Is anyone having issues with front tires at the track?

[johnr265]

Originally Posted by VCP

So did you see a symmetrical final setting on top of GC plates to get -3 both sides? (Are both driver and passenger sitting at exact position relative to dots on plates?)

No, it was necessary to move it further in on the passenger side to get the same setting. Car handled much better at the track as others have stated. Tires wore much more evenly and there were times the tire temps reach 200 degrees, no chunking. Problem solved thanks to Ground Control plates.

[Y8HOO]

Left Front after 2 days at Spa, also experienced the triangular wear mentioned in early posts of this thread.

[BarryB]

Another hour of track time today. Tires wore perfectly. Max hot pressures 33f 31 r.
That has solved my issue. I'm sure camber plates could help more but as of now I am good with the stock setup.
Over pressure/temp kills these tires.

[redrumm3]

Originally Posted by BarryB

Another hour of track time today. Tires wore perfectly. Max hot pressures 33f 31 r.
That has solved my issue. I'm sure camber plates could help more but as of now I am good with the stock setup.
Over pressure/temp kills these tires.

Thanks for sharing the info.

[BarryB]

Proof with a happy passenger.

[Tommy L Garage]

Originally Posted by BarryB

Another hour of track time today. Tires wore perfectly. Max hot pressures 33f 31 r.
That has solved my issue. I'm sure camber plates could help more but as of now I am good with the stock setup.
Over pressure/temp kills these tires.

What's the cold temperature that you started with ?

[BarryB]

About 26f 27r
Ambient temp makes a big difference. It started getting warm early.
I actually came off early on my first session because I had 36 in front but started that session at 28.5. Didn't want to buy new fronts again so gave up 5mim.
I keep the screen on my nav showing the pressures and temps.

[RandyC54]

Have we settled on a definitive "best setup" on this car? 295/19 front and 325/20 rear on Cup2 is my thinking, even if I need to buy wheels or fiddle with ride/spring adjustments.

(Cup2 do not perform or last well over 33psi, btw. In my Porsche, I am fine leaving the paddock at 24-25 for my warmup lap.)

[BarryB]

Despite being diligent on pressures, I've cooked my right front again. Anyone ever change one tire? My left front is good still.
I have R888 on my e36 track car and are happy with them. Thinking about trying those. 3300 miles on the same rears but 2nd set of fronts

[jeff@autocouture]

Originally Posted by BarryB

Despite being diligent on pressures, I've cooked my right front again. Anyone ever change one tire? My left front is good still.
I have R888 on my e36 track car and are happy with them. Thinking about trying those. 3300 miles on the same rears but 2nd set of fronts

Impressive,

These cars are heavy especially compared to the e36, and the front end dives in causing the premature wear, while the r888 will probably last longer I don't think it will solve it in the end, not sure if you mentioned camber plates but if you don't have them I would get them,

[BarryB]

I forgot to mention that I don't have camber plates. I am considering adding them but read here that they are not necessarily the total solution.

What about replacing just one tire?

[redrumm3]

It's too bad Michelin does not have more info available for the setup and running of the Cup2's. I've looked and can't find anything. Almost all other manufacturers of "track day" tires lists some pressure and setup recommendations. I'll keep digging and see if I can get some help from Michelin engineers.

As mentioned before our cars are heavy and I believe camber plates are going to be necessary to correctly solve the problem. I have the GC plates but have not installed them yet.

[johnr265]

Originally Posted by BarryB

I forgot to mention that I don't have camber plates. I am considering adding them but read here that they are not necessarily the total solution.

What about replacing just one tire?

Small data point but with the camber plates, I did just one day on track and the wear looked perfectly even across the fronts (that was after one previous day where I destroyed a set in one day with no camber plates). What issues were you referring to with them? Admittedly, I am not tracking this car a lot because I have another track car but they seemed to work quite well for me.

[BarryB]

Excessive wear on the outer edge of the tire and a little chunking. Very much like what's been shown here before. While I killed a set in one day (running too high pressures) this second set has lasted significantly longer (but still too short) with the right pressures but still asymmetric wear across the tire with the outer edges taking the beating. Sounds like I need camber plates.....

[MaynardZed]

Originally Posted by BarryB

Despite being diligent on pressures, I've cooked my right front again. Anyone ever change one tire? My left front is good still.
I have R888 on my e36 track car and are happy with them. Thinking about trying those. 3300 miles on the same rears but 2nd set of fronts

R888R will be much tougher than any Michelin tire. Much stiffer sidewall. I’ve beat on my regular M4 on the track with no camber plates for years and the shoulders have held up. Pushes a lot and a bit lazy on turn in without the plates, but just add throttle (sometimes forced to chop it) to get it to cooperate.

Down side is the R888 sucks on the street. Really stiff

Hey, you guys that are tracking your GTS come on over to the track section and post your lap times:

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1144972

[enjoythemusic]

Apologies for not wading/reading through all 9 pages (though did read a few pages). Has anyone used a pyrometer to see temps across the tread? https://www.summitracing.com/int/sea...&kr=Pyrometers

During my racing days, we used it as an aid for tuning tire alignment for better mechanical grip. For me, that would easily be a prerequisite instead of just throwing darts at different alignments to 'see if this works'. Also, each car / track can dictate a slightly different alignment optimization.

BTW, also agree go Hoosier slicks. Once you go slicks with warm/dry track condition, especially during their first few heat cycles, you'll never go back to street tires.

JMHO YMMV

[rr_m]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Apologies for not wading/reading through all 9 pages (though did read a few pages). Has anyone used a pyrometer to see temps across the tread?

I use one. With camber plates at -3 front and stock camber rear, temps are pretty much dead even for me across the front and rear treads after sessions at Sonoma. I didn't get around to measuring at MRLS last week.

[rr_m]

So what are folks running on this year?

I've been on the PSC2 MO1 (Mercedes) on the stock wheels with -3 front camber and 0 toe. I decided give the PSC2 Star (BMW) another try on the next set with the extra camber.

I'm thinking about giving the R888R's a try, but the 265/35-19's seem like they'll rub since the PSC2/MO1 rub a bit on the fender liner and the tread width is 10.1" versus 9.5" for the PSC2/MO1 (and 9.1" for the PSC2/BMW). All three have the same diameter (26.3"). Not sure if the 265/30-19's are an option (10.3" and 25.3"). It'd be great if the 305's would fit in back.

Rr

[BarryB]

I have 275 M01's up front with plates. No rubbing so far.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by ilGalante

The other option would be the new Toyo R888-R but it skips from 265mm up to 295mm in 19".
L!

No

The R888R are garbage. I have a set and frequently think of lighting them on fire. At least that way they would serve some kind of purpose, like a barbecue.

[rr_m]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

No

The R888R are garbage. I have a set and frequently think of lighting them on fire. At least that way they would serve some kind of purpose, like a barbecue.

Could you be more specific?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by rr_m

Could you be more specific?

Sure

I was the guinea pig when these tires came out. There's a long thread on the E9X section where people discuss 200TW tires.

Besides being loud enough to make you deaf on the trip to the track, they do not grip like a NT01 or RE71. They take me back to the old days when the RS3 was the hottest tire you could buy.

I feel it's a complete waste to run the R888R. It doesn't wear fast, but who cares when they're so slow.
Last weekend at WGI I had a set of wheels with R888R and another set with almost slick RE71s which have been heat cycled many times. The RE71 was a couple seconds faster and felt better.

If you were local I'd give you my R888R for $50.