Using slicks for first time... advice required

[blackscooby]

Hi,

I'll be using slicks for the first time on my next trackday (providing it's dry !). Anyone any advice ?

What we normally do is do the first session (20 mins) with the Near Side Front at something like 22PSI (Cold), NSR a little harder and the OS tyres harder still. Try and ensure that the hot temp is around 29 / 30 PSI all round. Adjust the hot temps to 30 or so.

We usually run Toyo R888's and have a gentle out lap to get the tyres and brakes working a bit then go for a faster run from then on.

Will slicks be that much different to R888's ? As I've never driven on them I've NO idea at all what to expect !!

Cheers

Mark

[mmm-five]

First thing is to ensure you're allowed to run slicks as most track day companies prefer that you stick to road legal (including sticky stuff) tyres unless you're roll-caged up.

There will be quite a bit of difference in grip as well as you will not get any progression in grip - it will be there one minute and then gone the next when you push too hard - and if you do go off, you might find it harder to get back on as you may not have much grip on damp/dewey grass.

Are you going to adjust your camber to take advantage of the slicks geometry or are you planning on running standard road settings?

[iguana]

blackscooby said:

Hi,

I'll be using slicks for the first time on my next trackday (providing it's dry !). Anyone any advice ?

What we normally do is do the first session (20 mins) with the Near Side Front at something like 22PSI (Cold), NSR a little harder and the OS tyres harder still. Try and ensure that the hot temp is around 29 / 30 PSI all round. Adjust the hot temps to 30 or so.

We usually run Toyo R888's and have a gentle out lap to get the tyres and brakes working a bit then go for a faster run from then on.

Will slicks be that much different to R888's ? As I've never driven on them I've NO idea at all what to expect !!

Cheers

Mark

No idea what car or what slick you are running, but in general even on the old well years old & few seasons of use used slicks ive run that- when warm they make even 888 grip seem crap, but when cold they have zero & I do mean zero grip, the sidewall flex is non existant they can be so hard that ive come to the car left in the garage at home, thought id check the pressure & its zero psi! You won't belove how direct the steering is.

All the slicks ive run took a lot longer to warm up vs 888s, which grip better that road tyres even right out the pits, on GWD car ive lost the rear even 2 laps in on a cooler day on a slick that takes some real warming up. I do have a vid somewhere of me doing just that but cant seem to find it at the mo.

Stuff breaks & wears a LOT more running slicks, ive knackered- ball joints, steering racks, top mounts, wheel bearings, hub nuts come loose, wheel nuts the same & a buch of stuff ive forgotten, its not just the extra corner grip, but you can brake a whole lot later too, so much more heat in whole front end, & pads for me last half the time vs when running road tyres.

Pressure wise for me I run approx a tad lower as I'd run 888s at, have gone to as low as 5psi less, but it all depends on the heat & the track.

[F355GTS]

Is your Car dry sumped?

[VTECMatt]

Make sure before you get on it they have heat, I used to weave most of my first lap and gradually build up the speed, they are useless when cold and dahn right dangerous in the wet.

[blackscooby]

Thanks for the replies folks,

The slicks will be fitted to Pug 1.9 GTi (caged) so nothing exotic ! Unfortunatly I cannot change the suspension as the setup doesn't give me enough adjustment, it's part of my plan for next year to change the bottom arms for 309's to give more adjustment.

Dry sumped no, but does have a Skip Brown 205 rally baffled sump to stop oil surge. So far i haven't seen the oil pressure alter in cornering.

Cheers

Mark

Edited by blackscooby on Sunday 2nd September 10:38

[Kubica]

Blackscooby - what slicks have you got and where did you buy them and how much? I'm picking up a 1.9 GTi trackslag on thursday and am thinking of getting a set.

[blackscooby]

They're a set of part worns (hopefully part worn and not totally worn !). Michelin S9Bs which are used in the Clio Cup challenge as a control tyre.

Only something like £35ea, but we bought what he had left (12 tyres) from a Clio cup entrant. Out on them at Croft on the 15th, so it will be interesting to say the least.
We know our lap times from running the Toyo 888's at Croft and hopefully see if we can get quicker

[mmm-five]

blackscooby said:

They're a set of part worns (hopefully part worn and not totally worn !). Michelin S9Bs which are used in the Clio Cup challenge as a control tyre.

Only something like £35ea, but we bought what he had left (12 tyres) from a Clio cup entrant. Out on them at Croft on the 15th, so it will be interesting to say the least.
We know our lap times from running the Toyo 888's at Croft and hopefully see if we can get quicker

Don't get caught timing though - otherwise the event becomes 'competitive' and track day insurance is invalidated - and also possibly the organiser's liability insurance.

[blackscooby]

Thankfully timing is impossible using my method until post event when I take the tape off the cam and import it to the computer !

[bennno]

blackscooby said:

Thanks for the replies folks,

The slicks will be fitted to Pug 1.9 GTi (caged) so nothing exotic ! Unfortunatly I cannot change the suspension as the setup doesn't give me enough adjustment, it's part of my plan for next year to change the bottom arms for 309's to give more adjustment.

Dry sumped no, but does have a Skip Brown 205 rally baffled sump to stop oil surge. So far i haven't seen the oil pressure alter in cornering.

Cheers

Mark

I did exactly that with my old LAD 205, bought part worn slicks for about £100 for 4 from a company in birmingham that had a pile of ex test BF Goodridge slicks.

Try putting the slicks on the front and sticking with the road tyres on the back wheels its much more fun.

Bennno