Need Help For Track Day!

[Zaver]

Hey Guyz, well im planning on going for my 1st circuit track day at winton on the 10th of oct and i wanted some info on the things ill need to get done for it.. Well just few weeks back i came back from drift at winton and i am using the same tyres on my car that i used for drifting as it still has a descent amount of tread left...

The thing u should know is that all my 4 tyres are not worthy enough for the track, so i just need tyres for the track day!!

What tyres for track day are more important rears or front? This is only becuase im low on money and really want to do a track day before i have my exams and then get busy later on..... Should i get like any used semi slicks for the front and descent tyres for the rear??

Would 2nd hand tyres like semi slicks or just some good performance tyres also do?

As said i just need them for the Day so i dont want any fancy tyres... I can use my current tyres for the street as usual!!

Thanks Guyz!!

Edited September 15, 2009 by Zaver

[blind_elk]

Fronts would be more important - otherwise the car won't turn corners! if your current tyres are r/w, you should still be able to use them on the track. Otherwise, just get "normal" road tyres.

You (probably) aren't Craig Lowndes, so you shouldn't be going to the track for the first time to pretend you are. Use the day to get a good feel for the car, how it handles at really high speed.

My 2c.

[badhairdave]

fronts,

you brake (well 90% anyway) and turn with the front.

Personally i would just get a decent street tyre on there. Having a semi on the front with a regular road tyre on the back is asking for trouble as you will be able to chuck it into a corner pretty quick but won't have the rear end grip to keep it all together. Corner entry oversteer would have to be one of the slowest ways around a track as well.

[Zaver]

Well then i guess im just going to leave my street tyres for the back and get some good performance street tyres for the front.. Is it ok if i get like 2nd hand tyres with like arnd 60-70% tread in the front?

[DMAN#20]

the best thing would be to get four 2nd hand semi slicks or high performance road tyres of the same wear, this will give you a balanced car.

[08r3308]

Fronts would be more important - otherwise the car won't turn corners! if your current tyres are r/w, you should still be able to use them on the track. Otherwise, just get "normal" road tyres.

You (probably) aren't Craig Lowndes, so you shouldn't be going to the track for the first time to pretend you are. Use the day to get a good feel for the car, how it handles at really high speed.

My 2c.

spot on

if i get my car ready for oran park that is what im doing, first time on track get to know the car i don't care if im the slowest there

[_Ryan_]

I picked up a set of these KU36's from these guys, price couldn't be beaten, great service too! http://www.option1garage.com.au/NewTyres.htm

[KiwiRS4T]

If you are short of funds i wouldn't be mixing tyre types - just put 45 -50 psi in the tyres you have now and drive within their limits. Look for a set of second hand slicks preferably on a set of rims and buy them when you can afford them.

[ARTZ]

I picked up a set of these KU36's from these guys, price couldn't be beaten, great service too! http://www.option1garage.com.au/NewTyres.htm

Dude..awesome link..and a pretty good price too. i got kumhos on the honda .they dont have much of a tread pattern but the rubber compound is sooo nice ,and make for a comfortable grippy ride...funny thing is i do work for and know someone (mates girlfriends daughters dog trainer) who works at melbs kumho warehouse, do you think i can get a good deal...not yet anyways..lol..this price is alrite

[Zaver]

So do u think getting a set of Kumho K36 for the front and decent 50% treaded tires at the back are a good way to go? And since the K36 is kinda a semi slick, how is the grip in the wet? Because then i will use the same tyres for my everyday use!!

[ARTZ]

I'd say sounds good for a beginner,and considering the tail happy nature of skylines i,d be tempted to put the new tyres on the back for extra traction out of corners..

should balance out nicely for learning on a track

[evil_weevil]

get the basic semi slick tyre - such as mentioned the ku36's or falken rt615's

SAU NSW also has a deal on federal's

do not skimp or be a tight arse on tyres.

What keeps the car on the track? tyres!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one of the most important part for track days/motorsport

Buy a set of new tyres whether its the ones mentioned above, or a nice road tyre like the federal 595's.

look at it as a safety issue too.

also, out of interest, how much power do you have?

[_Ryan_]

KU36 in a 235/45/17 is 35 per tyre cheaper than a federal through group buy, and 100 less than the falken. Option1garage has them cheaper than any where else i tried...

They seem fine in the wet, have driven in the wet quite a few times on them. Just don't drive flat out(take it easy)

[Zaver]

well i guess the Ku36 looks good comparing it to other tyres its even got a better rating.. So ill be getting a set of tyres for the front and maybe some decent tyres for the rear..

Well i currently just have 180 Kw's ... But the current rear tyres im running just dont grip.. even in the Dry!!

Hey RB_Ryan .. Did optiongarage send u the tyres from QLD or u got it from melbourne??

[Paul SM]

Hey Guyz, well im planning on going for my 1st circuit track day at winton on the 10th of oct and i wanted some info on the things ill need to get done for it.. Well just few weeks back i came back from drift at winton and i am using the same tyres on my car that i used for drifting as it still has a descent amount of tread left...

The thing u should know is that all my 4 tyres are not worthy enough for the track, so i just need tyres for the track day!!

What tyres for track day are more important rears or front? This is only becuase im low on money and really want to do a track day before i have my exams and then get busy later on..... Should i get like any used semi slicks for the front and descent tyres for the rear??

Would 2nd hand tyres like semi slicks or just some good performance tyres also do?

As said i just need them for the Day so i dont want any fancy tyres... I can use my current tyres for the street as usual!!

Thanks Guyz!!

I see you've had a lot of advice already but here's mine: don't mix tyres! The difference between even half-worn semi slicks like Dunlop DO2's or Bridgestone RE55's and most high performance road tyres is about 3 seconds a lap (at Wakefield). I know how hard Winton is on tyres so I can only imagine it would be even more so there. A well-sorted Skyline can still produce both understeer and oversteer, even with semi-slicks all round, and if you haven't had much track experience you could find yourself in big trouble.

So, if you're not worried about times, just go with good road tyres and start them at about 38 psi front and 40 psi rear when cold.

I ran Pirelli P Zero's on the track in supersprints for a couple of years before getting semi-slicks and they worked well, although when I finally did get some RE 540's they were indeed about 3 seconds a lap quicker. The new Kumho's with the semi-slick like tread pattern are damn near as good as the real thing, also.

If you do get a hold of some second hand semi slicks, their optimum track pressure when hot is 34-36 psi. Be aware that the fronts can go up by up to 6 psi from their cold pressures, especially on a hot day.

[evil_weevil]

Dude,

even with 70-80rwkw I can still loose shape in my track mx5,

seriously, do not skimp on tyres - just get a full set. keep the current tyres for later, or just simply swap them around.

[_Ryan_]

well i guess the Ku36 looks good comparing it to other tyres its even got a better rating.. So ill be getting a set of tyres for the front and maybe some decent tyres for the rear..

Well i currently just have 180 Kw's ... But the current rear tyres im running just dont grip.. even in the Dry!!

Hey RB_Ryan .. Did optiongarage send u the tyres from QLD or u got it from melbourne??

Even with shipping(30 per pair) it was worth getting them sent down... DO NOT SKIMP ON TYRES. I have ~180rwkw, I had advan neovas, i was having serious traction issues, KU36 and a good alignment has helped this. An RB25 has more torque than my 20, so you will get out of shape more easily, so please please please get all new tyres. If i could of afforded it at the time, I would of gotten better rubber, but I am happy with the KU36.

[MrStabby]

do not skimp on tyres - just get a full set. keep the current tyres for later, or just simply swap them around.

+1. You wont have much fun with semi's at only one end. Get them all round or just replace the dead ones with something similar to whats on the other end if you cant afford a full set.

Pretty sure the Fed 595RS offers more grip than the KU36, but IIRC 595RS = 140 treadwear, and the KU36 = 180 treadwear so in theory the Kumhos should last longer.

[_Ryan_]

+1. You wont have much fun with semi's at only one end. Get them all round or just replace the dead ones with something similar to whats on the other end if you cant afford a full set.

Pretty sure the Fed 595RS offers more grip than the KU36, but IIRC 595RS = 140 treadwear, and the KU36 = 180 treadwear so in theory the Kumhos should last longer.

cant really compare between brands though can you?

[MrStabby]

cant really compare between brands though can you?

Agreed. Brand means nothing as they all make more than one model of tyre. You need to compare models within the same category.... AFAIK its reasonable to compare: Federal 595RS, Kumho KU36, Falken RT-615, Toyo R1R as they are all street/track crossover types.