Tread depth / track wheel questions
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 243
C7 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Tread depth / track wheel questions
What part of the tire tread do I use to measure tread depth? Looks different on the inside/middle/outside.
I am planning on running at Sonoma raceway in 2 weeks. I have plugs in both of my rear tires. I am on a mission to incinerate them and change them before I do another track day. But I want to know when I am done doing burnouts =p
How do I keep this from happening again? I guess the obvious answer is to get another set of rims/tires to bolt on for track days. If I am going to do that, is another set of stock wheels the best way to go?
Another set of rims/tires for track duty makes me wonder if it is better to go a different route. Do aftermarket rims / tires play nice with PTM? ABS? Should I just stick with the stock set-up?
I am planning on running at Sonoma raceway in 2 weeks. I have plugs in both of my rear tires. I am on a mission to incinerate them and change them before I do another track day. But I want to know when I am done doing burnouts =p
How do I keep this from happening again? I guess the obvious answer is to get another set of rims/tires to bolt on for track days. If I am going to do that, is another set of stock wheels the best way to go?
Another set of rims/tires for track duty makes me wonder if it is better to go a different route. Do aftermarket rims / tires play nice with PTM? ABS? Should I just stick with the stock set-up?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 137
Likes: 20
C7 of the Year Finalist
What part of the tire tread do I use to measure tread depth? Looks different on the inside/middle/outside.
I am planning on running at Sonoma raceway in 2 weeks. I have plugs in both of my rear tires. I am on a mission to incinerate them and change them before I do another track day. But I want to know when I am done doing burnouts =p
How do I keep this from happening again? I guess the obvious answer is to get another set of rims/tires to bolt on for track days. If I am going to do that, is another set of stock wheels the best way to go?
Another set of rims/tires for track duty makes me wonder if it is better to go a different route. Do aftermarket rims / tires play nice with PTM? ABS? Should I just stick with the stock set-up?
I am planning on running at Sonoma raceway in 2 weeks. I have plugs in both of my rear tires. I am on a mission to incinerate them and change them before I do another track day. But I want to know when I am done doing burnouts =p
How do I keep this from happening again? I guess the obvious answer is to get another set of rims/tires to bolt on for track days. If I am going to do that, is another set of stock wheels the best way to go?
Another set of rims/tires for track duty makes me wonder if it is better to go a different route. Do aftermarket rims / tires play nice with PTM? ABS? Should I just stick with the stock set-up?
Last edited by Mamandoli; Aug 18, 2016 at 12:56 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 137
Likes: 20
C7 of the Year Finalist
Been doing HPDE for about 4 years. Started out in a Nissan 350Z.
Needed a little more HP. Got my car end of last year. I really like this car.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 243
C7 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
This will only be my 3rd time on a road course. I have been drag racing forever. Seems like a waste of engineering to just drag race my z51. BUT because I have plugs in the rear tires, I have been burning out excessively at the drag strip and trying to finish them off before I go back on a road course. Where do I measure the tread depth? On the big straight rings near the middle? On some of the smaller grooves?
I want to finish off these tires but not have a blow out. I have a tread depth gauge and am keeping an eye on it.
When should I stop doing excessive burnouts? What tread depth? Or just wait until I see the cords?
I want to finish off these tires but not have a blow out. I have a tread depth gauge and am keeping an eye on it.
When should I stop doing excessive burnouts? What tread depth? Or just wait until I see the cords?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 137
Likes: 20
C7 of the Year Finalist
This will only be my 3rd time on a road course. I have been drag racing forever. Seems like a waste of engineering to just drag race my z51. BUT because I have plugs in the rear tires, I have been burning out excessively at the drag strip and trying to finish them off before I go back on a road course. Where do I measure the tread depth? On the big straight rings near the middle? On some of the smaller grooves?
I want to finish off these tires but not have a blow out. I have a tread depth gauge and am keeping an eye on it.
When should I stop doing excessive burnouts? What tread depth? Or just wait until I see the cords?
I want to finish off these tires but not have a blow out. I have a tread depth gauge and am keeping an eye on it.
When should I stop doing excessive burnouts? What tread depth? Or just wait until I see the cords?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
You need to check each groove. The wear bars that go across the tire leave a tread depth of 2/32 when you first hit them. If any one of them is wearing even with the surrounding tread blocks the tire is considered to be worn out.
However, you can get by with 2/32 of tread especially on the rear as the rear tires won't wear as fast. If you spin them on a road course you are doing something wrong or there is something wrong with your car. If you are at 2/32 on the front tires (especially the outer and inner edges) you might want to think about replacing them.
Aftermarket wheels and race tires will work well on the Corvette as long as you choose the right sizes and offsets for your car.
Bill
However, you can get by with 2/32 of tread especially on the rear as the rear tires won't wear as fast. If you spin them on a road course you are doing something wrong or there is something wrong with your car. If you are at 2/32 on the front tires (especially the outer and inner edges) you might want to think about replacing them.
Aftermarket wheels and race tires will work well on the Corvette as long as you choose the right sizes and offsets for your car.
Bill
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 243
C7 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Does anyone have a recommendation for track wheels/tires. I doubt I will buy anything before next week but I love thinking about stuff like this.
Last edited by theplatinumog; Aug 20, 2016 at 01:28 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 841
Likes: 53
From: LaGrange KY
What is the best set up to run on the track with a Z51? I've seen so many options and heard so many opinions I'm baffled!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 125
Likes: 32
From: dublin ca
Bill Dearborn's advice is spot on regarding wear. I ended up buying a set of OEM Speedline wheels with Cup2 tires from one of the sponsors here (Florida Speed Shop, if I remember right, but others are probably equally good).
I am signed up for Thursday 8/25 at Sonoma too, but had to ask for a raincheck/credit because I burned up my front tires and brakes at Thunderhill on Friday.
I suggest you start off in Sport 1 at Sonoma until you've had a few laps and are familiar with the course, there's a lot of walls and having the active handling on will help you dial in your entry speeds to turns and where to mash the fun pedal on turn exits (if the warning appears you went in too hot or hit the gas too soon).
I am signed up for Thursday 8/25 at Sonoma too, but had to ask for a raincheck/credit because I burned up my front tires and brakes at Thunderhill on Friday.
I suggest you start off in Sport 1 at Sonoma until you've had a few laps and are familiar with the course, there's a lot of walls and having the active handling on will help you dial in your entry speeds to turns and where to mash the fun pedal on turn exits (if the warning appears you went in too hot or hit the gas too soon).
