Track vs Non Track Tyres (on Track)
Discussion
Run a Mr2 Turbo on 17 inch rims that I use solely on track....a toy that I try to keep costs down on.
Looking for a set of new tyres - aware of the track options but question if they are worth the extra...I dont race competitively so a second or two here or there makes no difference to me as long as I am enjoying it.
Are there any road tyres that dont "go off" and still give a decent grip / wear rate without costing the earth??
Views appreciated.
P
Looking for a set of new tyres - aware of the track options but question if they are worth the extra...I dont race competitively so a second or two here or there makes no difference to me as long as I am enjoying it.
Are there any road tyres that dont "go off" and still give a decent grip / wear rate without costing the earth??
Views appreciated.
P
Semi slick list 1b tyres will reduce your lap times, often by several seconds or more. However they also push the capabilities of the rest of the car, putting more strain on the chassis, suspension and brakes.
Road tyres provide much lower levels of grip but are much more durable as well as being cheaper.
The problem with road tyres, in my opinion, is that often they will be degraded by heat cycling long before the tread wears out.
I used to buff mine but this adds cost.
Basically so long as you're prepared to live with the cost and durability of 1b tyres, and accept the greater strain on the car, then go for 1b tyres.
Road tyres provide much lower levels of grip but are much more durable as well as being cheaper.
The problem with road tyres, in my opinion, is that often they will be degraded by heat cycling long before the tread wears out.
I used to buff mine but this adds cost.
Basically so long as you're prepared to live with the cost and durability of 1b tyres, and accept the greater strain on the car, then go for 1b tyres.
Two sets of rims is the way forward - a bit of a faff but major advantages.
For example, I run R888s on when track - they have lots of track use left, but are boardering on being road legal or not.
Also, might not be an issue for you, but the ride when on R888s with coilovers is very poor! Seriously stiff side walls.
Also, the road noise is massive.
When out on track on road tyres, they would over heat within 5 laps, and also the car was very understeer based with them on.
When my road tyres wear out, I will replace with some semi track day focused stuff, R1R type, or V70's. However, for out and out track days, im sticking to the likes of R888s.
For example, I run R888s on when track - they have lots of track use left, but are boardering on being road legal or not.
Also, might not be an issue for you, but the ride when on R888s with coilovers is very poor! Seriously stiff side walls.
Also, the road noise is massive.
When out on track on road tyres, they would over heat within 5 laps, and also the car was very understeer based with them on.
When my road tyres wear out, I will replace with some semi track day focused stuff, R1R type, or V70's. However, for out and out track days, im sticking to the likes of R888s.
Can't give specific alternatives, but my experience suggests you might consider some of the *less* performance oriented tyres - as you say laptime is not really that important. I'm not sure what the MR2 weighs, but:
Boxster S (1300kg ish I think):
1) Michelin Pilot sport 2's. Shocking. Great on road, good for the first few laps, but driven *hard* on track rapidly melted - after 20 mins you could really feel them moving, and put a thumbprint in it back in the pits. Didn't last well as a result
2) Bridgestone S02's. Harder, less immediately impressive, but took a track bashing much better. Lasted twice as long, didn't melt easily.
Currently running a Mk1 mx5 as a track tart, that's on cheapish kumho kh31's. Plenty of grip, will lap all day without melting them - but it's only 1000kg.
Boxster S (1300kg ish I think):
1) Michelin Pilot sport 2's. Shocking. Great on road, good for the first few laps, but driven *hard* on track rapidly melted - after 20 mins you could really feel them moving, and put a thumbprint in it back in the pits. Didn't last well as a result
2) Bridgestone S02's. Harder, less immediately impressive, but took a track bashing much better. Lasted twice as long, didn't melt easily.
Currently running a Mk1 mx5 as a track tart, that's on cheapish kumho kh31's. Plenty of grip, will lap all day without melting them - but it's only 1000kg.
I think look for used tyre bargains personally. Ones with close to illegal tread can provide good cheap track rubber, as long as you have a friendly local tyre changing place. The issue with new tyres is block squirm / wear, which can be really bad on track - something not an issue with track focused rubber. I am a fan of hard compound V700 on track - awesome rubber but £130 a corner in 205/40 size. I have just bought 4 Federal 595 RS-R tyres for under £300 delivered which I am looking forward to trying and comparing to the Kumhos. I don't think they'll be as good but the Kumhos are fapping awesome!
I used to use and swear by R888s on my E30 M3...until they got seriously expensive. They also don't last that well...I've used a front left corner from new to canvas in one day at Cadwell :/
For the last year or so I've been using s/h slicks on my track rims...Michelin S9C in 19/57-15 size (roughly equivalent to 195/50/15), but they offer lots more grip than 215/50/15 in R888s and can be had for £50 or less a piece. They also last a lot longer than any R compound track tyre I've used, but the downside is you'll need a second set of road-going rims/tyres that, for me, double as wets.
For the last year or so I've been using s/h slicks on my track rims...Michelin S9C in 19/57-15 size (roughly equivalent to 195/50/15), but they offer lots more grip than 215/50/15 in R888s and can be had for £50 or less a piece. They also last a lot longer than any R compound track tyre I've used, but the downside is you'll need a second set of road-going rims/tyres that, for me, double as wets.
Dakkon said:
My MR2 Turbo is still on the standard 15" rims, I have just had fitted a new set of Kumho V70a's on Saturday, ready for Rockingham this Sunday, as I have found normal road tyres overheat.
I went for the hard compound to try and get some life out of them.
Same here, and one pair of the tyres on my rims are still "OK" (just) from when I bought them second hand... and they've done a day at Cadwell, one and a half days at Oulton Park, and the odd session like a How Fast? at Bedford and the odd Castle Combe session. They seem to last ages whatever the abuse (On a Skoda Fabia diesel)I went for the hard compound to try and get some life out of them.
Well I finally have a car which is really just for trackdays, so I figured now was the time to get some decent tyres. I have run Goodyear Eagle F1's, Michelins etc and whether it is my bad driving or not but they tend to overheat and melt, making the car very twitchy.
I have booked Rockingham on the 9th March, 'Ring on the 2nd April and Spa on the 3rd April, so wanted some decent tyres and the Kumho's seem to get decent reviews. I pondered a lot over the medium vs. hard compound, but figured as I still need to drive to Germany, Belgium and back home I need them to last, figuring any set of 1b type tyre will be better than a fast road tyre.
Just hoping I get dry days when on track.
I have booked Rockingham on the 9th March, 'Ring on the 2nd April and Spa on the 3rd April, so wanted some decent tyres and the Kumho's seem to get decent reviews. I pondered a lot over the medium vs. hard compound, but figured as I still need to drive to Germany, Belgium and back home I need them to last, figuring any set of 1b type tyre will be better than a fast road tyre.
Just hoping I get dry days when on track.
I was surprised how much grip my V70A still had in the "slight rain" at Oulton last time out. I knew I couldn't push them as hard as in the dry, but I was pleasantly surprised how much grip they still had on a damp track - not dangerous at all, and better than a road tyre still I reckon.
upsidedownmark said:
Can't give specific alternatives, but my experience suggests you might consider some of the *less* performance oriented tyres - as you say laptime is not really that important. I'm not sure what the MR2 weighs, but:
Agree with Mark some of the Budget tyres work well. Two more for the list.Less sticky - Hankook Ventus V12 evo k110
Sticky - Federal 595's very good even in the wet and do not go off.
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