Tyre Condition For Track Work

[eMsta]

Hey guys & gals - need some advice.

Just got my car back from Revzone today - the guys did a mad job in fitting the guages, and fixing most of the faults (has to go back for abs and aircon work though). However, the mechanic - justin - said that my tyres are not good enough for track work. There is plenty of tread, but on the fronts, the inside of the tyres are wearing out. How much of a problem will it cause (considering that the track day is part of the Driver Dynamics training)?

I heard that I cannot take it to the limit (which i wasnt planning on doing) and that if its raining it will probably be cause problems. The car is already moving towards the right side (very minimal though) when I tested it out at a car park earlier tonight.

The first time i cancelled a track day like this was because there was problems with the car, the second time i cancelled it was because the workshop i took it to didnt do any work on it - hence car was a disaster waiting to happen. And I dont want to cancel this one cos Im dying to go to the track day (mind you, I have already paid a deposit for the march one - but thats ages away )

Anyway, any advice would be greatly appreciated

cheers!

[NickR33]

worn street tires are better than new ones for track work... unless they are down to the canvas you should be fine

if its raining and they are pretty bald you will have problems, but I assume if there is standing water on the track and its your first time out you would just be tippy toeing around anyway

good luck and have fun!

[eMsta]

worn street tires are better than new ones for track work... unless they are down to the canvas you should be fine

if its raining and they are pretty bald you will have problems, but I assume if there is standing water on the track and its your first time out you would just be tippy toeing around anyway

good luck and have fun!

Thanks for the reply man - yeah they are not bald, but there is more wear on the insides - got me worried when everyone is saying its best to get roadworthy tires.....

Im still awaiting reply from Kev though - dont want a repeat performance of last time where there is oil all over the track

[NickR33]

Wear on the inside won't be a problem on the track cos if your cornering like you should be (quickly!) you will be using the outside of the tire anyway... even if your car is lowered there won't be sufficient negative camber (unless you have a/m camber adjustment) ... most street cars scrub the outside of their tires at the track

how many kays have these tires done? maybe post a pic of the tread or email it to Kev, he will be able to tell you

I know your pain, last time I was at one of Kev's Sandown days I got the death rattle and had to push the car outta the pits... there was just sooo much track and so little cars I got carried away, probably should have fit a cool down lap in there somewhere!... oops hehe... ah good times

[eMsta]

Wear on the inside won't be a problem on the track cos if your cornering like you should be (quickly!) you will be using the outside of the tire anyway... even if your car is lowered there won't be sufficient negative camber (unless you have a/m camber adjustment) ... most street cars scrub the outside of their tires at the track

how many kays have these tires done? maybe post a pic of the tread or email it to Kev, he will be able to tell you

I know your pain, last time I was at one of Kev's Sandown days I got the death rattle and had to push the car outta the pits... there was just sooo much track and so little cars I got carried away, probably should have fit a cool down lap in there somewhere!... oops hehe... ah good times

yeah man, i just got pics of the tires - will be emailing htem to kev. The tires have been on since I purchased the car, which was in Feb13th 2006 - so they are probably due for change - but still have heaps of tread on them.

Its a crap feeling when you have to push the car out of the pits to the front of the gates.....but at the same time i was glad that the engine didnt need a full rebuild

However, I have been shit scared about taking the car to the track cos its been out of action for so long hehe

[evil_weevil]

they look like my motorkhana/drift rubber

[BHDave]

nothing wrong with those. The way you were talking i thought you were just about on the canvas....

[Duncan]

they might still struggle in the wet but there will be no degradation if its dry

[eMsta]

sweet! thanks guys - much appreciated.

Cant wait for this weekend now!!

[limpus]

Are those RE01s? If so you'll be fine...

Are you the guy that had his sump plug come off at the track last year and left a trail of oil all over the track?

[eMsta]

Are those RE01s? If so you'll be fine...

Are you the guy that had his sump plug come off at the track last year and left a trail of oil all over the track?

those are re01s.

yeah im the "sump plug" guy

Just heard that it will be raining tomorrow too

[BHDave]

Then you have the right tyre.

Pity the guys running around on semis on a wet day

[Trust33]

dont take everything you hear as gospel. you know if your really going to be pushing the car to the edge. then i might say yeah go get some new or decent 2nd hand tyres that will provide grip. though if they are really old tyres they might feel ok in the dry but in the wet if u dont have tread to disperse the water they will feel worse than they should be.

the ones in the pic are fine. they are not at the limiter markers so drive on. or drift on them

next time out get a new set and u will be set.

[eMsta]

dont take everything you hear as gospel. you know if your really going to be pushing the car to the edge. then i might say yeah go get some new or decent 2nd hand tyres that will provide grip. though if they are really old tyres they might feel ok in the dry but in the wet if u dont have tread to disperse the water they will feel worse than they should be.

the ones in the pic are fine. they are not at the limiter markers so drive on. or drift on them

next time out get a new set and u will be set.

actually yeah, the tires went good today - even in the wet, they performed well. I was very very happy with them - but they still need to be aligned and balanced.....

But the thing is i didnt push the limits - i think the dry track i was doing maybe 70%, the wet i was doing 50%?

either way, i was happy with them overall

[Trust33]

all good

did they have a little comp at the end of the day?

[eMsta]

all good

did they have a little comp at the end of the day?

nah not a comp as such, but they put us learner babies with the track specialists - and that was an interesting experience. There was always someone fast behind me and that was daunting.

but atleast I can say that my car pulled away from a Porsche.................................... Boxster

I was speaking to this guy who did Drift courses and stuff in his 200sx - he said I should perhaps look at getting better performance tires next time. I think he mentioned S02's and RE01R or something......though he was running bridgestones at the front and falkens at the rear.....

The other thing that I need to look at is getting bigger brakes for the fronts and coilovers (i think my rhf suspension is wearing out)

[Trust33]

and it begins.again and again and agian.

[eMsta]

and it begins.again and again and agian.

hehehehe.....yeah i guess it does - doesnt it