Tyre Selection For A Wet Track

[LotusGTR]

I've got a track day on Sat at Sandown and the forecast looks to be wet. I have RE01Rs for the road and RE55 (SR2s? - can't see the car now to confirm but not wet weather ones, just normal) for the track so not sure what's best for the day. I've run the RE55s and some Dunlop D01Js in the wet (road) and was always pleasantly suprised by the grip on offer.

Any thoughts on the best way to go? My guess would be that other than large amounts of standing water, the RE55s would be a better bet.

Commnets and suggestions please.

Cheers.

[Beer Baron]

yep, providing they still have decent tread then go with the RE55s. if they are fairly worn, go with the RE01s.

[_Wing_]

if it's raining i'd go with the RE01R's, tread is there to disperse water. if it's just wet/damp then RE55s would be the go

[sav man]

Just be aware that RE55's grip is like a light switch in the wet, one sec you have some, next it's gone.

[LotusGTR]

Thanks guys. I'll take a look at the forecast the day before and perhaps speak to someone who knows the track and see what their view is. Wish me luck as iIm nervous being on the track in the wet! I guess I'll have to slow down, feed the speed in, and not take any risks on the faster corners.

[djr81]

As it happens I did a track day in the wet last weekend. On RE55's. They were new though.

To be honest they are fine - even to the point where there are puddles on the track. Just try & drive around the said puddles as you can get aqua planing at spots you don't want to.

Corner grip is pretty low & your biggest issue will be having a lose under brakes. Just keep it straight & everything will be fine.

You can be confident that your times will be ok as most people who take road tyres wont be going hard & anyone on R compounds will be in the same boat as you.

[LotusGTR]

Great. Mine are 1 track day old and have plenty left. I'll watch the braking. I guess depending on the day, dry lines might appear so all the better for the RE55s.

[djr81]

Unless there is standing water ie puddles on the track you will be miles infront with the RE55's.

[kb-r33]

i'll go with the REOI

[djr81]

As I said RE55's work fine on a wet track. Here is a photo taken by BNR#@ on the weekend illustrating the point.

Edited July 1, 2009 by djr81

[hrd-hr30]

I've done a hillclimb at Mt Cotton in heavy rain on RE55S. There were sheets of water running down the hills towards you. The RE55S were great in the wet there, but it is low speed compared to Sandown.

IMO semis are always faster in the wet than street tyres. I've certainly never been beaten by anyone running street rubber in the wet. And you don't see Improved Production guys swapping to road tyres in the rain - you can bet your arse if it was faster they would! Street tyres evacuate more water, but the hard compounds are not going to give you any grip on a cold wet surface.

[LotusGTR]

Yup. That's consistent with my experience with R specs in the wet (on the road). Always been pleasantly suprised how good they were.

Thanks for all the feedback.

[LotusGTR]

As I said RE55's work fine on a wet track. Here is a photo taken by BNR#@ on the weekend illustrating the point.

Good shot. Nice camber at the front there. You under brakes?

[djr81]

Good shot. Nice camber at the front there. You under brakes?

Yes I am by that stage (past the marshals post) - I also changed the shot for you.

[LotusGTR]

Suggested tyre pressures gentlemen?

[hrd-hr30]

slightly higher cold pressures in the wet - you won't generate as much heat in the tyre and won't get to your normal target hot inflation pressures. Try 2-4psi higher cold.

[LotusGTR]

slightly higher cold pressures in the wet - you won't generate as much heat in the tyre and won't get to your normal target hot inflation pressures. Try 2-4psi higher cold.

Thanks. Can you tell me off what base? e.g. normally set to 28psi cold for dry conditions. Run 28+4 for wet. etc etc.

[Roy]

Still on yout first two laps really push for temperatures...in the wet you can really notice the grip difference when the tyres are hot. In my car its hard to feel the difference after the first lap, lol sure as shit know when they are gone though

[hrd-hr30]

the way I do it (it may not the best way but it works for me) is to aim for the same hot pressures as you normally end up with in the dry. On multi lap sprints that seems to generally be about 4psi higher than my normal cold starting pressure. So yes, if you normally start with 28psi cold, try 32 psi cold and see if you hit your normal hot pressure (probably around 36 I'm guessing?) after the first session, then adjust from there.

[LotusGTR]

OK, lay it on me brothers. I need to be told directly what psi to set my tyres at tomorrow. __psi for a wet track. I'd just whack 30 in em without any further guidance so if that aint the figure, can you give me one? It'll be wet and cold at the track tomorrow so I'll not be stuffing around with pressures whilst I'm there - yes, I'm weak as piss. I'm also fiddling with the suspension so will only have time for that.

Cheers.