Recommended tread depth?

[f@tboy]

I've got about 3 to 3.5mm left on my rears right now, and a tracking in a few weeks. I'm not sure whether to get new tyres now or not. What do you think is best - put a new pair on now, or leave the old ones on and change them afterwards? I don't have spare wheels, so taking old and new isn't an option.

I reckon 3mm will last well enough so that I don't have to drive home on canvas, but will 3mm perform better than 8mm on the track. Assuming it's dry.

Cheers
FB

[PetrolTed]

You'll be fine. Change 'em after the event.

[GC8]

+1. Youll kill the tyres on a trackday if theyre brand new / un-buffed etc...

[rdjohn]

If you change them, you will only be happy if it pours down with rain, but 3mm will last OK in the wet, so it is a no-brainer. IMHO

[Alfa_75_Steve]

IME, 3mm will disappear on the track.

I had to cut short a day a couple of years ago because my tyres were looking very marginal by the lunchtime break.

[_Neal_]

I agree - I think 3mm is pushing it if you want to drive home on legal tyres.

[lucky76]

I put new TR1's on around a week before my first track day, was way off the pace of most (lol ok everyone) and still managed to melt/score badly one of the rears so would wait IMO.

[speedychrissie]

It depends massively on what car you have, which circuit you are going too, your driving style and what tyres you have.

If you shred tyres then 3mm may not last you, but if you are in a light car on a circuit that isnt harsh on tyres and you are sensible, you should be perfectly fine.

[f@tboy]

Its a 911, Donington, tyres are Bridgestone S-02

I can get tyres onsite for the drive home if I need them

[NickXX]

3mm will be fine with a reasonbly light car. Get a tyre guage if you don't have one and keep an eye on them during the day.

[ginettajoe]

f@tboy said:

Its a 911, Donington, tyres are Bridgestone S-02

I can get tyres onsite for the drive home if I need them

..... they should be fine!! Drive smoothly, smooth = fast, and they should be ok.

[GreenV8S]

Alfa_75_Steve said:

IME, 3mm will disappear on the track.

That depends how aggressive your driving style is. You should monitor tyre/pad wear and fluid levels/pressures as a matter of course so you know to stop before it becomes a problem. The problem with fitting new tyres before a track day is that the new tyres are very soft and will squirm, heat up and suffer a lot of wear. A track day that would leave old part-worn tyres almost untouched could easily destroy a set of brand new tyres. If you do decide to fit new tyres first, make sure you cure them properly before the track day.

[steve z]

f@tboy said:

Its a 911, Donington, tyres are Bridgestone S-02

I can get tyres onsite for the drive home if I need them

No brainer then, keep them on, and if they're trashed at the end of the day get them to fit some new ones. You may just want to check who the fitter is that's going to be there and ask them to have a pair on board just in case.

[dubkiller]

yep, defo trash what you have.

[DiscoColin]

f@tboy said:

Its a 911, Donington, tyres are Bridgestone S-02

I can get tyres onsite for the drive home if I need them

For reference, I find Michelin PS2s wear less than 1mm per track day on my 911 - unless you fancy yourself as a drift champion you should be fine.

[f@tboy]

Thanks for all the comments; I'll be leaving them on and hoping to finsh them off in style.
FB

[mat205125]

f@tboy said:

I've got about 3 to 3.5mm left on my rears right now, and a tracking in a few weeks. I'm not sure whether to get new tyres now or not. What do you think is best - put a new pair on now, or leave the old ones on and change them afterwards? I don't have spare wheels, so taking old and new isn't an option.

I reckon 3mm will last well enough so that I don't have to drive home on canvas, but will 3mm perform better than 8mm on the track. Assuming it's dry.

Cheers
FB

Your current depth is ideal for a track day, however you do seriously risk wearing to below the legal limit for the drive home. Bear in mind, you need >1.6mm across 80% (IIRC) of the width.

Brand new tyres need to be treated gently. It is very easy to generate a lot of heat in them very quickly due to the movement in the blocks. This can make the car move around more than expected after a few laps, and could catch you out if you are not ready for it. If you press on agressively regardless, with brand new road tyres, you can suffer with the treads tearing blocks of in extreme circumstances ... You may also suffer with the rubber moving around across the tyre width, and being sticky enough to pick up large chunks of marbles - It can feel like you are driving home on a cobbled motorway.

I'd be tempted to ruin your current tyres and fit new ones immediately afterwards if possible.

[RatBoy M3CS]

+1

Forget running new boots on a track day.. 3-4mm is perfect.. new ones will just overheat and destroy themselves as the blocks move around....

keep an eye on them during the afternoon.... if they get thin, pack up and drive home. steady in the wet..! but odds on you will be fine for the day..

Edited by RatBoy M3CS on Monday 11th May 21:21

[jon-]

ginettajoe said:

f@tboy said:

Its a 911, Donington, tyres are Bridgestone S-02

I can get tyres onsite for the drive home if I need them

..... they should be fine!! Drive smoothly, smooth = fast, and they should be ok.

Easily. Donny is fairly low wear and S02's do well on track.

[plenty]

How new is too new? I've just fitted a new pair of rears today and was hoping to a trackday fairly soon? Is 1,000 miles of wear too soon?