WARNING track newbie speak.. . Please be kind.

So I’m not willing to admit it, completed my first track day at COTA in my own Z, but I might be a tiny bit hooked. Spring Mountain started it, I blame them lol.. I’m more glad that I made it home unscathed than my less than expected personal performance haha.

Unfortunately the Z is my only car and my daily driver, so I can’t get too crazy and do this very often (hoping maybe 2-3x a year) but after a full day my tires are pretty ratty. Ratty enough that the ride now feels rough.. I’m guessing they need balancing due to all the rubber pickup/loss? What’s the situation there? Is that normal, not normal? I’m hoping it’s the tires and not something else..

Thanks!

 

I was spectating yesterday watching a friend in his 2015 white ZO6.He overheated during his laps every time.Lots of nice cars there.
I heard there was a 2017 Z that also experienced overheating.How did you do?

 

 

I did meh, ok for me I guess On the bright side, I improved a bit more each session so I'd call that a win.

I didn't get an overheat probably because I didn't push very hard. Dash engine temp gauge got up to 265 IIRC but I wish I had better data, was too pumped and messed up on my PDR I swear I set the start/finish but it didn't capture laps. Next time I'll remember to check after each run.. lesson learned.

 

Ooh, hopefully not.. its not super rough, but definitely more bumpy or vibrate-y than before.

No didn't spin (thank god) but one dude did right in front me, hit the wall .. but most of if not all of my tires have lumps here and there on them.. seems to be less now but that could be my conscious hoping nothing's wrong best case I'll take em off to check em when I get a chance..

 

You either picked up OPR (other people's rubber) or the tires slipped on the wheels. It's more likely the first possibility given that 1) you're a novice and 2) you're on street tires.

I suppose a not impossible third possibility is you bent a wheel on curbing or an off track excursion since these OEM wheels are practically paper-mache.

 

 

It sure sounds like OPR. It will come off after a while. If you can go on a long highway drive where the tires can build some heat the stuff will come off quicker. You may need to clean the car after the trip but the excess rubber should be off.

Bill

 

 

Thanks Bill!

Any advice on a set of decent not too $$ track wheels? I'm probably asking for the impossible here though Preferably a set that can still fit the stock MPSS tires.. I was considering buying used GM Z06 stock wheels (some decent ones for sale in the forum, but if they're truly that fragile, maybe not?)

As for still fitting the stock size tires, I'm not good enough to say the MPSSs are bad.. seems fine for me.. or MPSCs are about the same price so they're also an option.. don't see a future with me on slicks, maybe.

Again, not looking to break the bank.. just a 2-3x a year thing so something I can switch out for the track and switch back for daily wheels/tire after..

As an aside, I see many folks go with 18s for track, I'm guessing for the better selection of tires? A performance thing? Lighter wheel? I'm not looking to beat anyone, just making sure I can keep driving this beast til the next one.

 

I'm local to Austin, also track my 2015 A8 Z06 (non-Z07) 2-3 times a year at COTA. Great track and good car for that track. Close to 20 days at COTA, no overheating (though I don't go out to the track when its 100 in August -- it's as hard on me as the car/tires when it's that hot). Mods are DSC controller w/ alignment, Ferodo DS 1.11 pads, and swapped the MPSS for Cup 2s. Consistently running laps in the mid-2:20s. Car is capable of low 2:20s in this set up with some more driver skill.

As for the tires feeling "unbalanced" after the track, I suggest that you drive on them for a while. The other rubber and the uneven track wear should even out in a bit of street driving. Also feel around inside the wheel to see if any pieces of rubber are stuck inside the wheel (I usually find some there, which can throw off the balance).

In terms of things to improve your track performance I'd recommend you look at (in this order): DSC controller (and alignment), higher friction brake pads (like ferodo), then putting cup 2s on the stock rims. Obviously the more you drive on track and improve your skill the better. These cars are generally capable of more than we are as "novice" drivers.

I haven't pulled the trigger on standalone track wheels because they are expensive for good quality ones. That said, I think dedicated track wheels with Cup 2s and keeping MPSS on the stock wheels for daily driving would be a good set up.

Soul Speed is a great local shop that can do a good job track prepping the Z06, including the alignment. http://www.soulspeed.com/home.php

 

Just a piece of advice, buy track insurance as this is your daily driver. Lockton, or OnTrackInsurance are both good choices.

I will say this, tracking a car is rough on it. The paint takes a beating and parts get abused much faster (brakes, bushings, ball joints, etc.) There are a number of people who drive to the track, go all day, and then drive home but it is a gamble for sure.

 

Sounds about right to me.. not diving too far out..

 

Amen to that. I used Lockton this time, just in case. Seeing some of the accidents this weekend, I'm glad I did.. Could have been me is how I felt.. and a small price to pay if god forbid something ugly occurred. Hopefully I'll never have to use it..

Some folks are telling me I'm crazy to be tracking my daily.. I agree to some degree, always in the back of my head..

 

Even driving to/from the track is a risk. Make sure you have AAA Premium Plus in case you have a breakage and need to tow the car home. It is a slippery slope. First some parking lot racing (autox). Then a few HPDEs. Then some brake pads and a second set of wheels with Cup 2s. Then a truck and trailer. Then you retire your DDer and buy a track car/race car. Soon you get competitive and run a full regional series which typically is 10 3 day weekends a year with lots of towing, fuel, ontrack fuel, race tires, entry fees, some breakage, etc. Before long you have spent your retirement fund as well as your kids education fund. But it sure is fun.

 

Never drive off line on a cool down lap, it will pick all sorts of crap that will stick and make it feel like a truck. Take it for a drive the next time it rains, a lot of it will just fall off. The other thing is that the edges of the grooves get hammered, they call it cupping, once that happens the tires will always make more noise, also beware you have heat cycled your tires several times and your grip level gets worse with each cycle so even driving on the streets you may experience less grip. Welcome to the dark side of going to the track, next will be brakes pads and rotors.

 

We have our LG GR7 wheels that are oem dimensions as well as OEM wheels that are about to come off of our new shop car if you decide to go with a second track dedicated set.

 

OP: I believe the GR7s are the successors to the LG World Challenge wheels. I used those on my C6Z and they worked great. A rugged wheel that held up to all sorts of abuse including having a a C6Z pad guide pin bolt come loose and dig the back of the spokes. Took the wheel to Weld Craft Wheels in Michigan to have them check the damage and they were impressed with the quality of the wheel and were able to smooth off the rough edges so there wasn't any place where a crack could start. Used those wheels for another 4 years until I sold the car and the wheels.

If you want to purchase a stock size wheel that is reasonably priced and will hold up to track duty these should be the high on the list of ones to consider.

As for 18s the reason for that is a better selection of tires, wider tires and the chance to lower tire costs. I just purchased a set of Pirelli P Zeros for ~$750 shipped that fit on my set of 18x11 front and 18x12 rear wheels. They stick as well or better than the Cup2 tires and last as long for about half the price. You also get the chance to go with new or take off Hoosiers and Toyos. Just a much wider range of choices to keep tire costs down.

Bill

 

We can do Forgeline 18” ga1r, ga1r or ga3r for vettes w z07 brakes and we offer motorsports pricing for all our forum friends so you dont have to pay retail for Track rated and track specific wheels.

Call or text 440-915-6166

 

I don't think there's a better FORGED wheel available than the Signature wheels from forum vendor Khoa at Deity Motorsports. When considering quality of construction, certifications and price they are unbeatable. I bought a set of 18" wheels for track and liked them so much I bought a second set for street as I kept bending the OEM wheels.

When compared to the better known brands they are almost half price for what is a very high quality forged wheel.