Tire choice - wet tracks
10-14-2014, 10:12 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Tire choice - wet tracks
I am new to HPDE events, now with 3 under my belt and progressing well. So far, I remain on street tires, for my 1993 LT1 Corvette. For my Spring events, I plan to use something like a Nitto NT05 or Continental DW, for normal dry days.
I have extra wheels and am willing to maintain multiple tire sets for appropriate safety and flexibility to meet track conditions.
So the question is this: for wet track days, do specific "wets" such as Hoosier wet H2O tires provide any distinct advantage over good quality all weather street tires?
Recommendations for wet weather tires will be appreciated. My wet choice need not be street able, as I will be trailering to and from.
I have extra wheels and am willing to maintain multiple tire sets for appropriate safety and flexibility to meet track conditions.
So the question is this: for wet track days, do specific "wets" such as Hoosier wet H2O tires provide any distinct advantage over good quality all weather street tires?
Recommendations for wet weather tires will be appreciated. My wet choice need not be street able, as I will be trailering to and from.
Last edited by emptnest; 10-14-2014 at 10:14 PM.
10-14-2014, 10:18 PM
#2
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
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The Firestone Wide Oval is a great wet weather tire. They are great in deep water.
Bill
Bill
10-15-2014, 08:21 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
Racing wets are expensive, have limited use and wear quickly, especially on a drying track. Most track rats don't even have them. The Continental DW is an excellent street tire for use in the wet, amongst the best and way, way better than the NT05. Personally I'd get the DWs are your street/wet tire and trailer a stickier set to the track for your dry track tires.
10-15-2014, 08:38 AM
#4
Le Mans Master
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....+Oval+Indy+500
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Speed+Rated%29
I'd go with the Conti DW for a street /wet track tire in proper C5/C6 sizes.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....remeContact+DW
10-15-2014, 09:42 AM
#5
Racing wets are expensive, have limited use and wear quickly, especially on a drying track. Most track rats don't even have them. The Continental DW is an excellent street tire for use in the wet, amongst the best and way, way better than the NT05. Personally I'd get the DWs are your street/wet tire and trailer a stickier set to the track for your dry track tires.
Last edited by LateBreak; 10-15-2014 at 09:45 AM.
10-15-2014, 10:34 AM
#6
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
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Wide Ovals don't come in wide enough sizes for Corvettes anymore.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....+Oval+Indy+500
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Speed+Rated%29
I'd go with the Conti DW for a street /wet track tire in proper C5/C6 sizes.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....remeContact+DW
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....+Oval+Indy+500
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Speed+Rated%29
I'd go with the Conti DW for a street /wet track tire in proper C5/C6 sizes.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....remeContact+DW
Bill
10-15-2014, 07:06 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
They are like magic in the wet. I have a set of Hoosier wets and the grip is significantly better than street tires in the wet. They are cheap enough to not worry too much about wear.
10-15-2014, 09:40 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
There is NO comparison between a street tire and a real wet racing tire. Once you learn to trust them you will be amazed at how much grip you can have in the wet. I raced my rookie season on street tires for wet races (we had 3-4 that season). It was like racing on marbles the whole race. The following season I sprung for Hoosier H2O's and lapped the field, winning my class.
That being said you should remain on street tires until you have a little more seat time before trying an R comp or slick as well as a real rain tire. Those Nitto NT-05's are pretty good both wrt and dry. I don't have any experience with the Conti's.
That being said you should remain on street tires until you have a little more seat time before trying an R comp or slick as well as a real rain tire. Those Nitto NT-05's are pretty good both wrt and dry. I don't have any experience with the Conti's.
10-16-2014, 10:58 AM
#10
Instructor
Member Since: Oct 2012
Location: Pinehurst North Carolina
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My Z06 never moved once off the trailer.
vz
10-16-2014, 03:07 PM
#11
Drifting
10-16-2014, 08:09 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Racing wets are expensive, have limited use and wear quickly, especially on a drying track. Most track rats don't even have them. The Continental DW is an excellent street tire for use in the wet, amongst the best and way, way better than the NT05. Personally I'd get the DWs are your street/wet tire and trailer a stickier set to the track for your dry track tires.
10-16-2014, 08:13 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
There is NO comparison between a street tire and a real wet racing tire. Once you learn to trust them you will be amazed at how much grip you can have in the wet. I raced my rookie season on street tires for wet races (we had 3-4 that season). It was like racing on marbles the whole race. The following season I sprung for Hoosier H2O's and lapped the field, winning my class.
That being said you should remain on street tires until you have a little more seat time before trying an R comp or slick as well as a real rain tire. Those Nitto NT-05's are pretty good both wrt and dry. I don't have any experience with the Conti's.
That being said you should remain on street tires until you have a little more seat time before trying an R comp or slick as well as a real rain tire. Those Nitto NT-05's are pretty good both wrt and dry. I don't have any experience with the Conti's.
10-20-2014, 12:54 PM
#15
Supporting Vendor
Conti DW's are awesome in the wet. They aren't bad in the dry but not up to the speed of the newest and best Max and Extreme Performance tires. I run DW's on my Z06 for the street and those would also make your "rain" tires. Then you can concentrate on better dry tires.
FWIW, I love me R-comps. But you also need to figure out if and when they become worth it for your car and how you drive. If you run stock alignment I'd not recommend them simple for wear reasons and you won't get the best out of them. New street tires have come a long way, in fact they are as good as R-comps in many cases from less than 10 years ago.
Just some things to consider.
FWIW, I love me R-comps. But you also need to figure out if and when they become worth it for your car and how you drive. If you run stock alignment I'd not recommend them simple for wear reasons and you won't get the best out of them. New street tires have come a long way, in fact they are as good as R-comps in many cases from less than 10 years ago.
Just some things to consider.
10-20-2014, 08:29 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
FWIW, I love me R-comps. But you also need to figure out if and when they become worth it for your car and how you drive. If you run stock alignment I'd not recommend them simple for wear reasons and you won't get the best out of them. New street tires have come a long way, in fact they are as good as R-comps in many cases from less than 10 years ago.
Just some things to consider.
Just some things to consider.