legal tyres, but I can't find any reference on the net for the tyres of a towed vehicle.

Thanks for any info.

[Stuart444]

Thanks for that. I hadn't thought of finding someone to fit tyres there. Actually I've booked the day on 4th November, and am eyeing up 7th Nov too. Sounds a good idea - I can buy 4 tyres and fit them if needed, otherwise use my usual fitter.

[Stuart444]

Having read your post again, I guess there might be no-one there on 4th Nov to do it - is that service specific to that organiser?

[Stuart444]

I've got Conti Sport Contact 3s on, with about 6mm on the front and 4mm on the back, both measured in the middle of the tyres. My Anglesey experience was when I had a supercharged MX-5 with I think Dunlop tyres on, I forget which type, and it removed 3-4mm of tread in maybe 5, 20 minute sessions so maybe 50-70 laps. I know there's a big difference between legal and what Porsche recommends, so I figured enjoy the end of these tyres and get new ones for winter.

Anyway it's an interesting issue. I've booked via Javelin and they reckon it's unlikely there'll be anyone there who can change tyres. I rang Oulton and they said the same. They also were unable to tell me if, say, a garage would be available to leave the car in whilst I took the wheels away for re-shodding or to hire a trailer. I've found people selling used wheels with part worn tyres on ebay etc, but it's an expensive solution. Guess I'll just have to take my tread gauge with me.

[Stuart444]

Thanks for all that wisdom. I don't expect to be doing lots of TDs, just enough to get a better feel of what the car is capable of. So I think I'll buy a set of new road tyres and swap them when I have to, but expect that with care I probably won't need to do so on the day, especially if I only do the one day.

If I got bitten and decided to do more, then I like the idea of getting some track wheels and tyres of the type you recommend. Can you suggest a supplier of these and of "inexpensive" wheels? The sites I found only sell alloys at hefty prices (£1000-£2000 - well beyond what I'd be prepared to pay for this). I could get some secondhand ones - I found a few on sale at around £750. Can you get steel wheels for the track - or does the weight ruin the suspension setup?

[Stuart444]

Lots of interesting information for an inexperienced TD goer like myself here - thanks.

The last comments about oil starvation are worrying - the last thing we want to do is harm the engine. Do you think increasing the oil level a bit for a TD would be helpful?

[Stuart444]

Another comment - I've just looked up the Federal 595 RS-R tyres that were recommended above for TDs. Demon Tweeks sell 235/40 R18 Ws for about £160 and Oponeo sell them for just over £100(although neither list 265/40 R18s), and Tweeks say " an ultra high performance E marked tyre suitable for use on the track or on the street".

Does anyone use them for everyday use?