Running HPDE on different F/R tires?
07-24-2013, 10:57 AM
#1
Running HPDE on different F/R tires?
Should I be concerned about running my first (in the z06) HPDE event with F/R mismatched tires?
Reason is I can't decide on square vs staggered(current) or tire choice. Plus waiting a bit would give me time for saving some money.
Thanks
John
Reason is I can't decide on square vs staggered(current) or tire choice. Plus waiting a bit would give me time for saving some money.
Thanks
John
07-24-2013, 11:14 AM
#2
Drifting
I know people have done it but I wouldn't personally. I think having the same compounds is a better idea so they are all uniform in how they behave. I wouldn't want one tire breaking before the others causing unbalanced handling.
07-24-2013, 11:20 AM
#3
yea I guess I am dreaming. Just having a hard time picking tires. Sizes are a problem.
07-24-2013, 11:24 AM
#5
07-24-2013, 11:55 AM
#8
Drifting
07-24-2013, 12:11 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
First event in the car? As long as there's sufficient tread and life left in the tires, you'll be fine. I'd be more concerned if the tire on the right didn't match the one on the left.
07-24-2013, 01:18 PM
#10
Drifting
Are you talking different compound or different sizes?
Different sizes, no problem for an HPDE. The car is staggered in stock form and that is how most people start learning on the car anyway.
Different compound, not until you are an advanced enough student to be able to tell the difference in the handling characteristics. I have done it in the past with my Cobras. Running different compounds from to rear in an attempt to improve handling is more drastic that air pressure adjustments and cheaper than suspension parts.
-Kevin
Different sizes, no problem for an HPDE. The car is staggered in stock form and that is how most people start learning on the car anyway.
Different compound, not until you are an advanced enough student to be able to tell the difference in the handling characteristics. I have done it in the past with my Cobras. Running different compounds from to rear in an attempt to improve handling is more drastic that air pressure adjustments and cheaper than suspension parts.
-Kevin
07-24-2013, 01:23 PM
#11
Are you talking different compound or different sizes?
Different sizes, no problem for an HPDE. The car is staggered in stock form and that is how most people start learning on the car anyway.
Different compound, not until you are an advanced enough student to be able to tell the difference in the handling characteristics. I have done it in the past with my Cobras. Running different compounds from to rear in an attempt to improve handling is more drastic that air pressure adjustments and cheaper than suspension parts.
-Kevin
Different sizes, no problem for an HPDE. The car is staggered in stock form and that is how most people start learning on the car anyway.
Different compound, not until you are an advanced enough student to be able to tell the difference in the handling characteristics. I have done it in the past with my Cobras. Running different compounds from to rear in an attempt to improve handling is more drastic that air pressure adjustments and cheaper than suspension parts.
-Kevin
Both. Different size which is fine because again it comes stock like this. Different compounds is I think the bigger concern. Fronts are Firestone Wide Oval and Rear are Nitto 555 II's. Not sure if the firestones are R or not. Will check.
07-24-2013, 01:39 PM
#12
Racer
I'm not familiar with the firestones but I'm thinking they are probably harder than the RII's and if that's the case you should be ok. My opinion would be, for DE, you'll be ok as long as you have the "lesser" tire (one with less stick) in the front. You won't want to have the better of the two sets on the front, turn in with confidence and have the rear let go on you. 
I would think to have the less sticky tire in the front, adhere to its limits... and you should be good. Obviously better to make a decision and go with common compound but.....
I would think to have the less sticky tire in the front, adhere to its limits... and you should be good. Obviously better to make a decision and go with common compound but.....
07-24-2013, 03:05 PM
#13
Tech Contributor
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I'm not familiar with the firestones but I'm thinking they are probably harder than the RII's and if that's the case you should be ok. My opinion would be, for DE, you'll be ok as long as you have the "lesser" tire (one with less stick) in the front. You won't want to have the better of the two sets on the front, turn in with confidence and have the rear let go on you. I would think to have the less sticky tire in the front, adhere to its limits... and you should be good. Obviously better to make a decision and go with common compound but.....
I would think to have the less sticky tire in the front, adhere to its limits... and you should be good. Obviously better to make a decision and go with common compound but.....
When I was first running my C5 it was hard to get any sort of sticky tire combination other than new Hoosiers. I ended up with a set of R compounds in the rear and a set of Michelin quasi R compounds in the front. Car ran great.
Bill
07-24-2013, 04:54 PM
#14
Race Director
with his I ran different compound/brands front to rear on my C4 all the time. It was a bit of a different balance than the C5 but like said, as long as the less sticky is on the front you should be just fine.
I actually really liked the feel of Kuhmo V710s up front and Hoosier R6 on the rear.
07-24-2013, 07:14 PM
#15
Personally, I wouldn't intentionally do it. However, this last race weekend I wore out my last set of Goodyears....which are no longer made, and no tire guy had the 335s I needed for the rear (I DID have two new Goodyears for the front in 315 size).
So, I found someone with a 6 heat cycle set of Hoosier A's that were actually a bit stickier than the Goodyears on the durometer even though they were older and used and I put the mismatched set on! Man...I kind of liked it! The rear gripped like mad and the front was not pushing either....setup gave a lot of confidence! But I agree, you would want to be advanced enough of a driver to be able to feel and deal with any weirdness...
So, I found someone with a 6 heat cycle set of Hoosier A's that were actually a bit stickier than the Goodyears on the durometer even though they were older and used and I put the mismatched set on! Man...I kind of liked it! The rear gripped like mad and the front was not pushing either....setup gave a lot of confidence! But I agree, you would want to be advanced enough of a driver to be able to feel and deal with any weirdness...
07-25-2013, 09:38 AM
#16
Drifting
wide ovals are not an R-type tire. with those up front on stock sizes and 555's in the rear I would think the car will push badly if you are doing anything other than just cruising around the track.
07-26-2013, 01:54 PM
#17
Instructor
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For the track, I have been running 888s and very pleased. Purchased from Tirerack, heat cycled, 315/30/18 front and 335/30/18 rear, mounted on CCW 18X11 and 18X13.
vz
vz
07-26-2013, 03:35 PM
#18
07-26-2013, 04:19 PM
#19
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