Are almost slick stock tires safe for track events?
11-22-2007, 07:15 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Are almost slick stock tires safe for track events?
My '03 Z has about 3/32's tread left on the stock rear tires. Fronts have about 5/32's. Am I looking for trouble?
11-22-2007, 07:21 PM
#2
I would say just watch them carefully for signs of cording. I intentionally killed a set at the track right before I knew I was going to have to order new ones. They behaved fine right up until I took them off due to cording.
11-22-2007, 10:24 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
11-22-2007, 11:41 PM
#5
Safety Car
32 rear Cold
34 front Cold
and adjust from there after the first session.
11-23-2007, 08:01 AM
#6
Team Owner
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Go for it. Almost slick are far better then NEW tires. NEW tires will chunk and eat the tread up
The only minor challenge is being an old tire. Watch the air pressures and have fun
The only minor challenge is being an old tire. Watch the air pressures and have fun
11-23-2007, 04:27 PM
#7
Drifting
I went to the NCM HPDE at Spring Mountain a couple of weekends ago with my stock EMTs at about 2-3/32's. Ran my C6Z in both black and red sessions for about a total five hours of track time. Now the fronts and rears are truly ready to be replaced(slick as can be). Don't think they would have made it one more session. Felt fine on track.
Two things worth mentioning;
1) I have a compromised track alignment which I believe help the tires last a bit longer on track.
2) If you are trailering the car(that's what I did), then no problem. But if you are driving to and from the track, make sure you have enough tire to get home on.
Tom
11-23-2007, 05:32 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
Not sure what others consider a compromise alignment but I've now
gone to -1.0 in the front and it does help balance the wear. I get
inside wear on the road and outside wear on track. As to pressures I
used 34f/32r cold for a long time but still noted that I would wear the
centers out too quick. I now get started closer to 31 or 32 front and
30 or 29 rear. The real issue is hot pressures and I used to let them
get up to 40 but now try to keep them just below 39 hot, if I'm really
pushing. That's for non-rf street tires.
Randy
gone to -1.0 in the front and it does help balance the wear. I get
inside wear on the road and outside wear on track. As to pressures I
used 34f/32r cold for a long time but still noted that I would wear the
centers out too quick. I now get started closer to 31 or 32 front and
30 or 29 rear. The real issue is hot pressures and I used to let them
get up to 40 but now try to keep them just below 39 hot, if I'm really
pushing. That's for non-rf street tires.
Randy
11-23-2007, 06:24 PM
#9
Drifting
On the C6Z, I have a -1.5 in the front and -1.2 in the rear. For my run flats, the fronts are almost perfect, and the rears need more neg camber. I'm still wearing too much on the outside rears. I will get it realigned and go -1.6 in the front and try to get the rears to -1.4. It is hard to get much more than -1.2 in the rear with the stock set up.
Tom
Tom
11-24-2007, 04:09 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
As long as you're running on a dry track, the amount of tread is irrelevant. I had a good run a couple weeks ago on almost-gone Nitto 555RII's, mounted BACKWARDS to get that last little bit of use before the cords start peeking through . . . 
11-25-2007, 09:17 AM
#12
Le Mans Master
I strongly recommend against running old heat cycled street tires unless you are truly new to the events or very experienced. I have many tires with tread around the shop with no "life" left. They do not like to warm up and they turn to grease in a few laps once they do - but they are cheap to burn off at the track - as long as you stay on the track
...it will make you a better driver in the wet for sure...
...it will make you a better driver in the wet for sure...
11-25-2007, 01:37 PM
#13
I would have some concerns over the many miles and heat cycles on the tires.
That wouldn't stop me from running them in this situation though. Just be aware their former grip may be much less or go away.
I generally will trash good track tires if they get more than 18-24 months old (even if stored properly) because of aging.
That wouldn't stop me from running them in this situation though. Just be aware their former grip may be much less or go away.
I generally will trash good track tires if they get more than 18-24 months old (even if stored properly) because of aging.
11-25-2007, 02:30 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
I should - but being the cheap science type I try to get the "good" out of them first. My inability to control my urges when my buddies are on the track and then driving on really old track tires contributed significantly in my lightly tapping the armco at Barber this year. It was mostly my proven adolescent competitive streak though....
11-25-2007, 03:01 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
Key word is be careful and get a feel for the tires at less than 10/10ths...
11-25-2007, 04:26 PM
#18
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I put on my old street tires and wheels. Mich PSs I got in the fall of 03. Maybe 3,000 miles on them now, tread looks great. Damn where they hard. A little throttle, and slip sideways.
Guess I need to take them down to the end of my street where there is a big big asphalt skid pad, er I mean turn around, and toast some tires.
11-25-2007, 06:43 PM
#19
Safety Car
I ran a 1:38 on the last hurrah for some pirelli assimetrico at RA, just give them LOTS of time to warm up, and when they get hot go for it. But yes check them for cording OFTEN!
11-25-2007, 08:09 PM
#20
Safety Car
A few years ago at viper days vir, I showed up on a friday to run the test day. I had the same tires I had run the year before, except they had done about 2k street miles, and gotten older. (Ecsta MX) . I went out for a run and they were pretty slick. Then I saw that one of the Watts brothers wasn't busy and asked him to ride with me to give me some tips. He kept saying, on the throttle, on the throttle, and I was saying, we are about to fly off the track. Those tires were really slick. I pulled them off and trashed them after that run.