So hopefully over the next few weeks I will be collecting my uk zed from mr dent:), then I will be dropping down my shorty for bigger brakes new suspension new wheels and race tyres and a dam good servicing,all should then be ready for track days :))) so are we going to be organising track days for the club lads? I know mr greenfield was talking of this...is this the case still Ian? Only managed to get a few done last year but would like to do far more,so who's up for tracking there zeds? Oh and you don't have to drive your car round the track like I do...lol you can just potter round like slick Peter does...lol and take it easy:)

Edited January 6, 201610 yr by gray

I've been running federal 595 RSRs for the last few track days and a ring trip and I've been pleasantly surprised by them.

 

They have enough grip to make them worthwhile, but their real benefit is how much better they are at handling heat compared to a road tyre. I haven't had any of the splitting across the treads that to you will read about online, whether over been lucky, or they've sorted the problem I don't know!

 

In the wet, forget about any grip as you won't get any heat into them, but wet track days are all in about learning about your car!

 

Remember if going for a really grippy tyre, (r888s and up) z32s need a lot of help keeping oil starve at bay!

Edited January 11, 201610 yr by kaned

I like my s001s but looking for more track style, tyre r888 etc, can't remember I think it was Pete had the federal track day tyres? Any good?

 

Like Kaned I have been running the same Federals.

Im in broad agreement with him .

A good budget track day tyre.

Very stable and predictable in the dry.

Like all track day tyres they are lethal/amusing in the wet.

On a wet motorway expect to aquaplane at 40 to 50 mph.

They are NOT an everyday tyre at all IMO.

I have some of the mould line cracks that Kaned refers to. I dont think its a serious issue I just keep an eye on them.

I am currently looking at some new tyres for road use and wet/damp track use.... once again in the mid price range.

Something like the Avon ZZ5 or Uniroyal rain tyre. Both have A grade wet ratings

Just spoken to our tyre suppliers, can't believe the price of those federal tyres, just ordered a set for less then the price of 2 r888,

That's exactly why I tried them! :)

Just spoken to our tyre suppliers, can't believe the price of those federal tyres, just ordered a set for less then the price of 2 r888,

 

Which I the reason they are great for amateurs like us.

Whilst you guys are on tyres etc. I keep thinking about this. I can't afford to drop a four figure sum on wheels, then add quality rubber. I don't particularly want to run Chinese wheels on track. So I keep thinking id be better off with a set of 350 rays with road legal slicks than wide road tyres. Obviously that brings the rain issue though. Bit lost tbh.

Whilst you guys are on tyres etc. I keep thinking about this. I can't afford to drop a four figure sum on wheels, then add quality rubber. I don't particularly want to run Chinese wheels on track. So I keep thinking id be better off with a set of 350 rays with road legal slicks than wide road tyres. Obviously that brings the rain issue though. Bit lost tbh.

 

No need to be lost.

Some decent wheels like 350Z rays are a good budget idea.

There is no "one type fits all " solution though to tyres.

1. "track day" type tyres are hopeless/lethal/funny in the wet. If it ends up being wet the day you are "on track" then your day is spoilt big time.

2. If you do track days using conventional road tryes you will trash them quite quickly on a dry track but provided you have a tyre with a wet A or B rating then a wet track will be reasonably safe.

 

 

Personally as I have two sets of 18" wheels Im going to have two sets of tyres very soon. My existing Federals and some mid range road tyres with an A or B wet rating.

I cant take them all to the track on the same day tho so my plan is still not foolproof.

Track days or sessions just cost money and wearing /wrecking tyres is just a part of that expense.

Thats not a problem for me as I have sufficient funds to do it. But I fully understand the "budgetary contstraints " of others.

Pretty much yeah. My toy car comes pretty low down on the list of financial responsibilities, esp paying year 3 three of a mortgage down south. Would good quality road rubber be suitable for limited track use or would they simply be fried too fast.

Pretty much yeah. My toy car comes pretty low down on the list of financial responsibilities, esp paying year 3 three of a mortgage down south. Would good quality road rubber be suitable for limited track use or would they simply be fried too fast.

 

You may well destroy a decent set of road tyres if they have a lot of tread. So simply buy a nice set of secondhand tyres and I would recommend pilot sport PS3 with 'around' 5mm of tread and hey presto you have a blindingly good tyre that will compete with the best on track. I put in some really good times at cadwell on PS3's and in reality a good set of 'shaved' tyres will not be so far off an R888.

Just remember guys that TOTB is an extremely cheap way of getting 2 days of track action and includes handling and 1/4 mile what more could you ask for???

Not sure icon commit to totb yet, but after missing it last year I'm going to try.

You may well destroy a decent set of road tyres if they have a lot of tread. So simply buy a nice set of secondhand tyres and I would recommend pilot sport PS3 with 'around' 5mm of tread and hey presto you have a blindingly good tyre that will compete with the best on track. I put in some really good times at cadwell on PS3's and in reality a good set of 'shaved' tyres will not be so far off an R888.

 

That's actually the brand I was thinking of. I've been very impressed with the Michellens on my daily, so I was thinking to try the pilot sports which many feel pretty positive about or Goodyear F1s. My other concern of running a track day tyre is too much grip and oil starvation. So maybe, at least for the time being what your saying would be the best compromise.

If you're just doing some taster sessions at the moment for 20 mins at a time a decent Road tyre will be fine, as you'll struggle to learn a track fast enough to start cooking tyres, the real problem comes during a full track day, when you might go through 10 full heat cycles in a day. Road tyres don't like that at all

If you're just doing some taster sessions at the moment for 20 mins at a time a decent Road tyre will be fine, as you'll struggle to learn a track fast enough to start cooking tyres, the real problem comes during a full track day, when you might go through 10 full heat cycles in a day. Road tyres don't like that at all

 

I could destroy a road tyre in less than 5 minutes in full road trim (and have done so). With full tread it rips the carcass and delaminates across the tread hence why you want around 5mm of tread max.

I could destroy a road tyre in less than 5 minutes in full road trim (and have done so). With full tread it rips the carcass and delaminates across the tread hence why you want around 5mm of tread max.

 

But you have a zillion horsepower and drive it like you stole it!!!:lol:

But you have a zillion horsepower and drive it like you stole it!!!:lol:

 

:) remember our first time attack at Cadwell Park and the tread was virtually ripped from the carcass on the PS3's. I had decent power but was still pretty heavy and it's the weight and the 'grippiness' of the tarmac that is the factor here rather than the heat.

remember our first time attack at Cadwell Park

 

That would be 2012 then!!:biggrin:

No sign of Ben and the Eurospec team back then.

Just you n me

Good Times!!

 

That would be 2012 then!!:biggrin:

No sign of Ben and the Eurospec team back then.

Just you n me

Good Times!!

 

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Yes I often think we should have kept it this simple.