GT4's and their "spicy" Cup Sport tyres
Discussion
Anyone else been out on the winter roads for a drive/thrash?
I read up about the tyres so was well informed to be careful on the slick roads.
But.....
I took delivery start of last week and then went away for Christmas so back yesterday and HAD to go out on the Wiltshire roads to stretch her legs. Hilariously come back past Siston Hill went round a roundabout, not giving it too much beans, but lost the back end and swung it back the other way to compensate but I thought too far and just accepted I was going to spin - praying I would not hit anything. Thankfully the tyres were warm so I got it back.
I pulled over in a lay-by near Cherhill and took a deep breath.
Spicy tyres or what!!!
I read up about the tyres so was well informed to be careful on the slick roads.
But.....
I took delivery start of last week and then went away for Christmas so back yesterday and HAD to go out on the Wiltshire roads to stretch her legs. Hilariously come back past Siston Hill went round a roundabout, not giving it too much beans, but lost the back end and swung it back the other way to compensate but I thought too far and just accepted I was going to spin - praying I would not hit anything. Thankfully the tyres were warm so I got it back.
I pulled over in a lay-by near Cherhill and took a deep breath.
Spicy tyres or what!!!
sebulban said:
Evolved said:
Haha, Cups in winter or rain is a recipe for brown pants! I had some SS Cups on my CSL and nearly wiped the whole lot out exiting a roundabout one day, like you, pulled over for a talk with myself.
Why they so spicy? But just in case you are. Cups in the damp at "sensible" temperatures are fine, and in light rain likewise, however they don't like standing water and they don't like low temperatures, primarily because the compound they're formulated from is made to work (provide grip) at temperatures way above freezing, thus at low temperatures they're rock hard and provide far reduced grip.
If you want to chuck the car around in sub zero temperatures, get a spare set of rims and fit them with Winter tyres. Here's hoping you keep the car shiny side up if you continue to drive it in these conditions in the manner you've described.
In general, drivers leave a lot more grip on the table under braking in the wet/cold than they do in the dry - and a lot less to apex and under acceleration. ie they show wet and cold conditions a little too much respect when they are trying to stop and no enough when they are apex or exiting.
Unless conditions are very wet, the cup 2 is quire a decent tyre. Unfortunately you were probably a victim of an over enthusiastic right foot rather than your tyres.
Either way, at least you now know where the limit is..
Unless conditions are very wet, the cup 2 is quire a decent tyre. Unfortunately you were probably a victim of an over enthusiastic right foot rather than your tyres.
Either way, at least you now know where the limit is..
Slippydiff said:
No offence intended, but unless I'm mistaken, it sounds as if you're driving around (by all accounts like a 17 year old who's just passed his test) in a 380 hp car and questioning why its tyres aren't providing any grip in the sub zero temperatures we're currently experiencing ? Hopefully you're not serious ?
But just in case you are. Cups in the damp at "sensible" temperatures are fine, and in light rain likewise, however they don't like standing water and they don't like low temperatures, primarily because the compound they're formulated from is made to work (provide grip) at temperatures way above freezing, thus at low temperatures they're rock hard and provide far reduced grip.
If you want to chuck the car around in sub zero temperatures, get a spare set of rims and fit them with Winter tyres. Here's hoping you keep the car shiny side up if you continue to drive it in these conditions in the manner you've described.
You are mistaken but I'll let you off this time.But just in case you are. Cups in the damp at "sensible" temperatures are fine, and in light rain likewise, however they don't like standing water and they don't like low temperatures, primarily because the compound they're formulated from is made to work (provide grip) at temperatures way above freezing, thus at low temperatures they're rock hard and provide far reduced grip.
If you want to chuck the car around in sub zero temperatures, get a spare set of rims and fit them with Winter tyres. Here's hoping you keep the car shiny side up if you continue to drive it in these conditions in the manner you've described.
I never questioned why the tyres or car responded the way they did! The tyres were cold and the roads wet and I still had the Cups on which are renowned for being terrible in those conditions, so exiting a roundabout with too much juice would only ever end one way.
Over egged how much I nearly lost it by but it did catch me off guard and put my heart in my throat.
Luckily it's a few years ago now, the car is still in one piece and hopefully I've grown up since
Evolved said:
The tyres were cold and the roads wet and I still had the Cups on which are renowned for being terrible in those conditions, so exiting a roundabout with too much juice would only ever end one way.
The Cup2 tyres, which would be on the GT4, are seemingly much better in this regard than the original Cups. As Slippy has explained, these tyres need respect in cold and wet conditions but are by no means 'terrible' as you suggest. Standing water is where these tyres do have problems, however.Slippydiff said:
No offence intended, but unless I'm mistaken, it sounds as if you're driving around (by all accounts like a 17 year old who's just passed his test) in a 380 hp car and questioning why its tyres aren't providing any grip in the sub zero temperatures we're currently experiencing ? Hopefully you're not serious ?
But just in case you are. Cups in the damp at "sensible" temperatures are fine, and in light rain likewise, however they don't like standing water and they don't like low temperatures, primarily because the compound they're formulated from is made to work (provide grip) at temperatures way above freezing, thus at low temperatures they're rock hard and provide far reduced grip.
If you want to chuck the car around in sub zero temperatures, get a spare set of rims and fit them with Winter tyres. Here's hoping you keep the car shiny side up if you continue to drive it in these conditions in the manner you've described.
Where does someone describe driving round like a 17 year old who just passed his test?But just in case you are. Cups in the damp at "sensible" temperatures are fine, and in light rain likewise, however they don't like standing water and they don't like low temperatures, primarily because the compound they're formulated from is made to work (provide grip) at temperatures way above freezing, thus at low temperatures they're rock hard and provide far reduced grip.
If you want to chuck the car around in sub zero temperatures, get a spare set of rims and fit them with Winter tyres. Here's hoping you keep the car shiny side up if you continue to drive it in these conditions in the manner you've described.
sidicks said:
The Cup2 tyres, which would be on the GT4, are seemingly much better in this regard than the original Cups. As Slippy has explained, these tyres need respect in cold and wet conditions but are by no means 'terrible' as you suggest. Standing water is where these tyres do have problems, however.
+1 Cup 2s are perfectly fine with a bit of respect thrown in.To be honest I think they are fine with mild amounts of standing water too - the tread pattern is fairly deep on them (roughly same as regular road tyres) unlike the original cups. They do standing water on circuit so standing water on the road is ok (notwithstanding coming across a proper 2" lake)
nick28 said:
Had the Dunlops on mine and had a similar 'moment'. Other than slightly damp / cold conditions the lack of tread depth was a concern - the Dunlops lasted about 2000 miles. For the winter I've gone onto P Zeros (...not as good as the Michelins I know but I got a good deal)
I don't know which you have got - but I think you'll find the N1 PZero is a more progressive tyre and, as a result, more forgiving in this sort of weather. The N0s grip quite well in the cold but don't give you (me) the confidence to push them hard this time of year. That said, I've gone to Dunlop (N) winters and they are much more forgiving. Not particularly grippy and certainly not as precise as any summer tyres, but much more tolerant of a bit of juvenile fun. All those comments are as a result of experience on my 981 S but I expect they will transfer to the GT4 to a large extent.Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff