Track day tyres for 16" wheels?

Gsi_Joe · Post by **Gsi_Joe** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 6:24 pm

Gsi_Joe wrote:
SM wrote:I can also highly suggest Maxxsport RB5's !!
If I got the RB5's (moulded slicks) though, I presume they would be a waste of time if it started to rain??

Also, I have absolutely no idea what compound would be best, Superdoft, Soft, Soft/Medium?? I presume it might be the hardest of the three (Soft/Medium) due to the weight of the car??

Can anyone steer me in the right direction?? :?

Many thanks,

Joe

Post by **Stuart** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 6:45 pm

Sorry Joe

I can only assume that you are correct mate but to be honest so much of this is trial and error, your best bet is to spend your bucks and then see how you get on. At least it's only a couple of hundred quid and you'll have a bloody good time doing your research!

Nik · Post by **Nik** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:05 pm

Have you seen the deal Gary @APT is doing on R888's in the trader deals section?

225/50/16

Gsi_Joe · Post by **Gsi_Joe** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:54 pm

stuartstaples wrote:Sorry Joe

I can only assume that you are correct mate but to be honest so much of this is trial and error, your best bet is to spend your bucks and then see how you get on. At least it's only a couple of hundred quid and you'll have a bloody good time doing your research!

Good point, cheers mate! :thumb:

R32 Nik wrote:Have you seen the deal Gary @APT is doing on R888's in the trader deals section? 225/50/16

Post by **Stuart** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:14 pm

To be honest Joe, I would find a good quality road tyre to start with and see how you go. For starters most circuits surface gives better grip than normal roads anyway (something to do with mu ratings) Add to that the fact that there will be less leaves, contaminants, cats eyes and white lines and voila.......grippa dee doo daah.
Buying a cheaper less grippy tyre will also do three other things;

1) less grip means lower limits means lowers speeds to learn about your car and what it does when things turn slidey. Conversely more speed means bigger accidents~ do you follow?
2) less grip means less wear and tear on vital components (do remember to try and avoid armco though)
3) less grippy means more money left for other track days. The most effective tuning mod you'll ever spend money on is driver training. Nothing gets close :thumb:

I sincerely hope that the above wasn't patronising. I can do patronising on request

Nik · Post by **Nik** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:20 am

[quote="stuartstaples"]To be honest Joe, I would find a good quality road tyre to start with and see how you go. For starters most circuits surface gives better grip than normal roads anyway (something to do with mu ratings) Add to that the fact that there will be less leaves, contaminants, cats eyes and white lines and voila.......grippa dee doo daah.
Buying a cheaper less grippy tyre will also do three other things]

I have to say I agree with Stu.

Even with my limited experience of track days etc I can not recommend the tuition sessions enough .

At the trackday at Snett in February I thought I was going pretty quick in the morning session and enjoying it quite alot. Then straight after lunch I went out with the legend that is Ben Devlin for a tuition session and Holy shit was I wrong about the morning session.

I ended up going round the first corner about 30-35 mph faster after the tuition. In all I cut about 10 seconds off of my lap time. ( not that I was timing myself, as this is not allowed on trackdays

)

I was on yokohama road tyres and I was astounded just how much abuse they could take and how far I could push the car, (and myself) when someone is telling you how to do it properly.

Hope that this helps in some way.

If not, please excuse my inane drivvle

Nik

Gsi_Joe · Post by **Gsi_Joe** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 5:30 pm

Nope, not patronising yet! and thanks for the info....

...I've only done one full track day, and I had the tuition straight away, so I know the benefits of such sessions! But anyway, I had decent road-tyres and I was still lusting after more grip, and I thought it would be good to investigate the point of contact i.e. the tyres!

[quote="Gsi_Joe"]

[quote="R32 Nik"]Have you seen the deal Gary @APT is doing on R888's in the trader deals section?

225/50/16

Gsi_Joe · Post by **Gsi_Joe** » Tue May 15, 2007 5:35 pm

Well I spoke to a chap from EARS yesterday, and he suggested I don't go for a moulded tyre (such as the Maxsport RB5) as they would have a propensity to overheat on a trackday.

He recommended a Dunlop DZ02G (in 205/55/16) or a Dunnlop D01J (in my original size of 205/50/16).

So any thoughts regarding the two Dunlop choices? (note the DZ02G is only available in a 55 profile, though i'm not sure if thats a good/bad thing?!)

Ta for any feedback!

Joe

Gsi_Joe · Post by **Gsi_Joe** » Fri May 18, 2007 5:29 pm

Anyone??

I know there's a lot of trial and error here, but i'd just like a bit of independent advice...

The tyre he mentioned (Dunnlop D01J) to me, seems only to be available in the 'Soft' compound, and i'm not sure if that would be suitable for the weight of the Vovlo?

Ta!

Joe

Post by **Stuart** » Fri May 18, 2007 5:37 pm

Sorry for the delay

I have been using D01J for the last couple of years on the track car and they are superb, I am very, very happy with them. I have no first hand experience of the other one so cannot comment on that. EARS tend to be bullshit free so ask the guy whether he thinks a tyre will be suitable. They grip like fook so if they are tough enough, you'll be onto a winner.

One word of advice. If your car has any sort of adjustment for the suspension, try and get it set up for track use. It will lessen tyre wear and provide a better starting point to evaluate the tyre. Also, the D01J's take a while to heat up so don't over drive the car for the first couple of laps (slow in fast out, that sort of thing)