Tire problems at first track day

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by noone

Wonder if iRacing will help me develop real life skills?

It absolutely does. A lot of successful amateur club race drivers who have gotten jobs driving cite iracing as a key piece of their training.

[noone]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

It absolutely does. A lot of successful amateur club race drivers who have gotten jobs driving cite iracing as a key piece of their training.

Cool. I do enjoy iracing. An Oculus VR setup is the way to go with higher resolution dependable VR on its way.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

It absolutely does. A lot of successful amateur club race drivers who have gotten jobs driving cite iracing as a key piece of their training.

How does iracing compare to Project Cars 2 or Forza Motorsports 7?

[superbrew]

Originally Posted by jmg

How does iracing compare to Project Cars 2 or Forza Motorsports 7?

Haven't played PC2. I have been on iRacing for about 4 months now, with the last couple of weeks in VR. I have played console racing games since GT1. I thought console games were pretty accurate, but I find iRacing to be much closer to the real thing. The feel is much closer to real life, as well as the characteristics of the cars, such as tires overheating if you overdrive, or wearing as the race progresses. Aside from the feel of the game/sim, iRacing races are much more realistic in the sense that there is some form of penalty for being a bad racer.

[jeffk182]

This is just from autocross without camber plates on PSS. I've picked up a separate set of wheels to run track tires and camber plates are next on the list before my next event. Was keeping tire pressure at about 38psi hot

[gman444]

How's everyone's experience with the OEM Continentals?

I've had ~20k kms on mine and two track days this year (novice) and they're still in good shape. Hoping to get a couple more track days out of them.

[F80Speed77]

Ive done 4 track sessions on the Continentals and I think maybe 3 or 4 autocross events on them. They don't feel horrible and aren't hateful to drive on but when you get done and look at the lap time you are like man I thought I went faster than that haha. To me, this means they are just down on overall grip which is fine because that's not what they are made for. Definitely need to manage temps and pressures and they can get a little greasy towards the end of a session if you are really getting after it. Also typically my fastest autocross runs were my first or second of a heat in temps over 70deg. Definitely a solid tire and I'd fix other parts of the car first like the stock brake pads or add driver mod before switching to a faster tire.

[jmg]

Not the OP, but in the year since this thread has started I have attended a few track days:

Big Willow
Autoclub Speedway Infield
Streets Of Willow
4 autocrosses
1 more day at M School

I ran with MPSS for all these days then switched to MPS4S recently for one autocross and a day at Streets Of Willow. I ordered GC Camber Plates and MPHAS.

Now I think I'm ready to start thinking about track wheels and tires. I'm leaning towards APEX EC-7 in 18's. I initially wanted to run RE71R's but it looks like 285's are the widest in 18's, so I might as well go square and have the ability to rotate.

However, if I go with NT-01 I could get 305's for the rear. I do like the idea of longer lasting NT-01, but I will not be able to rotate on staggered. That being said, will I lose too much rear grip with squared setup?

Any other tires I should be looking at? I would like to be able to drive these to the track. Since it's dry down here, wet roads shouldn't be a huge problem.

[OhioRiderAaron]

Originally Posted by jmg

Not the OP, but in the year since this thread has started I have attended a few track days:

Big Willow
Autoclub Speedway Infield
Streets Of Willow
4 autocrosses
1 more day at M School

I ran with MPSS for all these days then switched to MPS4S recently for one autocross and a day at Streets Of Willow. I ordered GC Camber Plates and MPHAS.

Now I think I'm ready to start thinking about track wheels and tires. I'm leaning towards APEX EC-7 in 18's. I initially wanted to run RE71R's but it looks like 285's are the widest in 18's, so I might as well go square and have the ability to rotate.

However, if I go with NT-01 I could get 305's for the rear. I do like the idea of longer lasting NT-01, but I will not be able to rotate on staggered. That being said, will I lose too much rear grip with squared setup?

Any other tires I should be looking at? I would like to be able to drive these to the track. Since it's dry down here, wet roads shouldn't be a huge problem.

Staggered is better IMO, you can flip the tires inside out and increase the tire life by one or two events (track dependent) and you don't have to sacrifice rear grip.

We're starting to beat a dead horse here, but you should go for something other than the NT01s. RE71R, goodyear eagle F1 3/3R, Yoko Advan A052, Hankook RS4, or maybe even the new asian branded tire(s). The Nitto is old and really leaves a lot to be desired when even compared to the RE71Rs.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by OhioRiderAaron

Staggered is better IMO, you can flip the tires inside out and increase the tire life by one or two events (track dependent) and you don't have to sacrifice rear grip.

We're starting to beat a dead horse here, but you should go for something other than the NT01s. RE71R, goodyear eagle F1 3/3R, Yoko Advan A052, Hankook RS4, or maybe even the new asian branded tire(s). The Nitto is old and really leaves a lot to be desired when even compared to the RE71Rs.

I haven't heard anything really bad about nittos. What's wrong with them?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by jmg

Now I think I'm ready to start thinking about track wheels and tires. I'm leaning towards APEX EC-7 in 18's. I initially wanted to run RE71R's but it looks like 285's are the widest in 18's, so I might as well go square and have the ability to rotate.

However, if I go with NT-01 I could get 305's for the rear. I do like the idea of longer lasting NT-01, but I will not be able to rotate on staggered. That being said, will I lose too much rear grip with squared setup?

Any other tires I should be looking at? I would like to be able to drive these to the track. Since it's dry down here, wet roads shouldn't be a huge problem.

Get a set of 10.5 ET40 wheels. Those you can rotate fine. You're better off with this setup than staggered.

I'd run the 285 square RE71. It's a really wide tire. Or you can run 295/30 of another brand.

The NT01 is slower, is horrible in rain and sounds like a freight train all the time. Their only advantage is they are cheaper.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Get a set of 10.5 ET40 wheels. Those you can rotate fine. You're better off with this setup than staggered.

I'd run the 285 square RE71. It's a really wide tire. Or you can run 295/30 of another brand.

The NT01 is slower, is horrible in rain and sounds like a freight train all the time. Their only advantage is they are cheaper.

10.5 ET40 with 285's will clear in the front?

What do you think of the Advan A052? I can run 265 and 295 staggered or 295 square.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by jmg

10.5 ET40 with 285's will clear in the front?

What do you think of the Advan A052? I can run 265 and 295 staggered or 295 square.

oh yes, no doubt

I'm running the Bimmerworld TA5R wheels on the F80 that have an offset of 36. With a 12mm spacer everything clears. If the tire were really fat I may have to run a 15mm spacer.

I'd run the 295 square if you want to run the A052. It's a fast tire but I haven't run it. The RE71 fulfills all my needs for a streetable track tire and after the horrible fiasco that being an early adopter of the R888R tires... I don't want to repeat the experience.

I really like running square especially as the car fits the square sized tire. If you are braking and turning appropriately the front tires do a massive portion of the work.

Our cars may seem 'powerful' but I think front tires do a lot more work than the rears.

[TheBreeze]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

The NT01 is slower, is horrible in rain and sounds like a freight train all the time. Their only advantage is they are cheaper.

True, they are noisy, but so are RE71s especially as they wear. Both are too noisy to use on the street IMO. I like quiet on the street, it's why I run the PS4S. NT01s do SUCK in the rain, no doubt about it. It's like driving on ice. I pit in if the track gets wet. Not the fastest track tire out there, true, but they aren't slow either. They are cheaper, last a long time (for a track tire), have a very predictable break away, and are tough as nails. Still a solid choice for someone who isn't chasing every last 10th of a second, wants a no drama tire, and wants to keep long term costs down.

[TheBreeze]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

It absolutely does. A lot of successful amateur club race drivers who have gotten jobs driving cite iracing as a key piece of their training.

I may have to give iRacing a try, but in the past I've struggled with racing sims simply because of the lack of motion/g force feedback.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by TheBreeze

True, they are noisy, but so are RE71s especially as they wear. Both are too noisy to use on the street IMO. I like quiet on the street, it's why I run the PS4S. NT01s do SUCK in the rain, no doubt about it. It's like driving on ice. I pit in if the track gets wet. Not the fastest track tire out there, true, but they aren't slow either. They are cheaper, last a long time (for a track tire), have a very predictable break away, and are tough as nails. Still a solid choice for someone who isn't chasing every last 10th of a second, wants a no drama tire, and wants to keep long term costs down.

For sure the term 'noisy' is somewhat subjective.

RE71s, at their worst, are several orders of magnitude quieter than the NT01.
I don't particularly care about the RE71 being much better in the wet for HPDE track use, however, if you are caught in rain driving to/from the track there is a massive difference

[TheBreeze]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

For sure the term 'noisy' is somewhat subjective.

RE71s, at their worst, are several orders of magnitude quieter than the NT01.
I don't particularly care about the RE71 being much better in the wet for HPDE track use, however, if you are caught in rain driving to/from the track there is a massive difference

I drive on street tires to the track and change out to track wheel/tires when I get there. Same with brake pads. It's nice to have the street tires as back-up if it starts raining too, speeds are down obviously, but at least you can runs laps and get good car control practice.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by TheBreeze

I drive on street tires to the track and change out to track wheel/tires when I get there. Same with brake pads. It's nice to have the street tires as back-up if it starts raining too, speeds are down obviously, but at least you can runs laps and get good car control practice.

When I am doing a non w2w track day in my SM, I use the Re71r as rain tire, and also for when I need to move it around (still has license plates).

In a Nov 2018 event at Sonoma, the SM pace in the morning was around 1:56 on RR spec tire (40tw R tire) and SM were doing 1:59 on Re71r during the subsequent enduro later that day. Not bad in my opinion for a 200tw street tire

[MyFragileHalogen]

I have zero relation with Nitto lol but I do have to say it's a decent tire. Some people may have bad experience with particular tires and I would want to let newer people aware and take their own research and judgement. Newer RE-71Rs definitely is very fast for street tires, frequently people reporting it faster then dedicated R coumpound track tires like NT-01. It's popular among people doing autocross and HPDE. Still NT-01s are trusted and used by many track people and there are reasons like many have discussed.

IMO even if Re-71Rs could yield faster lap times than NT-01, I doubt it will be very marginal. I find NT-01 a lot easier to drive at limits with its consistency that lasts almost all day. It's silly to say but I am getting a lot better lap times than other F8X and M2s on whatever tires or mods at my home track, and I do believe it's a good tire for some people like me. (I am not trying to be fastest guy on track but just enjoy learning limits so I don't feel need of spending more $$$) Most of F8x/M2 drivers in my area are newer but I am newer too. So at least it gives a sample reference that there is someone with NT-01 doing well compared to others on RE-71r. Well most of us are not pro drivers and opinions are just opinions including mine.

Obviously other great street tires RS4 and dunlop Z star spec II are not as fast as NT-01. RE-71r's an exception but comes with cost of fast wear and lesser consistency against heat.

[fanatic1]

Just to keep the subject going and stir the pot a little.....

My experiences with NT01 have been quite favorable.

Ran RE71R on my 2016 M4 (stage 1 tune) and thought they were quite good, Laguna Seca 1:45

NT01 on the 2019 M4CS stock, Laguna Seca 1:42

power on the two cars are very similar, but to be fair, the newer CS chassis feels a little more sorted. Both cars had camber plates.

I’m not sure how much of the three second delta was due to tires, but chassis and maybe a little bit driver were a factor (although I have quite a few laps at Laguna).

My take away is any of these tires are capable and while some have better wear characteristics including heat cycles, lap times seem fairly comparable.


I will stick with NT01 and something stickier on the second set of track wheels like BFG R1. Second set of track wheels? second time in my life the bug has bitten pretty hard and enjoying it thoroughly! Next will be seats and suspension, with a tune possible at some point......

[Ca86108]

When you all switch to different diameter wheels for the track and street, do you have to get an alignment each time? I have the 20" comp wheels. I want to get some 18s for the track. Do I have to get an alignment when I switch and wouldn't that be a pain getting an alignment done after each track day?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Ca86108

When you all switch to different diameter wheels for the track and street, do you have to get an alignment each time? I have the 20" comp wheels. I want to get some 18s for the track. Do I have to get an alignment when I switch and wouldn't that be a pain getting an alignment done after each track day?

There is no need to have an alignment done when switching tires and/or wheels.

I don’t understand why so many people believe otherwise as this question keeps popping again and again ...