New tyres - before or after the track day?
Discussion
Hi,
I've never taken part in a track day before. Looking forward to it. However, my front tyres will need replacing soon (they're not illegal, but a little worn) as they have done 15000 miles. I have just replaced the front pads, and I'll do the backs sometime soon, but should I get new tyres before going on track (and truly scrub them in) or after?
Pro's and con's appreciated.
Cheers
I've never taken part in a track day before. Looking forward to it. However, my front tyres will need replacing soon (they're not illegal, but a little worn) as they have done 15000 miles. I have just replaced the front pads, and I'll do the backs sometime soon, but should I get new tyres before going on track (and truly scrub them in) or after?
Pro's and con's appreciated.
Cheers
you may want to consider that the new tyres may well give you better grip than the knackered ones. Just cos there is more rubber showing, doesn't necesserily equate to more grip. the tyres aren't slicks and behave differently. Good idea to let the new tyres bed in as suggested prior to track use though. Helps with longevity.
This time of year the tyres will be running relatively cool and you might find that the extra heat generation from new tyres helps warm them up more consistently. But if you're going to drive like a nutter then you don't really want to be on new tyres as you will overheat them, they won't work well, they;ll slide a lot and suffer from a very high rare rate. So to an extent it depends what you plan to do on the day, but taking nearly-new tyres isn't completely unreasonable. One reason to change first that might be important to you is that new tyres tend to squirm more which means they tend to break away more progressively, it's easier to recognise and catch the slide.
If you do decide to take new tyres, make sure you cure them first. To do this you need to work them moderately hard for twenty minutes or so, keep accelerating/conering/braking hard enough to be quite close to the limit of grip but not to close that the tyres start squealing or sliding. Keep doing this until the tyres are almost too hot to keep your hand on them, roughly 50 C. Then let them cool down naturally. Repeat this one more time. What this does is get the tyres hot enough for the rubber to finish vulcanising, which makes it stiffer and stronger. Once you've done this you'll get more grip and less wear.
If you do decide to take new tyres, make sure you cure them first. To do this you need to work them moderately hard for twenty minutes or so, keep accelerating/conering/braking hard enough to be quite close to the limit of grip but not to close that the tyres start squealing or sliding. Keep doing this until the tyres are almost too hot to keep your hand on them, roughly 50 C. Then let them cool down naturally. Repeat this one more time. What this does is get the tyres hot enough for the rubber to finish vulcanising, which makes it stiffer and stronger. Once you've done this you'll get more grip and less wear.
From my own experience my first track day was wet and i done 40 laps of brands.The tyres showed little sign of wear and they had done 2000 miles previous on the road.My second track day was in the dry in winter and i desyroyed the tyres in 105 laps.They were ok to drive home on but on inspection were shagged. The nearside front was the worst.I would use the old tyres first before you ruin a new set. Some peoples idea of hard driving is somebody elses idea of taking it easy.
I have the same dilemma. I've currently got about 2mm all round left on my tyres and have a track day coming up on the 24th Feb. Ideally i don't want to put the new boots on until after the track day, unless I know its going to be wet, in which case i'll get them fitted a few days before.
My concern is with 2mm left now, after a track day they are probably going to be illegal.
So do I go new tyres now get them 'worn in' and use then on the track day, or do I risk my old tyres and probably drive home illegally??
My concern is with 2mm left now, after a track day they are probably going to be illegal.
So do I go new tyres now get them 'worn in' and use then on the track day, or do I risk my old tyres and probably drive home illegally??
steve z said:
I have the same dilemma. I've currently got about 2mm all round left on my tyres and have a track day coming up on the 24th Feb. Ideally i don't want to put the new boots on until after the track day, unless I know its going to be wet, in which case i'll get them fitted a few days before.
My concern is with 2mm left now, after a track day they are probably going to be illegal.
So do I go new tyres now get them 'worn in' and use then on the track day, or do I risk my old tyres and probably drive home illegally??
Got it on one. I'm in the same boat. However, you could see if you can get by for another 3 weeks, or just replace them now, as 2mm is very low for this time of year. I think I might just replace mine now, as it's quite slippy out there, and there are lots of idiots around...
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