Oulton Park Drift Day - Tyres Question
Discussion
I am considering taking my Z4M on one of the drift days at Oulton (£125).
My question lies in what tyres are recommended?
I don't want to ruin my nearly new pilot sport 2's as I currently run 19" CSL wheels and they are a 265/30/19 on the back. Considering they are £298 per tyre I was considering some budget tyres for £60 a corner to ruin on the day.
What would you advice be? Am I being stupid and defeating the object by going for cheapy tyres?
Perhaps keep the PS2's on the front and change the rears for something easier on the wallet?
My question lies in what tyres are recommended?
I don't want to ruin my nearly new pilot sport 2's as I currently run 19" CSL wheels and they are a 265/30/19 on the back. Considering they are £298 per tyre I was considering some budget tyres for £60 a corner to ruin on the day.
What would you advice be? Am I being stupid and defeating the object by going for cheapy tyres?
Perhaps keep the PS2's on the front and change the rears for something easier on the wallet?
I did the drift day in my old Supra and didn't even notice the tyre wear (oh and it was great fun btw!). By contrast I completely mullered the same set of tyres in an afternoon of track driving at Anglesey.
I don't think tyre wear is really an issue as there is so little grip, but at the same time I doubt it'll matter much what tyres you've got on so if you can find a pair of ultra cheap ditch finders in that size it might be worth it for the peace of mind.
I don't think tyre wear is really an issue as there is so little grip, but at the same time I doubt it'll matter much what tyres you've got on so if you can find a pair of ultra cheap ditch finders in that size it might be worth it for the peace of mind.
We run some Trackaction-Online club driftdays at Oulton and I can confirm that the typical wear is below 1mm for the day, it's hard to believe but the surface is so low grip and well polished that it really doesn't work the car or tyres very hard at all.
Here's a few photos from our last one
Our next date is on May 9th - sorry about the shameless plug but I'm sure we could sort a PHers discount. MSV are charging £139 for their June date but how about we do it for £120, free instruction included
. Shout up if you fancy it 
Steve H
Here's a few photos from our last one
Our next date is on May 9th - sorry about the shameless plug but I'm sure we could sort a PHers discount. MSV are charging £139 for their June date but how about we do it for £120, free instruction included
. Shout up if you fancy it Steve H
I have never done it myself, but was at Oulton Park 2 weeks ago for a trackday and there was a drift day on then. As others have said, the surface has such little grip that even in the dry it is like driving on ice i.e. virtually no tyre wear. The surface is shiny and has a marble effect. It looked fantastic fun and was great to watch.
For those interested, MSV have a drift day there next Friday (24th)
For those interested, MSV have a drift day there next Friday (24th)
So if the surface is shiny and polished... how is that fun exactly? No grip = low speed, no smoke, no traction and well... rather rubbish? Is it an actual drift day or just a power over course?
IE: Do they teach you to transition?
£120 is hideously expensive when you consider you can go and drift for £60 at Santapod most weekends and have WAY more space, lots of seat time, multiple practice pens, 2 larger kidney courses and then a large 4th gear 70mph+ course. Most of the marshals/instructors have also been drifting for a very long time and a large number drift competitively.
With regards to tyres, anything black round and rubber. Buy yourself a second set of wheels (16 or 17 is better to be honest) then speak to these folks who will send you part worns for free.
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drifting-chat/7794...
Santapod also has tyre changing on site, so it's easy enough to get them changed at £5 per hoop.
IE: Do they teach you to transition?
£120 is hideously expensive when you consider you can go and drift for £60 at Santapod most weekends and have WAY more space, lots of seat time, multiple practice pens, 2 larger kidney courses and then a large 4th gear 70mph+ course. Most of the marshals/instructors have also been drifting for a very long time and a large number drift competitively.
With regards to tyres, anything black round and rubber. Buy yourself a second set of wheels (16 or 17 is better to be honest) then speak to these folks who will send you part worns for free.
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drifting-chat/7794...
Santapod also has tyre changing on site, so it's easy enough to get them changed at £5 per hoop.
Edited by Bizzle on Friday 17th April 12:52
Linky Linky
http://www.dwyb.co.uk/
Bizzle <--- Pod Marshal/Instructor (not all the time, but fairly regular on the saturday sessions)
Also check out www.driftworks.com (if you haven't already)
http://www.dwyb.co.uk/
Bizzle <--- Pod Marshal/Instructor (not all the time, but fairly regular on the saturday sessions)
Also check out www.driftworks.com (if you haven't already)
Edited by Bizzle on Friday 17th April 15:45
Hi Bizzle. The days at Oulton are not trying to be the same as the stuff you do at Santa Pod but unless you've had a go I'm not sure you should be so quick to judge 
.
The stages each take about a minute to do a lap of and require sufficient skill to drive that they were used for one of the licencing assessment sessions for this years BDC championship
They are ideal for pretty well any standard or modded car with rwd and even a lot of 4wd kit works well there so it attracts all sorts from Evos to E30 beemers, MX5s to Westfields and takes in all range of Jap, Euro and Yank kit along the way. People who perhaps aren't likely to go drifting as competitors or at a tyre-killing venue can see how their car handles when it runs out of grip and practice their car control skills in a safe, fun environment.
Obviously the cost is an issue but facilities like Oulton are not cheap to run (or rent
) and the flip-side is that you can just turn up and drive your car without having to mess about with changing tyres or bringing part-worns etc with you. Ultimately, the feedback from the drivers who do these days is always superb, lots of people enjoy it and it brings new drivers to drifting, which I'm sure you'll agree is a good thing 
.
Steve H
. The stages each take about a minute to do a lap of and require sufficient skill to drive that they were used for one of the licencing assessment sessions for this years BDC championship
They are ideal for pretty well any standard or modded car with rwd and even a lot of 4wd kit works well there so it attracts all sorts from Evos to E30 beemers, MX5s to Westfields and takes in all range of Jap, Euro and Yank kit along the way. People who perhaps aren't likely to go drifting as competitors or at a tyre-killing venue can see how their car handles when it runs out of grip and practice their car control skills in a safe, fun environment.
Obviously the cost is an issue but facilities like Oulton are not cheap to run (or rent
) and the flip-side is that you can just turn up and drive your car without having to mess about with changing tyres or bringing part-worns etc with you. Ultimately, the feedback from the drivers who do these days is always superb, lots of people enjoy it and it brings new drivers to drifting, which I'm sure you'll agree is a good thing .Steve H
Bizzle said:
So if the surface is shiny and polished... how is that fun exactly? No grip = low speed, no smoke, no traction and well... rather rubbish? Is it an actual drift day or just a power over course?
IE: Do they teach you to transition?
£120 is hideously expensive when you consider you can go and drift for £60 at Santapod most weekends and have WAY more space, lots of seat time, multiple practice pens, 2 larger kidney courses and then a large 4th gear 70mph+ course. Most of the marshals/instructors have also been drifting for a very long time and a large number drift competitively.
With regards to tyres, anything black round and rubber. Buy yourself a second set of wheels (16 or 17 is better to be honest) then speak to these folks who will send you part worns for free.
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drifting-chat/7794...
Santapod also has tyre changing on site, so it's easy enough to get them changed at £5 per hoop.
It is called 'Introduction to Drifting' not 'The British Drifters Championship'.IE: Do they teach you to transition?
£120 is hideously expensive when you consider you can go and drift for £60 at Santapod most weekends and have WAY more space, lots of seat time, multiple practice pens, 2 larger kidney courses and then a large 4th gear 70mph+ course. Most of the marshals/instructors have also been drifting for a very long time and a large number drift competitively.
With regards to tyres, anything black round and rubber. Buy yourself a second set of wheels (16 or 17 is better to be honest) then speak to these folks who will send you part worns for free.
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drifting-chat/7794...
Santapod also has tyre changing on site, so it's easy enough to get them changed at £5 per hoop.
Edited by Bizzle on Friday 17th April 12:52
The idea is that it is slow speeds so that it is easier to learn and safer, yet still being very fun. If the surface was normal you couldn't drift on the course and it would teach you nothing at all, and someone would get hurt.
I haven't done a day, but as t11ner said above, the people who have done it seem to have enjoyed it.
Think i will be signing up for this one,, have done two of these days before and they are great fun very friendly and much more relaxed than my usual trackdays.
I find them to be good practice for rear steer and very easy on the car,, use very little fuel zero wear on the brakes and even the tyres have hardly been scuffed after two events.
I find them to be good practice for rear steer and very easy on the car,, use very little fuel zero wear on the brakes and even the tyres have hardly been scuffed after two events.
Yet another great days fun,,, national drift championships no, but bloody good fun none the less and good practice too,, the old BM has never spent so much time sideways and on the rev limit.
bit of vid from the day.
http://www.trackaction-online.co.uk/photopost/show...
bit of vid from the day.
http://www.trackaction-online.co.uk/photopost/show...
Bizzle said:
Linky Linky
http://www.dwyb.co.uk/
Bizzle <--- Pod Marshal/Instructor (not all the time, but fairly regular on the saturday sessions)
Also check out www.driftworks.com (if you haven't already)
Bizzle http://www.dwyb.co.uk/
Bizzle <--- Pod Marshal/Instructor (not all the time, but fairly regular on the saturday sessions)
Also check out www.driftworks.com (if you haven't already)
Edited by Bizzle on Friday 17th April 15:45
Santa Pod is much closer to me than Oulton Park. I'd like to attend a day but I have never "drifted" before. Should I go? Will be there someone to teach me?
I can vouch for the trackaction days, fantastic day out, enough grip to play with but still low speed enough that you don't have to worry about damage.
As for tyre wear - it wasn't even measurable on our car.
At the risk of Steve not getting his head back out of the door, they were bloody well run and tuition is available too.
As for tyre wear - it wasn't even measurable on our car.
At the risk of Steve not getting his head back out of the door, they were bloody well run and tuition is available too.
Edited by PhillipM on Monday 11th May 20:57
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