The Tire DB - Posts about Track and AutoX tire brands
#22
Registered User
iTrader: (61)
Originally Posted by tmak26b
If you overheat your tires, you will most likely see it feather or a nice blue streak on the edge of the tire
How weird, i've seen the blue streak on my t1r's before. I was wondering what the hell it was. I thought it was rubbing against the rear fender even though my rear fenders are rolled. lol
#26
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NoVA
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Kolia
Hey Joey,
I’m taking a slight tangent here, I think it might help though. I’m guessing you’ve had Autocross experience before you did driver events? The shoeshine trick isn’t much used on a full race track. If your tires are rolling on their side wall, you basically have an alignment problem. Upping the tire pressure to compensate will do all sorts of nasty things the tire. Including blistering, premature wear and reduced grip level.
Follow Stacy’s advice. A street tire that works for 15 minutes is actually doing very good at the track! Part of the game is to listen to your tire and not work them overt their limit. Take it a bit slower to allow them to last a full session if necessary. Tires will always overheat if you’re over driving them, even R compounds.
Back on topic, I’ve heard really good comment on the track endurance of the Hankook Ventus Z212. You might want to check them out next.
I’m taking a slight tangent here, I think it might help though. I’m guessing you’ve had Autocross experience before you did driver events? The shoeshine trick isn’t much used on a full race track. If your tires are rolling on their side wall, you basically have an alignment problem. Upping the tire pressure to compensate will do all sorts of nasty things the tire. Including blistering, premature wear and reduced grip level.
Follow Stacy’s advice. A street tire that works for 15 minutes is actually doing very good at the track! Part of the game is to listen to your tire and not work them overt their limit. Take it a bit slower to allow them to last a full session if necessary. Tires will always overheat if you’re over driving them, even R compounds.
Back on topic, I’ve heard really good comment on the track endurance of the Hankook Ventus Z212. You might want to check them out next.
#27
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
Proper tire management is one of the keys to winning races. I don't know of any racing series or class where tires provide the same grip at the end of the race as they provided at the start of the race. A fast, race winning driver knows how to conserve his tires while still turing fast laps. Its one of the two most difficult things to learn as a racer; proper braking is the other.
If your tires go away significantly in the middle of a track session, you as the driver have made a mistake. What you're trying to achieve is a gradual/predictable reduction in grip over the entire session so that you have more tire then your other competitors for the last couple laps. This requires a lot of "feel" for what the tires are doing and this "feel" can only be learned with seat time. Some race drivers never get the feel.
If your tires go away significantly in the middle of a track session, you as the driver have made a mistake. What you're trying to achieve is a gradual/predictable reduction in grip over the entire session so that you have more tire then your other competitors for the last couple laps. This requires a lot of "feel" for what the tires are doing and this "feel" can only be learned with seat time. Some race drivers never get the feel.
#28
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
Going back on topic. This is like an autobiography of my experience with tires on the Z.
Started out with...
Tire: Bridgestone Potenza RE040 (OEM)
Miles: 16000
Size: Stock 17"
Pressure: 36 psi (warm)
Wheels: Stock 17"
Mods: too few See the sig
Highs: Lots of feedback at 60+ mph = confidence in the corners
Lows: Not enough grip. Too easy to break loose. Will break loose at the first sign of heat. Heats up very quick.
Moved to...
Tire: Goodyear Eagle F1
Miles: 18000
Size: 225/50 17 front, 235/50 17 rear (stock sizes)
Pressure: ~40 psi (hot) all around
Wheels: OEM 17
Mods: too few See the sig
Highs: Loads of grip for a 280 treadwear rating. Long-lasting. Can take lots of heat and maintain consistent grip.
Lows: The softest sidewall I've ever felt on a "sport" tire, which numbs the driver. Little-to-no road feedback. On the auto-X, I rolled the hell out of the sidewall. You will only think this is a good tire if you are not a seasoned driver or are using it for straight-line.
Currently driving...
Tire: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A (2007 OEM tires)
Miles: 2000
Size: 225/45 18 front, 245/45 18 rear
Pressure: 38 psi (hot)
Wheels: 18" 35th Anniversary cast wheels
Mods: Still the same
Highs: Very grippy and stiff, very, very, very stiff sidewalls. Beautiful inside/outside sidewall design gives great feedback in corner carving. Seems to last longer and take more heat than the 040, even though same treadwear rating (140).
Lows: Not as grippy as the RE-01R, so I got beat by my brother's S2000 (which has RE-01R's).
Started out with...
Tire: Bridgestone Potenza RE040 (OEM)
Miles: 16000
Size: Stock 17"
Pressure: 36 psi (warm)
Wheels: Stock 17"
Mods: too few See the sig
Highs: Lots of feedback at 60+ mph = confidence in the corners
Lows: Not enough grip. Too easy to break loose. Will break loose at the first sign of heat. Heats up very quick.
Moved to...
Tire: Goodyear Eagle F1
Miles: 18000
Size: 225/50 17 front, 235/50 17 rear (stock sizes)
Pressure: ~40 psi (hot) all around
Wheels: OEM 17
Mods: too few See the sig
Highs: Loads of grip for a 280 treadwear rating. Long-lasting. Can take lots of heat and maintain consistent grip.
Lows: The softest sidewall I've ever felt on a "sport" tire, which numbs the driver. Little-to-no road feedback. On the auto-X, I rolled the hell out of the sidewall. You will only think this is a good tire if you are not a seasoned driver or are using it for straight-line.
Currently driving...
Tire: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A (2007 OEM tires)
Miles: 2000
Size: 225/45 18 front, 245/45 18 rear
Pressure: 38 psi (hot)
Wheels: 18" 35th Anniversary cast wheels
Mods: Still the same
Highs: Very grippy and stiff, very, very, very stiff sidewalls. Beautiful inside/outside sidewall design gives great feedback in corner carving. Seems to last longer and take more heat than the 040, even though same treadwear rating (140).
Lows: Not as grippy as the RE-01R, so I got beat by my brother's S2000 (which has RE-01R's).
#29
Super Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
iTrader: (8)
225/40-18 and 245/40-18 Falken 615's on my stock wheels. So far 4 trackdays and 6 autocrosses. Tread is about 30% left , they do seemt o get greasy when overheated , but cool down in just a couple corners of backing out if it. Next set will be 265/35 and 275/35 615's.
Edit , tire pressure.. I usually run them at 31 cold and go for a target of 36 to 37 PSi hot.
Edit , tire pressure.. I usually run them at 31 cold and go for a target of 36 to 37 PSi hot.
Last edited by terrasmak; 09-09-2007 at 01:58 AM.
#30
Originally Posted by terrasmak
225/40-18 and 245/40-18 Falken 615's on my stock wheels. So far 4 trackdays and 6 autocrosses. Tread is about 30% left , they do seemt o get greasy when overheated , but cool down in just a couple corners of backing out if it. Next set will be 265/35 and 275/35 615's.
#31
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
Originally Posted by mhoward1
Little thing we have discovered about the 615's. The greesiness of them seems to occur if the pressures get over 40 lbs, not the actual heat in them, especially if they get in the 43-45 lbs range. By letting them start lower and build up to 39, 40 PSI, they stayed consistent.
#32
If you can fork the cash, I think the PS2 are just as capable. I don't know how they compare, but the RE01 seems to be very nice too. I had the Azenis 615, I absolutely hated it. Car rode very harsh, it was also very noisy and the 350z can easily overpower those tires.
#33
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
PS2s are great on the track. Ran 2 days on them at the Glen, day at Lime Rock, day at NHIs.
Just ran NHIS on RE050A PPs. Not bad. Not my favorite either. I liked the PS2s more overall... I'm looking forward to moving up to a stickier tire next year but these are quite fun up to (and slightly beyond) their limits
Just ran NHIS on RE050A PPs. Not bad. Not my favorite either. I liked the PS2s more overall... I'm looking forward to moving up to a stickier tire next year but these are quite fun up to (and slightly beyond) their limits
#34
Registered User
iTrader: (14)
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Burlington, NC
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
for what its worth, over the weekend I was forced to switch back to my street tires. on the front i have one of the cheapest tires made for the size I wanted. I have Sumitumo 245/46/18 on the front and they held up fairly well. They did tend to get a bit greasy at the end of the session but I had expected that. I was running at Rockingham and that track is hell on some front tires and brakes. Needless to say, I went through both. Anyhow... I run my car hard. as anyone that was there will say, I don't take it to easy unless I have to. The tires by days end looked great. Initial turn in required a bit of tedious input but overall I have to admit they did great. Cheap tire that if I had to find somethign in a hurry to have for a track day, I would definately buy again. I tried Kuhmo Ectas something something before and didn't care much for them. They melted down rather quickly and this was when I was just starting to get into track days.
edit: I also run Hawk HP Plus all around with high temp fluid on oem non-brembo calipers/rotors and only a few times did I over brake the tires. It was more my mistake trying not to come in to hot then it was the tire.
- as a street tire they have been great so far. haven't had them but a month or so. they are quiet and from what little rain has come around here, they did great too.
edit: I also run Hawk HP Plus all around with high temp fluid on oem non-brembo calipers/rotors and only a few times did I over brake the tires. It was more my mistake trying not to come in to hot then it was the tire.
- as a street tire they have been great so far. haven't had them but a month or so. they are quiet and from what little rain has come around here, they did great too.
Last edited by Billhyco; 09-11-2007 at 08:22 AM.
#35
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: metro detroit
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
+1
Tire: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A (2007 OEM tires)
Miles: 3000 street
Size: 225/45 18 front, 245/45 18 rear
Pressure: 38 psi (hot)
Wheels: 18" rays track
Mods: springs sways
these were great but looking for more grip for cornerspeed from an r compound
i am trying to figure out new r compound size set up for kumho take offs that i have
Tire: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A (2007 OEM tires)
Miles: 3000 street
Size: 225/45 18 front, 245/45 18 rear
Pressure: 38 psi (hot)
Wheels: 18" rays track
Mods: springs sways
these were great but looking for more grip for cornerspeed from an r compound
i am trying to figure out new r compound size set up for kumho take offs that i have
#40
Super Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
iTrader: (8)
You suck , really you do.
Same set i want , hopefully mid spring i should have them. Same tires too.
Same set i want , hopefully mid spring i should have them. Same tires too.