Cutting slicks

[sniff diesel]

On a couple of trackdays this year the conditions were a bit intermediate to use either my full slicks (Yokohama WTCC) or wets (Dunlop BTCC) tyres. On these occasions I could have really done with some cut slicks, or even some Toyo R888 type tyres. Since the Toyos in my size (235/40R17) cost about £170 each rather than the £20-30 each that I can get part worn slicks for, cut slicks look like the way forward. The £200 or so that the cutter would cost would pay for itself on the first set of tyres I use it on.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience with cutters or using cut slicks?

[fergus]

sniff diesel said:

On a couple of trackdays this year the conditions were a bit intermediate to use either my full slicks (Yokohama WTCC) or wets (Dunlop BTCC) tyres. On these occasions I could have really done with some cut slicks, or even some Toyo R888 type tyres. Since the Toyos in my size (235/40R17) cost about £170 each rather than the £20-30 each that I can get part worn slicks for, cut slicks look like the way forward. The £200 or so that the cutter would cost would pay for itself on the first set of tyres I use it on.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience with cutters or using cut slicks?

Get some advice on this, as you risk the tyre completely overheating and falling apart due to cutting too many channels for the tread to handle, or falling apart due to where you've cut the channels too deeply and affected the carcass!

Keep the cutter moving at the same speed and don't try and take the whole channel out in one go until you're used to the cutter. It's hard work! Best to copy an existing inters tread pattern.

[gruffalo]

Richard, where do you get your slicks from, I am thinking of getting a second set of rims and using slicks for summer track days, just not sure where to get them from?

[cts]

Try a truck tyre dealer, who do tyre cutting, hope this helps.

[TheEnd]

Look on ebay for the slicks, there are usually loads on there from the BTCC/WTCC teams

[sniff diesel]

TheEnd said:

Look on ebay for the slicks, there are usually loads on there from the BTCC/WTCC teams

Yep, or even try the classifieds on here as there's a bloke in Camarthenshire that often has a load for sale. I'm going to try some Clio cup Michelins as they're a bit narrower so should sit better on my 7.5" rims.