Sticky or hard tyres for novice trackday driver
Discussion
I have a ZX14R Bike engined RWD Kit car. I've done a couple of track days at Blyton and will be doing half a dozen on bigger tracks this 'season'. Still a novice really, so would like some advice on tyres. (Not another 'what tyre' thread though).
Should I go for a sticky semi-slick which will keep me on track without back end braking away, have higher speed before loses grip but break away swiftly...?
Or should I go for a hard cheap black round tyre that will not be as grippy, and allow it to break away at a lower speed...?
I can usually wind on opposite lock when back end starts to slide, but not been great at unwinding it quickly enough to stop a spin. So my thoughts are if I choose a lower grip tyre, if I do spin it will be a lower speed... I also might learn how to control over-steer a bit better with lower speed. But would appreciate thoughts from better drivers.
Should I go for a sticky semi-slick which will keep me on track without back end braking away, have higher speed before loses grip but break away swiftly...?
Or should I go for a hard cheap black round tyre that will not be as grippy, and allow it to break away at a lower speed...?
I can usually wind on opposite lock when back end starts to slide, but not been great at unwinding it quickly enough to stop a spin. So my thoughts are if I choose a lower grip tyre, if I do spin it will be a lower speed... I also might learn how to control over-steer a bit better with lower speed. But would appreciate thoughts from better drivers.
AdamR172 said:
Erm, I think the above post might be a touch mixed up.
On the subject of tyres, I'm a huge fan of crap ones for learning with. If you are trying to learn the balance and skill involved in hustling a car around on the limit, a tyre with lower grip will allow you to learn this much more easily than a really grippy tyre that allows you to just blast around relatively quickly without any sort of wobbles..
I have a second set of wheels that came with the car. They are shod with some brand new Yokohoma Prada Spec 2 tyres. They are quite cheap tyres, and I don't think they are particularly grippy. I'll try them and see how they go.On the subject of tyres, I'm a huge fan of crap ones for learning with. If you are trying to learn the balance and skill involved in hustling a car around on the limit, a tyre with lower grip will allow you to learn this much more easily than a really grippy tyre that allows you to just blast around relatively quickly without any sort of wobbles..
I also have a set of Yokohama AD08R for the other set of wheels. They sound like a good compromise. Like everyone, main aim is to have some fun and stay away from the armco etc.
QBee said:
I agree with Whoosher, I wouldn't go out and buy some Parada Spec 2s, especially as I have now got a lot faster on track.
But in my first year of trackdays, I bought a set of Paradas second hand for the price of a tank of fuel, and had a year's fun in a TVR on dry track days.
They wore out pretty quickly, but had reasonable grip in the dry.
I then migrated to Toyo R888s and Federal RSR 595s (two sets of wheels) and found them so much better, both on the road and the track, and in the case of the Federals, not a lot more expensive.
So the PS2's are too crap to use as my crap learning tyre...? Well they are black and round, and came free so I'll give them a go and see how I get on. If I end up in the armco, then I should have listened!But in my first year of trackdays, I bought a set of Paradas second hand for the price of a tank of fuel, and had a year's fun in a TVR on dry track days.
They wore out pretty quickly, but had reasonable grip in the dry.
I then migrated to Toyo R888s and Federal RSR 595s (two sets of wheels) and found them so much better, both on the road and the track, and in the case of the Federals, not a lot more expensive.
Wh00sher said:
Appalling tyres. AVOID !!!
Crap in the rain, soft sidewalls and overheat FAR too easily..
I have nothing good to say about them whatsoever I`m afraid
QBee - don't think I am mis-interpreting that - PS2 is apparently a crap tyre according to Wh00sher.Crap in the rain, soft sidewalls and overheat FAR too easily..
I have nothing good to say about them whatsoever I`m afraid
I think I opened a whole can of worms when asking about tyres... I think I'll just try them and see how it goes. Most people do seem to agree that a crap tyre is a better way to learn the limits than jumping onto a pair of 888s.
The Prada Spec 2s were just awful on a wet and cold Blyton day. I quickly found the limit of grip (and beyond..!). One spin off, 3 or 4 recovered rear wheel drifts and I didn't go particularly fast.
Going to use them for the car Limits days with Walshy, then off they go to the bin. Going to put the Yokohama AD08 on, and then have the spare wheels shod in something stickier for the Summer.
Going to use them for the car Limits days with Walshy, then off they go to the bin. Going to put the Yokohama AD08 on, and then have the spare wheels shod in something stickier for the Summer.
Edited by chutley on Saturday 16th April 20:45
A little update...
Did the Walshy Car Limits day - great fun and real learning day. Sold the PS2 tyres and now have Yoko AD08s on. Used at Cadwell and had a superb day on them. These will now be my wet/damp tyres.
Just put a set of Federal 595s on my spare wheels and hoping for another dry day at Cadwell tomorrow.
Back to Blyton on 19th July for another Walshy training day. That made me appreciate just how much I have to learn, and how much better it is to spend money on instruction than car performance extras.
See you on track.
Did the Walshy Car Limits day - great fun and real learning day. Sold the PS2 tyres and now have Yoko AD08s on. Used at Cadwell and had a superb day on them. These will now be my wet/damp tyres.
Just put a set of Federal 595s on my spare wheels and hoping for another dry day at Cadwell tomorrow.
Back to Blyton on 19th July for another Walshy training day. That made me appreciate just how much I have to learn, and how much better it is to spend money on instruction than car performance extras.
See you on track.
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