Track Day Tires

[Kawman]

Heinricy demonstrated it could run a full T2 race and win on Hoosiers - so it certainly can handle stickier tires. I always tracked my 5BW on stock tires because frankly they are very good and I didn’t see a reason to add more grip.

Both John and I also ran dedicated track alignments, so frankly that’s the cheapest handling mod if you haven’t already and it’ll help with tire life on track.

It’s up to you, but with a total of 6 days of track experience, I’d focus on learning how to maximize lap time on the stock tires. Your biggest gains will be through the driver mod.

Yes, there's always another second to be gained by continued refinement, but I'm not looking to become a professional driver. I have limited funds to play with and want to wring the most excitement out of few track days I do. I'm looking for the "low lying fruit" to more speed.

Since you are an instructor, care to give some commentary on a recent session? Not counting Spring Mountain this is my 5th track day.

Presently have 2.7 front and 1.7 rear camber, Porterfield brake pads and Castrol SRF brake fluid with stock tires. I tried slicks the following day.

When you get to the black flag from the accident, skip ahead to where the driving starts again.

 

[nordique14]

I ran Goodyear Supercar 3R tires on my 5BW. I figured if they were good enough for the ZL1 1LE, then they were good enough for the 5BW. They were super sticky. Much grippier than regular MPSC2 tires. Probably more similar to the MPSC2R tires. This was my first track day with the 5BW so I do not have a delta compared to other tires on the 5BW.

I also noted that the N-spec MPSC2 tires were much much durable than the regular MPSC2 tires. So that was nice. The downside is that they were less grippy. On my previous car, I experienced the rear sliding around on them since I had N on the rear and regular on the gripper regular ones on the front.

 

[fordperfaddict]

goodyear F1 Supercar 3R?

 

[nordique14]

goodyear F1 Supercar 3R?

https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/tires/eagle-f1-supercar-3r/13931.html

 

[Kawman]

Do you have the PDR and did you record any sessions?

This data dive was with my 5BW, but might be useful for understanding how to improve lap time.

In order to do this analysis you need to have clean laps. I'm dealing with so much traffic I rarely get a clean lap. I think it may be time to try driving with the "C" group. But I also need to start working on late passing and entering turns from an inside line, so there's still a lot to learn in "B" group.

 

[Kawman]

Reporting on the topic of track day tires and the Michelin Porsche Cup N2 slicks I tried. This stuff is all new to me and I'm learning as I go.

The shop that mounted the tires probably inflated them to a standard 35psi. I put them on the car and out I went. Fortunately I was sensible enough to bring up the speed just a little more each lap as I was learning the feel of the slicks. Starting to slip at not faster than street tire speeds I sensed something was wrong and came in. Tires were at 41psi. I asked a few people and the consensus was 36psi hot would be good. Lowered pressure and went out for the second session. At the point of starting to slip again I came in and quickly checked finding I had 39 in LF, 38 in LR and 37 in both rights. Lowered pressures again and was ready for third session. While waiting I found the settings to make the tire pressures one of the items on the dash display layout. Third session they didn't exceed 36 hot, but still I started sliding on them. Dropped pressure 1lb for fourth session and they did not exceed 35psi hot, but again they were loose. I put the street tires back on for the last session.

I've since learned those tires should not exceed 32psi hot, so I was overheating them and making them "greasy". Likewise, I've been running my street tires overinflated for track use and leaving some traction on the table. Now I'll start keeping a little log book of the cold and hot psi for each wheel for each session.

Street tires talk to you with a howl as they reach their limits. Once you hear the howl you've past the point of maximum traction, so the game is to drive to the howl and then back off just a hair. Slicks don't talk to you and when they reach their limit they let go faster than street tires.

Street tires or slicks, the real gain is going to be with a bigger tire. For my next track day I'd like to add sway bars and urethan bushings. Those plus proper tire pressures and more confidence should up my game a bit. Then for next season I'll add rear lowering springs and the new wheels and tires. 18x10's front and 18x11's rear. Tires will be 285/30 and 295/30, eventually I'll probably try the Hoosier A-7's and might go as large as 295/30 fronts and 315/30 rears.