Can you scrub old tires starting to go hard?

[Kylie]

I have some Pirelli Rossos on the rear that are down to 4mm. As expected they are hard as rocks and the centre part of the tread is almost slick!! Can you roughen the surface of these with the likes of 80 grit paper for more grip? I want to do a few laps at a track day next weekend and good way to send these old mingers off to the bin afterwards I plan on replacing these in next few months with some P Zero Neros same as what I have on the fronts. I hate mismatched rubber!

Anyone done this before?

Edited by Kylie on Friday 21st March 22:17

[Ben Magoo]

In the world of racing which is where I am at the mo, we go the other way and scrape off the rough top layer (with a heat gun and wall paper scraper) which is normally covered in schite and rubber "pick up" to leave a smooth surface rather than a rough one.

In terms of hardness there is probably not a lot you can de as when rubber is subjected to a number of heat cycles it will normally go hard, Although doing the scraping bit might reveal some fresh rubber for that one final track day before changing them.

HTH

[Kylie]

Hi Ben yeah I used to run Toyo RA1 dot perfomance tires on my other Esprit but to be fair the compound is super sticky in comparison and yeah the more serious people shave them down!! I just feel as though these road tires have gone in the other direction and are really slippery. Roughing them up might be the way to go just for more blat just to be a bit safer thats all. I will also adjust the pressures so they are more even when they get hot.

[wildoliver]

To be honest trackday abuse will rough them up far better than wet and dry ever will!

[GreenV8S]

Roughing them up isn't going to help, I wouldn't think. You can get tyre softener which chemically reacts with the rubber to make it softer, banned for almost all motorsport (which is a clue that it works).

[gib6933]

GreenV8S said:

Roughing them up isn't going to help, I wouldn't think. You can get tyre softener which chemically reacts with the rubber to make it softer, banned for almost all motorsport (which is a clue that it works).

BLEACH


Jez

[custardtart]

or wd40 and wrap the tyres in clingfilm for a week.

[Del Del Del]

custardtart said:

or wd40 and wrap the tyres in clingfilm for a week.

Really ???