Slicks

[LPS_Racing]

We are new to slicks and trying to get our heads around how they work;

With a reasonably limited budget we cant afford new slicks every test day, what sort of running time are people getting out of a set of slicks, and by what level does performance drop off over time?

We are running an M3 CSL in the prod class, so quite a weighty car.

[Ian Carvell]

Hi Manny,

There are loads of different compounds and sizes so it depends on what tyre diameter and width you are using as to what compounds are available....you probably should be lookin for 720 compound as a starting point. Compounds generally work with the higher number being the harder compound, but not always so be a little bit careful....but talk to the guys at HP Tyre Exchange....or Dunlop M'Sport direct, they are top guys and will give you all the advise you need regardless of weather you are a works team or a guy in thier first year like yourself...

[Simon Mason]

LPS_Racing said:

We are new to slicks and trying to get our heads around how they work;

With a reasonably limited budget we cant afford new slicks every test day, what sort of running time are people getting out of a set of slicks, and by what level does performance drop off over time?

We are running an M3 CSL in the prod class, so quite a weighty car.

Regardless of compound the key thing is to remember that the more heat cylces you put them through the worse they get, it has very little to do with actual tyre wear on slicks. So record their use to get a patern of performance. The less efficiently you drive or the car is set up the shorter they last as well because a poor driver will get them hotter. So actual decent performance life will vary.

In terms of pace Dunlop slicks are at thier best around laps 3 and 4 and only get slower from then, eventually dropping to "about" 3 seconds on old ones. Ultimately you know they are old when the car feels less predictable under load.

Hope that helps.

Naturally you will be best off using the hardest tyres Dunlop offer. The guys are very helpfull so ask them about compound choices.

[hondansx]

Yeah, speak to Dunlop, they're at every round. The Clarke/Gibson car is a CSL also, and they are both very approachable.

I own a CSL as a road car, bloody annoying getting beaten by one all the time!!