Track Tyres - Feedback and Recommendations

[-Jamie-]

I've just replaced the ones that i had on the Megane, Had them on 15 months, done about 20k plus 5 TD's. Thats the rears mind you fronts didn't last anywhere near as long LOL Think they done about 8k plus Td's, Still impressive mind you

 

[imprezaworks]

Oh. There was a cup at Oulton on sat (don't think he's on here) that was quick and looked to be on 17's. There's a possibility it was on itbs but even so it seemed to go well

@bob the builder

 

[MarkCup]

So a day at Oulton

Cold, bit damp in the morning but overall conditions were as good as you can expect this time of year.

Re050's. Started with 25 front, 24 rear. First couple of laps were 'ok' but they didn't have the best grip, inspiring not much confidence.

Marangoni zeta semi slicks. Again started with the same pressures. First few laps were good, seemed to grip ok but took a bit to warm up. I appreciate it was a cold day. Once up to temp ish the tyres worked very well, a step up from the above. Lap after lap they got better and I think if it was a warmer day they would cope well. Overall a very good tyre, better than the rsr I've tried and probably on par with ad08's I tried.

The re050's were on 16's, marangoni were on 15's.

What was the ambient temperature on the day?

I find the RE050s great on track but they need a lot of heat to get the best from them.

 

[imprezaworks]

I'd say 6 degrees ish

 

[imprezaworks]

Regardless of tyre cost has anyone used 16" wheels on track against using 15's with the same tyre?. If so have you found alot of difference?

 

[imprezaworks]

Out of interest. Lets say the weather is 6 degrees how long would it take a track based tyre to get upto operating temperature? 3 laps ish?

 

[mark123]

I've used 15" and 16" on track with track tyres and I didn't notice any significant difference.
Cost is my motivation for using 15" these days.

 

[imprezaworks]

Yeah seems the general conseces

 

[Tony Hunter]

Out of interest. Lets say the weather is 6 degrees how long would it take a track based tyre to get upto operating temperature? 3 laps ish?

You'd be lucky to get them to working temp.
Don't confuse temp with pressure.

 

[imprezaworks]

Okay thanks. So with that in mind what we looking at to get them working to their best, realtivly mild/warm day?

 

[StuOwen86]

what do you use for adjusting your tyre pressures at track? Just a cheap battery compressor pump or foot pump and to check them just a digital gauge?

 

[imprezaworks]

Foot pump and digital tyre gauge stu

 

[Tony Hunter]

Track temps of 15 and above. And drive it hard.

 

[imprezaworks]

Thanks Tony. And excuse my stupidity when i ask. Track temp as in weather temperature

 

[StuOwen86]

I was always under the impression track temps vary compared to ambient air temps like if the sun has been beating down all day on the tarmac it will be hotter than the air temperature around it.

 

[imprezaworks]

That's my thought. So if it's 6 degrees how hot is the Tarmac, I'd say not very

 

[Tony Hunter]

Can't remember the cross over, ie, in air to track temps.

Eg. Air 10 track 6
Air 20 track 26
Somewhere in there is the cross over point.
Air 18 track 18 (not correct btw)

 

[Tony Hunter]

That's my thought. So if it's 6 degrees how hot is the Tarmac, I'd say not very

Probably about 3

 

[Tony Hunter]

Plus don't forget, normal road tyres are designed for 7+

 

[imprezaworks]

That would maybe explain why it took a while then. I'm genuinely interested in tyres etc (hence me starting the thread) so any advice is great

 

[MarkCup]

Interesting Tony, never knew there was that relationship between ambient and track.

Does maybe explain why the Bridgestones didn't perform that well, as soon as ambient is in low single digits they pretty much give up.

 

[imprezaworks]

I allways kind of guessed it would be like that, same with the temp of the road in relation to the heat, makes sense really. I went for a spin today with the marangoni's and considering the crap wether they seemed to perform really well. I think I may have jumped the gun in not being overly satisfied with the tyres. When the weather warms up a tad I reckon they will be spot on

 

[Tony Hunter]

Rocket science it is.

 

[imprezaworks]

Aye

 

[alistairolsen]

It doesnt help that tyre data for the sort of stuff we want to use for trackdays is borderline non-existant

 

[imprezaworks]

I guess then people would only buy certain brands, as apposed 'trying' others.

 

[alistairolsen]

To be honest, a lot fo that comes down to the car, your loyalty and price, but I mean things like camber curves, friction coefficient against normal force, or slip angle.

For instance, hankook ventus S1 evos grip well, but the steering feels dead due to the huge slip angles required to generate grip.

 

[Tony Hunter]

It's a lot of trial and error, testing and money!

 

[imprezaworks]

whats peoples thoughts on trying slicks, like these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200-58-x-...44761?pt=UK_Cars_Tyres_RL&hash=item234a62ce99

 

[alistairolsen]

Indeed, and it always will be, but the data would make it MUCH easier to hit the ballpark!

 

[Tony Hunter]

Up to you, but I wouldn't bother.

 

[imprezaworks]

That to my post tony?

 

[Tony Hunter]

Yes.
Slicks are a different game altogether

 

[imprezaworks]

Kumho ku36 xs. Anyone tried them

 

[Tony Hunter]

No

 

[Stu172cup]

Avon ACB10s
Super Super Good tyres , Mega Stiff sidewall , 195/45/15 , Got the tyres right down near the wear markers , battered them for a full day at Oulton Park , 4 Drivers , about 60+ laps , front tyres were show and the rears were very low , didnt manage to unstick them once , well apart from bouncing over the curbs which led to a spin

Wore faster than the Marangoni Zeta Linea , but offered more grip again

Quite stable pressure wise , started at 30 , rose to 32 with a few laps an stayed there

 

[imprezaworks]

Think I saw a set of these on eBay. Are the slick ish?

 

[Stu172cup]

Very Slick-like , almost look like cut slicks , they are an older design i think , they used to be the acb Avon that was a formula ford tyre in an even softer compound

 

[imprezaworks]

Yeah just googled them. There was a set on eBay I think. Not sure what they went for

 

[Stu172cup]

id definetly have another set