RE71Rs on a wet track

[ABenLauda]

As long as they are rotating in the correct direction, how are RE71Rs in:

1) Drizzle. Safe to go out on track?
2) Light-Medium rain. Still safe to go out on track but go slower than you would with (say) MPSS/MP4S?
3) Heavy rain. Would you sit out the session?

[NYG]

Short-answer: Only wets are designed to be pushed hard in the rain.

It depends on how comfortable you are in the car and how much confidence you have in the tire's limit/car. Rain driving in the CS always got me pumped and I did it plenty of times on NT01s/Cup2s... I was usually the only one.

If you only track with DSC fully off and you have good car control, I'd definitely be out there on 71Rs in everything except heavy downpour but you shouldn't push any of those tires anywhere near as hard as you do in the dry. You'll discover a lot more of what you do well and what you do poorly in the wet. I would use MDM mode for wet though.

Here's a photo of me at Thompson on Cup 2s.

[Spun Crankhub]

MDM or bust for sure. I've got Euro MDM coded on, which is a bit less intrusive, but will still keep the torque monster S55 in check.
I dont care what tires we are talking about, traction off in the wet and this car is a savage fishtailing beast.

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by NYG

Short-answer: Only wets are designed to be pushed hard in the rain.

It depends on how comfortable you are in the car and how much confidence you have in the tire's limit/car. Rain driving in the CS always got me pumped and I did it plenty of times on NT01s/Cup2s... I was usually the only one.

If you only track with DSC fully off and you have good car control, I'd definitely be out there on 71Rs in everything except heavy downpour but you shouldn't push any of those tires anywhere near as hard as you do in the dry. You'll discover a lot more of what you do well and what you do poorly in the wet. I would use MDM mode for wet though.

Here's a photo of me at Thompson on Cup 2s.

LRG looking good in the wet!

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by NYG

Short-answer: Only wets are designed to be pushed hard in the rain.

It depends on how comfortable you are in the car and how much confidence you have in the tire's limit/car. Rain driving in the CS always got me pumped and I did it plenty of times on NT01s/Cup2s... I was usually the only one.

If you only track with DSC fully off and you have good car control, I'd definitely be out there on 71Rs in everything except heavy downpour but you shouldn't push any of those tires anywhere near as hard as you do in the dry. You'll discover a lot more of what you do well and what you do poorly in the wet. I would use MDM mode for wet though.

Here's a photo of me at Thompson on Cup 2s.

I've actually found the PSC2 to be very decent and enjoyable in the wet

I also love driving a wet track, it's like driving a different track every lap as the conditions change. What I despise about a rainy day is the paddock experience

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Originally Posted by ABenChod

As long as they are rotating in the correct direction, how are RE71Rs in:

1) Drizzle. Safe to go out on track?
2) Light-Medium rain. Still safe to go out on track but go slower than you would with (say) MPSS/MP4S?
3) Heavy rain. Would you sit out the session?

Send it. I've brought 100tw nearly bald AR1's on a rain day and it was so much fun learning the limits. Just don't forget to change your driving style in the rain!

[dvq]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I've actually found the PSC2 to be very decent and enjoyable in the wet

I also love driving a wet track, it's like driving a different track every lap as the conditions change. What I despise about a rainy day is the paddock experience

Agree on the paddock experience, it's usually windy so you can't put up a canopy as well. I've had sessions cancelled when the rain gets too heavy at laguna seca — just too many cars go off and organizers cancel until rain let's up.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I've actually found the PSC2 to be very decent and enjoyable in the wet

I also love driving a wet track, it's like driving a different track every lap as the conditions change. What I despise about a rainy day is the paddock experience

100%

I also was VERY impressed with the Cup 2 in the wet. As long as there was no standing water, they weren't what people describe them to be.

I did some laps on the A7 in the rain - now that was sketchy but I still had to push them decently hard before they got out of hand.

[robbo mcs]

I have spent a lot of time racing in closed road tarmac rallies. Generally people use tires similar to these, as they have to be road legal, and you have to run the same tire for the event, wet or dry. So I have spent a lot of time driving in the rain, on the limit on similar tires.

As others have said, it is really only in standing water where they struggle. In all other conditions, wet or damp roads, these tires will be quicker, once you get your head around them, and how they behave. The most crucial thingmis being able to get heat into them, which is sometimes difficult in very wet and cold conditions. Also, softer compounds are obviously better.

It will improve your driving.
Also, it might not be good for your ego, but in the wet you are likely to be quicker with MDM on.

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Originally Posted by robbo mcs

I have spent a lot of time racing in closed road tarmac rallies. Generally people use tires similar to these, as they have to be road legal, and you have to run the same tire for the event, wet or dry. So I have spent a lot of time driving in the rain, on the limit on similar tires.

As others have said, it is really only in standing water where they struggle. In all other conditions, wet or damp roads, these tires will be quicker, once you get your head around them, and how they behave. The most crucial thingmis being able to get heat into them, which is sometimes difficult in very wet and cold conditions. Also, softer compounds are obviously better.

It will improve your driving.
Also, it might not be good for your ego, but in the wet you are likely to be quicker with MDM on.

So true about turning TC back on! I tried running without dsc on my e46 m3 and when I spun about 3 times in one session, I turned the dsc back on. it was a night and day difference and you were able to play at the limit far easier and learn more.

[AlpineF80]

RE71R work great in the wet, but I think it ultimately comes down to expectation and self-restraint. Reality is, you're not going to be able to push it as hard, but you can have A LOT of fun. Driving/racing in the rain is a very valuable skill set. Your wet line may be different than your dry line, so it's good to get familiar with that.

If you feel comfortable with not just your driving skill, but also those around you, then go out there and have fun!

[EGbeater]

Originally Posted by Spun Crankhub

MDM or bust for sure. I've got Euro MDM coded on, which is a bit less intrusive, but will still keep the torque monster S55 in check.
I dont care what tires we are talking about, traction off in the wet and this car is a savage fishtailing beast.

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I've actually found the PSC2 to be very decent and enjoyable in the wet

I also love driving a wet track, it's like driving a different track every lap as the conditions change. What I despise about a rainy day is the paddock experience

Hi guys, found this thread searching for "Euro MDM"... I have many, many years of track driving and autocross experience, and I normally drive with everything off, but I'm about to embark on One Lap of America, where wet track conditions are definitely a possibility; and where I will have zero familiarity with the track's layouts—aside from watching Youtube videos—before attempting to drive at 8.5 to 9/10ths on the very first lap (all three laps are timed and count toward your event score).

I've found the standard USDM MDM mode on my F80 utterly unusable for autocross, I've never actually tried it on the track (wet or dry) but a friend/more competent driver than me (Mark Melchior, a One Lap of America alumni and 4th place overall finisher in his F80 back in 2019) told me he tried it in the wet, and found it so limiting he just turned everything off during that same track session and went back to just using his own driving skill to mete out power and keep slip angle in check.

I'm about to code Euro MDM via Bimmer-Remote.com on my '16 F80 DCT ZCP... would love to hear from anyone who has Euro MDM coded and track experience with using it (in the dry or wet) at 8.5/10ths and above.

FYI my car will be running BM3 stage 2 91 octane OTS tune (just downpipes, charge pipes, J-pipe, NGK plugs @ .023", drop-in K&N filters with OEM intakes, Mishimoto oil catch can, OEM midpipe/exhaust) and we'll be on 295/30-18 Conti ECS on 10.5" wheels square. Garbage suspension setup (Swift Spec R springs, OEM Adaptive-M dampers, Hotchkis front swaybar set at one-hole-up-from-full-soft, one-side-only, Vorshlag camber plates maxxed out at 3.5°, track alignment). No aero.

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by EGbeater

Hi guys, found this thread searching for "Euro MDM"... I have many, many years of track driving and autocross experience, and I normally drive with everything off, but I'm about to embark on One Lap of America, where wet track conditions are definitely a possibility; and where I will have zero familiarity with the track's layouts—aside from watching Youtube videos—before attempting to drive at 8.5 to 9/10ths on the very first lap (all three laps are timed and count toward your event score).

I've found the standard USDM MDM mode on my F80 utterly unusable for autocross, I've never actually tried it on the track (wet or dry) but a friend/more competent driver than me (Mark Melchior, a One Lap of America alumni and 4th place overall finisher in his F80 back in 2019) told me he tried it in the wet, and found it so limiting he just turned everything off during that same track session and went back to just using his own driving skill to mete out power and keep slip angle in check.

I'm about to code Euro MDM via Bimmer-Remote.com on my '16 F80 DCT ZCP... would love to hear from anyone who has Euro MDM coded and track experience with using it (in the dry or wet) at 8.5/10ths and above.

FYI my car will be running BM3 stage 2 91 octane OTS tune (just downpipes, charge pipes, J-pipe, NGK plugs @ .023", drop-in K&N filters with OEM intakes, Mishimoto oil catch can, OEM midpipe/exhaust) and we'll be on 295/30-18 Conti ECS on 10.5" wheels square. Garbage suspension setup (Swift Spec R springs, OEM Adaptive-M dampers, Hotchkis front swaybar set at one-hole-up-from-full-soft, one-side-only, Vorshlag camber plates maxxed out at 3.5°, track alignment). No aero.

With that tune in the wet, that's asking for trouble, but I always run with nannies off (except the out lap).

you could torque limit by gear significantly (30-40%) and make the wet "drivable", but that's a lot of power in the wet with those tires.

[Suds]

I actually bought a set of RE71’s for wet track days on a spare set of wheels.

[ABenLauda]

Originally Posted by Suds

I actually bought a set of RE71's for wet track days on a spare set of wheels.

Where are you finding RE71Rs in stock?

[Suds]

I bought them last fall for a weekend at COTA that looked wet. I will put a set of square NT01’s or Goodyear super car 3s next on my square set 10” rear 513’s.

With spacers these will fit both the M4 and M2.

Michelin PS4S and PSS hold up really good for a wet weekend, might be a good choice for a wet track tire. I’ve taken both to COTA when it was wet.

In February I drove to Austin on a 2 track day driven set of NT01’s in the rain for Carrera of the Americas, really sketchy on the back roads. They were great for 3 days on the track. Again on the way back to Houston in the rain I was driving very carefully.

[kyrix1st]

PSC2 are terrible in low temp, very snappy vs. gradual RE71Rs which still heat up like boss even in sub 30F conditions.

[EGbeater]

Originally Posted by fanatic1

With that tune in the wet, that's asking for trouble, but I always run with nannies off (except the out lap).

you could torque limit by gear significantly (30-40%) and make the wet "drivable", but that's a lot of power in the wet with those tires.

Thanks fanatic1, if conditions are poor/superwet, I'll probably flash the Bootmod3 tune back to the "stage zero" M4 GTS tune.