Discussion
So each year about this time I think about tyres.
My fronts are, technically speaking you understand, shagged. The rears, although only a few thousand miles in have done a good few track days and are, errrrm, on their way out, shall we saym but with life left in them.
So. I could just pop a couple of Michelin Pilot Sports on the front of the car and there you go. These are truly great tyres and I'm very happy with them. They last well. They're great in the wet. They put up with track use. Bloody marvellous.
But.
That hankering for more grip keeps teasing me and makes me consider, once again, the question: "Could I live with Track Day tyres?" The answer, once again, is "maybe". I can't be bothered with extra rims, really. I could put on a set of Pilot Sport Cups, Pirelli Corsas or ... etc etc
1) I am mad and shouldn't do this given I do *some* road miles in the car?
2) Whilst piss-wet or icy weather can certainly be excluded from when these tyres will be used *wet* track days and summer rain will be an issue. Do any of the Track Day tyres cope OK with mild levels of wetness or is this a total no-no?
So. Track Day tyres - given the above any recommendations?
If I'm mad and absolutely shouldn't do it any recommendations for tyre alternatives to yet another set of Michelin Pilot Sports? They're great but they're REALLY expensive and I do tend to do them in. Toyos?
265/35/ZR18 - rear
225/40/ZR18 - front
My fronts are, technically speaking you understand, shagged. The rears, although only a few thousand miles in have done a good few track days and are, errrrm, on their way out, shall we saym but with life left in them.
So. I could just pop a couple of Michelin Pilot Sports on the front of the car and there you go. These are truly great tyres and I'm very happy with them. They last well. They're great in the wet. They put up with track use. Bloody marvellous.
But.
That hankering for more grip keeps teasing me and makes me consider, once again, the question: "Could I live with Track Day tyres?" The answer, once again, is "maybe". I can't be bothered with extra rims, really. I could put on a set of Pilot Sport Cups, Pirelli Corsas or ... etc etc
1) I am mad and shouldn't do this given I do *some* road miles in the car?
2) Whilst piss-wet or icy weather can certainly be excluded from when these tyres will be used *wet* track days and summer rain will be an issue. Do any of the Track Day tyres cope OK with mild levels of wetness or is this a total no-no?
So. Track Day tyres - given the above any recommendations?
If I'm mad and absolutely shouldn't do it any recommendations for tyre alternatives to yet another set of Michelin Pilot Sports? They're great but they're REALLY expensive and I do tend to do them in. Toyos?
265/35/ZR18 - rear
225/40/ZR18 - front
Michelin Cups are useless in the wet, particularly in standing water - DANGEROOOOOUS!!!!
Corsas are a little bit better in the wet but still don't like a lot of rain.
Both of the above give great grip in the dry when warmed up otherwise grip is a bit like normal road tyres. However, to get them warm you have to drive like a maniac on the public highway or use them for what they were designed for, on the track.
Both brands are also ferociously expensive and the tyres wear ever so quickly.
Best option is buy a spare set of rims and then have road tyres for all weather use and track tyres for the dry days and trackdays.
Steve
Corsas are a little bit better in the wet but still don't like a lot of rain.
Both of the above give great grip in the dry when warmed up otherwise grip is a bit like normal road tyres. However, to get them warm you have to drive like a maniac on the public highway or use them for what they were designed for, on the track.
Both brands are also ferociously expensive and the tyres wear ever so quickly.
Best option is buy a spare set of rims and then have road tyres for all weather use and track tyres for the dry days and trackdays.
Steve
Paul968 said:
Toyos are good in the wet but probably not your best bet for track day use - they have quite flexible sidewalls and a tread pattern which allows the tread blocks to move a bit, which means they get hot rather quickly and move around more than a stiffer sidewalled tyre.
flamin 'ell. how d you guys know all this stuff?
Partly because I did a day with Andy Walsh of CarLimits on Wednesday (fantastic btw!) and he said as much. I knew that before tho from other's comments and also from basic tyre theory - the more the tread blocks move around the more a tyre heats up. When it gets too hot it rapidly becomes useless. This is why rain tyres in F1 are a big problem when it dries - they overheat VERY fast.
Don said:
Extra rims, whilst being the ideal solution, are somewhat impractical for me at the moment...
Don you can pick up old 17 inchers that will fit your car from £300, bung some sticky rubber on- Cups, Corsas, 888s, A048s, Dunlops, Khumos, etc etc & just have 'em stacked up in ya garage.
Then day before & day after track day= 20 mins to change tyres for track day & other than the cups most of them are not too awful in the rain unless they are very worn.
You can of course just always hire me to transport ya car & the spare wheels etc to the track so you can change at will
I do that for some track folks already.iguana said:
Extra rims, whilst being the ideal solution, are somewhat impractical for me at the moment...
Don you can pick up old 17 inchers that will fit your car from £300, bung some sticky rubber on- Cups, Corsas, 888s, A048s, Dunlops, Khumos, etc etc & just have 'em stacked up in ya garage.
Then day before & day after track day= 20 mins to change tyres for track day & other than the cups most of them are not too awful in the rain unless they are very worn.
You can of course just always hire me to transport ya car & the spare wheels etc to the track so you can change at will
Going the 17" route makes a lot of sense. The tyres are cheaper and given what I plan on doing to them that's not a bad thing!
Its the £300 wheels. I never seem to be able to find them! (Must scour eBay I suppose). Good advice - thanks Alex. Not sure I want to get into the "support vehicle" thing.....yet!
Don said:
Going the 17" route makes a lot of sense. The tyres are cheaper
Exactly & so are the wheels
Don said:
Its the £300 wheels. I never seem to be able to find them! (Must scour eBay I suppose).
They dont go for much, I managed £350 for a really clean set with 2 tyres.
Follow this one, auction ends in 22 hrs & only £77 bid so far
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/porsche-17-inch-alloy-wheels_W
>> Edited by iguana on Saturday 11th February 17:01
iguana said:
Follow this one, auction ends in 22 hrs & only £77 bid so far
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/porsche-17-inch-alloy-wheels_W
Already in my Watch list!
You could always put some of these on,,
www.pistonheads.com/sales/61602.htm
You can use them as a "dual" purpose track / road tyre....
www.pistonheads.com/sales/61602.htm
You can use them as a "dual" purpose track / road tyre....
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