Tested: How do tires perform on track as they wear?

Back when Toyo switched tires on us in Spec Miata, the new R888's were built for heavier cars, like the Speedvision World Challenge series, where Toyo was the spec tire.  Spec Miata was over sprung for the stock Bilsteins we ran then, and adding a stiffer sidewall didn't help.  So weight of the car makes a difference.

One of the fast guys in Spec Miata ran some corded Toyos once (before the R888's) and set a new track record on the long course at Sebring.  They had quite a few heat cycles on them, and at Sebring, the track temps can get quite hot, but if you take care of your tires, not just on the track, you'll get a lot out of them.

Good news, I thought I was going to have to get new tires this season!

In reply to Colin Wood :

I'd love to see a similar test of how storage over the winter actually affects 200TW tire performance for us HPDE/casual track types? How big is the benefit of pulling the tires off and sticking in bags inside for the winter vs. unheated garage vs just leave them on the car in the garage all winter.

YourEconProf said:

In reply to Colin Wood :

I'd love to see a similar test of how storage over the winter actually affects 200TW tire performance for us HPDE/casual track types? How big is the benefit of pulling the tires off and sticking in bags inside for the winter vs. unheated garage vs just leave them on the car in the garage all winter.

We all know those things are bad for performance tires -- manufacturers even state it on the labels.

So do whatever you can to minimize those conditions.

Testing to put a metric on how badly you are abusing your tires seems kinda pointless.

I have a set of the Bridgestones on my 370Z. I track my car maybe 5 events a year. I don't have a trailer so need to drive to the track on them. I am going to a track 500 miles away in September. Will I put much wear on these tires driving 75mph on the highway to get there? I want to track the car with the Bridgestones and not my street tires if posible. Thoughts? 

Glennsz said:

I have a set of the Bridgestones on my 370Z. I track my car maybe 5 events a year. I don't have a trailer so need to drive to the track on them. I am going to a track 500 miles away in September. Will I put much wear on these tires driving 75mph on the highway to get there? I want to track the car with the Bridgestones and not my street tires if posible. Thoughts? 

You will put far less wear on the tires in those 500 highway miles than you will on track for a day.

When we ran the RE71RS on Tom's GTI for the 3800 mile One Lap of America, highway usage was not a factor.  Same with the A052 on the CRX last year.

That said, it can contribute to wear if you have an extreme alignment -- say, lots of excess camber and some toe out.  We took camber/toe out of the front of the CRX each day for transits -- jacked up the ride height -- but that was also to protect the massive front splitter from road debris.

Extreme alignments localize contact pressure -- and thus wear -- to a small area of the tire.

Andy Hollis said:

That said, it can contribute to wear if you have an extreme alignment -- say, lots of excess camber and some toe out.  We took camber/toe out of the front of the CRX each day for transits -- jacked up the ride height -- but that was also to protect the massive front splitter from road debris.

You also need to be a little more proactive about monitoring the tires during the day and be willing to skip the last session or two if that's what it takes to be sure you're not driving home on corded tires. :)

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

You also need to be a little more proactive about monitoring the tires during the day and be willing to skip the last session or two if that's what it takes to be sure you're not driving home on corded tires. :)

 

Oh yeah, totally.

I've certainly been pretty cavalier about rolling home from the track on cords before, but that's 45 minutes and I'll take the back way to avoid the interstate.  But 500 miles?  Yeah...not cool.

You should see what I do with brake pads...

"They call me Metal Master"

In reply to Andy Hollis :

Thanks for the feedback. I was hoping to hear that. I have a "Plus ONE" alignment so nothing crazy. I'm headed to Fayetteville, TN from Chicago for the National Z Convention and they have the PTC track rented for the day so I'll be out there with 50-100 other Z's of all years. Last year was Tampa which was too far for those RE71Rs, almost 3,000 miles. Street tires on a track worked but I know what I was missing. I did wear out a set when the event was in Toronto at the Canadian Tire track a few years back. 2 new rear tires for over $800.00 Canadian to get me home. I will keep and eye on things as I do have to get home with the wife. Thanks again!