Track Tyres OR Springs, Shocks and Camber

[Skeeter]

Apparently, spending all my bonus on car bits doesnt meet aproval from the missus. Something about me needing spending money for a holiday, lol.

So, my plans to buy a bunch of kit for my car have to be scaled back. Im currently running standard suspension and 15" wheels with PE2s. I was planning on buying:

Federal RS-R tyres
Cup front shocks
Sportline Springs
Camber bolts

I'm going to have to to half and half, so either do just the tyres, or do all the suspension mods and leave the tyres. The car is barely used on the road, its a track toy. Next day booked at Bedford in March.

So, which would you do? Suspension mods and keep the PE2s? Or track tyres and leave the suspension mods?

Or, another combination?

Cheers

 

[Jay Payne]

nothing and another trackday instead

 

[steviet]

nothing and another trackday instead

This.

 

[theduck]

Tires wear out faster ;-)

Suspension then tires when needed.

 

[Will.]

Suspension.

 

[Skeeter]

Got 2 track days paid for already. Basically £300 - £400 to spend on making it even better on track

 

[MarkCup]

Better = faster?

Faster = fun?

Doesn't work from my experience. Leave it standard, drive it on its door-handles. Maximum fun.

Spending no money on mods mean you get to do much much more of the fun bit.

 

[Jay Payne]

Got 2 track days paid for already. Basically £300 - £400 to spend on making it even better on track

3 more trackdays then. Or tuition at the ones already booked.

 

[slowRen]

I would only buy tyres if the current ones are worn out.

 

[Tunst]

Do one and see what you think needs improved.

 

[Skeeter]

I've done 2.

After the first I decided the 16 wheels and Toyos needed to go.

After the second, and a passenger in a mates MX5 with RSRs, I've decided the PE2s can be bettered for the same money, and it needs to be lower and stiffer.

 

[Skeeter]

Better = faster?

Faster = fun?

Doesn't work from my experience. Leave it standard, drive it on its door-handles. Maximum fun.

Spending no money on mods mean you get to do much much more of the fun bit.

Fun = reducing understeer and improving front end grip. Speed is irrelivent as any Clio gets owned on the straights by most other things, its all about the twisties.

I think I am going to postpone the tyres and just do the springs, shocks and front camber. My PE2s have plenty of tread so I will use them up then replace them with RSR's when they wear down. Drops my £750 plan into a £350 one.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Tyres will make more difference than suspension, but will also wear out a lot sooner, so for that reason I reckon go suspension first and tyres next time.

 

[Skeeter]

Yeah, thats the issue I had between choosing. Tyres will make the single biggest difference.

However, it would be good to feel the difference the suspension makes on comparable tyres (I have done Bedford already on the PE2s) without masking any difference with the change in tyres.

Also means I can afford to buy a helmet.

 

[Chip-mk1]

It will drive in a more rewarding way on better suspension and worse tyres rather than vice versa too.

Sticky tyres will up your corner speeds so make a big difference to laptimes, but they can lead to "issues" with how it drives, lots of leaning etc.

I had a set of very grippy tyres but rubbish suspension on my old valver when this pic was taken.

Was quick through the bends despite the horrific lean making it look like it shouldnt be, but didnt drive as nicely as a car with less grippy tyres and better setup suspension.

 

[Steve]

I'm with Mark on this one.

Prefer playful, controlled drifts/slides on standard tyres, running PE2s.
The sticky stuff leads to too much confidence, that can end up with brown trouser moments due to speed when they let go:rasp:
That said RSR's are really good value in fact I remember mentioning these over 18 months ago

You think a clio is quick in the twisties try a 5

 

[Skeeter]

Its the fact that RSRs are the same price as PE2s thats brought them into the equasion. I've always dismissed things like R888's as being to expensive for a cheap track car, and having 'to much' grip. The RSRs are a good middle ground, and the price just makes it a no brainer.

Suspension first then. Cheers guys

 

[danh90]

If you do want some r888s eventually I have 4 with 2.5mm tread

 

[Cupman29]

Get some 2nd hand track tyres for around £100. Makes the difference IMHO.