Tyres Question - First Trackday

[.blue]

Hi All,

I've just learnt of a trackday on Friday that I want to go to. I think my car is in good condition (major service a few months ago, brake pads and discs brand new all round) but one of the front side tyres is wearing near the legal limit on the inside. The other front tyre and the rest of that tyre have plenty of tread left (at least 3mm by the looks of it).

My question now is whether I should change the front tyres or stick with the current ones. While it makes sense to have plenty of tread left before the track day, I've read in guides that having brand new tyres on track day isn't recommended either. And given that the event is 3 days away, I'll hardly be able to run in the new tyres if I fit them.

What's your advice on the best thing to do here? I'm only looking at this from the perspective of doing the track day here, the tyres will be changed straight after.

[GreigM]

You tend to wear tyres more on the outside on a trackday, I'd be changing it afterwards

[mrmr96]

GreigM said:

You tend to wear tyres more on the outside on a trackday, I'd be changing it afterwards

+1, but keep an eye on it. It can quickly get down to canvass depending on your car, the track and how you drive it. You don't want it to pop whilst you're out there!

[RB Will]

Keep an eye on it during the day and change afterwards. Put the spare on to drive home if it is bad. New tyres have too much tread for track use. the blocks move around and overheat.

[.blue]

Cheers guys - looking forward to finally getting on track!

[WeirdNeville]

Kill your current tyres on track but budget for replacements straight after. Take a spare along so you can swap out the most mullered tyre before driving home.

Also, swap the most worn tyre to the 'inside' non driven wheel - most tracks are clockwise so that means right hand side or drivers side.

Directional tyres might stop you doing this.

[mrmr96]

WeirdNeville said:

Directional tyres might stop you doing this.

There's been a bit of debate on this, but my personal opinion is that running directional tyres backwards will not be detrimental on a dry day.

[WeirdNeville]

mrmr96 said:

WeirdNeville said:

Directional tyres might stop you doing this.

There's been a bit of debate on this, but my personal opinion is that running directional tyres backwards will not be detrimental on a dry day.

Quite probably!
More likely to suffer from having naff all tread than running 'backwards'.
But I'm a purist and like all my tyres running in the correct direction.

[jonnyleroux]

my 2p worth is that on your first track day, you've got enough stuff to be worrying about without adding tyres to the list. get a new set and chalk the cost up to experience/insurance against having a st/short day.

novices tend to use far too much steering lock, generally inducing unnecessary understeer which is likely to scrub the tyres pretty quickly depending on how you drive.

Jonny
BaT

[RB Will]

jonnyleroux said:

my 2p worth is that on your first track day, you've got enough stuff to be worrying about without adding tyres to the list. get a new set and chalk the cost up to experience/insurance against having a st/short day.

novices tend to use far too much steering lock, generally inducing unnecessary understeer which is likely to scrub the tyres pretty quickly depending on how you drive.

Jonny
BaT

Listen to this man!!

[rdjohn]

My first trackday (a long time ago) was ruined by boiling brake fluid - I would get some race spec fluid in as well, if you budget can run to it.

No brake pedal is as exciting as a flat tyre, but gives you more worries getting home.