Tyres - Wear Limit

[Stu_00]

I am using Yokohama advan neova (AD07's - Lotus specific version) on an Elise. Once the tyres reach the wear indicators do you experience a gradual reduction in Grip? I am starting to feel they are going "off", I know with Kart tyres, once the slicks are down to wear indicators you really experience reduction of grip.

i.e Would you do a track morning once the tyres are on the indicators or just replace beforehand?

[Munter]

I would not. Partly because normally it states your car must be in a roadworthy condition to take part. And if it's on the wear indicators it's not roadworthy.

So if theres a sudden burst of rain, and you hit someone elses car because you lose grip....well I'm not sure what the legal implications are. But I wouldn't want to be either you or the other party.

My general rule = anything at the end of it's life has no place on track.

[Stu_00]

Good response, I will change before. I always like to take the safe way !

Thanks !

[chris7676]

I personally haven't noticed that. I think the tread is there for getting rid of water, not grip.

[Stu_00]

I was wondering that, of course in the Wet it would make a difference.

Wonder if the compound at the wear limit is not as good, there is probably a tyre tech person that would know on here.

I have noticed slight difference in grip, but it might all be in my head!

chris7676 said:

I personally haven't noticed that. I think the tread is there for getting rid of water, not grip.

[NeilC]

Tyres get up to temp by a combination of moving the treadblocks and the sidewall flexing, remove one and they'll be harder to get upto and keep at the right temperature. Some also have various chemicals in them which help the tyre melt locally onto the tarmac, once these are gone they're gone which is why you shouldn't really jet wash tires. I've used worn 48's on trackdays and the grip definitely drops off quite noticeably once at the markers. I suppose the way to think about it is:

Pros
Get moneys worth out of tires
Less grip if you want some sideways action (although this is black flagged if excessive at most uk days)

Cons
Don't get moneys worth out of trackday as you can't go full speed
You need to drive home afterwards without being arrested
Less grip if you balls something up and find yourself heading for a tirewall
If it rains you may have to give up prematurely or land an expensive bill
If it rains and you have a long drive home you'll be knackered.

[Stu_00]

Thank you Neil, good knowledge!

Yes I will pick some new tyres up this weekend, now just got work out if I can carry two rear tyres back on the Eurostar LOL !

Edited by Stu_00 on Thursday 2nd July 15:03

[teabagger]

this is where spare wheels come into play.
burn the worn tyres out on track, fit spare wheels with new tyres, drive home, relax, know you have got your monies worth out of your boots!

[Stu_00]

Good Idea, but not sure I could get four wheels in the Elise lol, but could take two cars if I could get another driver....

teabagger said:

this is where spare wheels come into play.
burn the worn tyres out on track, fit spare wheels with new tyres, drive home, relax, know you have got your monies worth out of your boots!

[Wh00sher]

admittedly, not relevant to an Elise or car you are driving there with one set of wheels, but as I trailer my track car, I can run my R tyres down until there is no tread left, if it is wet, I have wets, but in the dry, on summer trackdays, I run them until they are basically slicks.

The grip starts going once you get to that point, they squeal more and thats usually when I change them, but from my experience there is no need to change when they get to the wear bars if you don`t need to drive on the roads with them.