Bink

I 've noticed that many here "listen" to their tires. Seems like a lot of guys do.

Thought I'd post a poll and see how many actually use it as a tool in driving.
TIA.

BQuicksilver

Definitely on street tires and RA1/NT01 type tires. On streets you aren't going fast until they're talking. On the NT01 etc I take noise as a hint that you're REALLY close to losing it. Either way it's useful IMO.

davidfarmer

No, I "listen" with my fingers and my rear end.

gonzalezfj

I absolutely despise squealy tires. If they squeal I get rid of them. One thing I like about the Hoosiers is that they hold for as long as they can, then slide without any squealing.

Squealing is for PIGS, not for tires.

The driver needs to learn how to feel the car at the limit of adhesion. Listening for the tire squeal as an indication of reaching the traction limit is a bad crutch to depend on.

YMMV, but the car you save by using proper driving techniques will probably be your own.

Frank Gonzalez

AU N EGL

Listen to tires and the engine rpms

Feel the steering wheel with your fingers and the car with your butt.

Be the Ball.

(Caddy shack was on two nights ago)

fire_n_ice

I prefer to feel the limits of grip with my hands and seat. When I get into a rhythm, it's all feel.

I don't mind the tires howling, but it's not the sole indicator of corner speed.

varkwso

I listen to my tires - they normally say "buy more"....

Bink

Great feedback from all.
I'd never heard of listening to tires.

Bink

BQuicksilver

I hope that by saying I listen to them I wasn't implying that I'd ignore the butt-o-meter, but quite frankly to ignore them is just ignoring feedback/data from your car.

Use what the car gives you.

John Shiels

my Hoosiers squeal

heavychevy

My car makes hoosiers whine like a baby. But on yokos, they arent squealing unless I'm loose already. But no I dont listen anymore.

It's all feel baby.

spazegun2213

Agreed! by the time my V710's are "talking" I'd better be already correcting because the car is already away...

That and in the rain, you'll never hear your tires talk... trust me on this one.

rustyguns

wow! i have the same tires!

SouthernSon

Actually, Joel, I mostly find myself arguing with them...

EvilBoffin

!! You ain't Wheelin unless they're Squealin !!

Seriously - I won't turn down ANY sensory information that the car & tires will give me !!

(I need all the help I can get...)

Bink

Wow!
At this point 80% of us listen to their tires.
Guess I need to clean out my ears.

ScaryFast

When the Hoosiers are slipping it feels to me like the track is just >grinding< the rubber off of them...I adjust my line more to save my wallet than to lower my lap times

mikahb

My conversations with my tires: VIR, approaching turn 1

LF: WWHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
RF: AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
LR: Come on RR - PUSH HARDER!!!
RR: I'm givin' her all I've got kiptin!!!!
ME: Get ready boyz - here we go... there's 6 marker.. brakes... NOW!!!
LF: I got it, I got it - ssssstttttooooooopppppiiiinnnngggg!
RF: Sh**! I'm awake, I'm awake - stopping now!!!
LR: Whew - good run RR, way to keep pushin
RR: Man, I'm wiped - I think I threw my wheel weights back there somewhere, I don't feel good!
LR: Shut it pu^^y
ME: All right ladies, let's TURN
LF: WTF??? I'm still trying to stop - you can't turn in yet!!
ME: We're out of track Nancy - shut it and turn
RF: This ain't so bad, I'm with ya driver
LF: OH SURE! Not so bad for you because you're not doing anything but riding along - you ALWAYS get the easy side!
LR: WHOA there driver - I can't turn yet either - we're still braking and I'm barely touching the ground. I'm tired of that horny ABS hitting me like a rabbit in heat - back off!!
RR: What's going on guys? Why is everybody yelling?
LF: I'm too hot!! I can't turn and brake, I give up, I'm letting go!!!
ME: Okay, brakes off, let's roll through this and get back to some throttle
LR: Throttle? THROTTLE? I already told you I'm overstressed - gimme a f'ing break!!!
LF: YA - you're such an a^^hole!! Why don't you take it a little easy and have some respect for us? You barely even give us enough air to work!
ME: Stop whining, stop feeling sorry yourselves, and turn this b^^ch!
ALL TIRES: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT!!!
ME: Okay - wheel unwinding - throttle on - here we go!
LF: Hey, I did it!!! Damn I'm good - I rock this place!
RF: I had faith the whole way driver - you're doing a very nice job.
LF: Brown-noser!!!
LR: EASY on the throttle there bud, I'm doing all I can - you know I'm semi-retired!!
RR: This is easy, I don't understand why everybody is angry? Where are we?
ME: You're not done until I SAY you're done - now let's get the hell outta here and get down to Turn 2!

Mine complain a lot, I talk to them to try to keep them all happy and working together. Some day I'll run fresh new tires that don't know what's coming and I expect they'll complain less.

Z06_BluByU