Am I going to ruin my A7s at HPDE?

Next weekend I am going to participate in a HPDE at Barber's Motorsport being hosted by Just Track It. It's a 2 day event and I'll get four 20 minute runs each day.  I'm excited about the amount of track time, but then I started thinking about the wear on my tires.

I have a set of A7s with a whopping 1 autocross event on them.  I was planning on using them for this HPDE, but they are expensive and now I'm concerned.

I read this article:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nomoneymotorsports.com/2019/06/24/4-simple-things-you-need-to-know-buying-track-day-tires-post-34/amp/

It mentions that I'll effectively use up the tires due to the number of heat cycles.

Now I'm thinking about panic buying some 200tw tires to run instead.

What say you?

Well, do you want to win the HPDE or not?

On a more serious note, does the car get trailered or driven to events? If driven what wheels and tires are on it now?

Maybe do the first day on those to learn the track if you've never been there and then at some point on the second day switch over and really take advantage of the extra grip. The serious time attack guys run those tires on track but they only do a handful of laps at a time.

adam525i said:

Well, do you want to win the HPDE or not?

Lmao. 

Yes, if you're at all fast you'll destroy A7s at an HPDE event.  They're just not designed for that kind of sustained use.

What kind of car?  I run 245 A7's on my MG at trackdays but it's <1900lbs with me in it and has 4 wheel dual A-arm suspension with agressive camber curves.

A heavy car with bad camber curves?  You will probably have to take it easy to keep them from overheating.  If it's your only option just manage the temperatures with your effort. 

A 986 will destroy A7s in the front is less than 2 sessions. 

In reply to nocones :

03 Mini Cooper S

In reply to BradLTL :

Besides the A7s what other tires do you have?

I've had students with bone stock Minis (including the stock tires) run without issue.

As long as you don't drive like a hack the standard tires will be OK.

As for the A7s you will likely need to manage them to keep from doing them in. That will likely spoil some of the fun.

Again I'd run the street tires and just keep an eye on them in the first session.

The prize at an HPDE is taking your car home in the same condition as when it arrived.  I'd save the A7s for autocross, and use your street tires.  The 200 TW is a good solution, if you have the means. 

Do not run the A7's.  They're an auto-x tire that's wholly unsuited for HPDE use, especially an entire weekend. 

Last weekend I helped assist a Mazda2 that was doing HPDE.

Said car/driver we're running on 3-year old ContiExtremeSports that had already completed a OneLap, an additional ~5000 miles of highway use, ~4 rain races, and at least four sessions of HPDE back in may.

they (driver/car/tires) did great, despite so many heat cycles, and showing clear wear.  The combo managed to get down to to mid-pack times for SundaeCup (i.e. semi-BSpec time attack), which was also running at the event.

Leave the A7's at home.  Run whatever street tires you've got access to; or the cheapest ~300tw tires you can panic buy (~$120/per max) at Walmart.  Then, go have a ball.

Thanks for all the feedback. I sucked it up and bought some OZ Ultraleggeras and Dunlop 200tw.

I've wanted to do it for a bit anyway, this was the push I needed.

My first hose was on 400tw Bridgestones. My instructor loved it. The squeal like a bandit and force you to recognize the limit at a forgiving speed. Track tires will hold a lot further, but when they let go you are out of control at a higher speed.

docwyte said:

Do not run the A7's.  They're an auto-x tire that's wholly unsuited for HPDE use, especially an entire weekend. 

A7s can be used on the big track on a light car, but they'll get used up very quickly.  It's a very expensive way to go, so not a good idea unless you're racing in a class that allows them (in which case you probably need them to win).

So the answer to the original question...

In reply to BradLTL :

Interesting choice.  I'll look forward to a report on how they perform, especially if it's wet.

I think I ran some direzza on my clubman at OneLap in 2016... the year of torrential downpours.  I've been running Conti ECS for OneLap thereafter.