Tyres for Trackday (PIC) / General Trackday info

[95ITR]

Hey guys, I have these lying around can I use them for trackday or do they look too worn

[95ITR]

Also, does anyone think they will pass club events hillclimb,sprints etc..

2 of them are pretty good
maybe I should just buy another 2. Anyone know a good supplier

[SQUERT]

Shit they look pretty worn,what kind of tread they go left on them?

[DrTec]

They'd probly be ok for trackdays. When did you last use them? They look like they havnt been used for years.. IE theyve gone hard(ish).

[timmiblc]

They look alright to me Jase. You're not going to go that hard at NIMM anyway, are you? Will be fine for a few skids and a lot of fun I would say. Better to keep new tyres for competition I reckon...

My 2c

[dazznz]

I personally wound not run them. I say that because i would rather no that when i am doing 200k's and want to stop my tyres arnt guna blow out. Or in a corner........my 2c

[PRF]

Agreed.
From the image these tyres are well and truely worn out.
While you could be mistaken for thinking as they are low on tread, they will cope with a day on the circuit.
You will be a danger to yourself, not to mention everyone else on the circuit sametime, should you use these.

These being treaded tyres, means they require tread to work.
Your photo clearly shows they are at best worn down to the treadwear indicators.
At worst worn past, and worn unevenly across the tread pattern as well for added measure.
This will not only affect handling and traction.
But will also affect braking and steering stability.
The lack of tread will mean you will get little warning when these reach what's left of their grip limits.
And that's in optimum conditions, so expect even more trouble reading their limits should the day be cool, greasy, or wet.

From your photo it would appear that there are two pairs of different model tyres.
If so, be they the same size and/or manfacturer even.
There will be a handling characteristic inconsistency front to rear of your vehicle.
So expect snap oversteer, and understeer with little or no comeback.
Particularly if you own a Type R.
And that's even should you fit the same pair per axle.

Do yourself, your investment, and the others participating, the justice of fitting tyres that are appropriate for your vehicle.
And that will cope with not just the day.
But you should be spending days prior to the event learning their traits too.
Not just on the day.

If new tyres are not within your means.
There are plenty of used set's of four, quality model, used tyres for sale here at NZH that are only half worn (3~5mm tread).
Otherwise your an accident waiting to happen should you use this set.
And I hope I am not in your group if you plan to use these come NIMM.

[95ITR]

this is why i asked, I wont be using them, I will be getting new tyres, dunlop or bridgestone. But I just wanted to see if these had one last day in them rather than waste my competition tyres on a trackday over a club event

[PRF]

No problem.
Its a good question if you weren't aware.
I presumed you didn't know from your photograph, and your original post.

I have to ask, if your going to invest in some new competition tyres.
Wouldn't it make sense to test them at the trackday, so you can run them in, and learn their traits.
Rather than learning about them in the heat of competition with a stopwatch ticking at a club event?

Apologies if your a veteran at using semi-slicks.
And are already familiar with the current Dunlop and Bridgestone semi-slick range.

[95ITR]

Originally Posted by PRF

No problem.
Its a good question if you weren't aware.
I presumed you didn't know from your photograph, and your original post.

I have to ask, if your going to invest in some new competition tyres.
Wouldn't it make sense to test them at the trackday, so you can run them in, and learn their traits.
Rather than learning about them in the heat of competition with a stopwatch ticking at a club event?

Apologies if your a veteran at using semi-slicks.
And are already familiar with the current Dunlop and Bridgestone semi-slick range.

No No, More than happy for your comments, i am asking as I dont know at all. I know Dunlop or Bridgestone are good semi slicks but have never really raced on semi's

I will have a new set of semis for trackday.

I am going to test my car and setup suspension, not going out to go ultra fast. I have built my eg for almost 6 months now, but havent used it for an event yet so should be a good day. I also have sprints on labour weekend before trackday.

[PRF]

Same. I know some but far from all.
That's why were all here. :thumbsup:

Just remember that your not wasting your semi-slick tyres by using them at a trackday.
If your disciplined you'll turn up with a set programme of learning how to drive on them.
Taking into account the differences ambient temperature makes, fuel load, tyre pressure, and your racing line.
All the while not being tempted to chase the other cars there sameday.
As you steadily build your experience and confidence with them.
Practice Makes Perfect.

Searching around I see you've been well briefed by arguably the most experienced circuit racer here at NZH, BigAl.
IMHO the below replies by BigAl to your previous post's is some of the best advice I've read online.
And definitely the best I've read here at NZH:

racing
Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:37 pm
http://nzhondas.com/phpBB2/racing-vp...hlight=#576892

trackdays
Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:44 am
http://nzhondas.com/phpBB2/trackdays...hlight=#577091

What sized rims ideal for racing?
Sun May 14, 2006 8:52 am
http://nzhondas.com/phpBB2/re-what-s...hlight=#616676

I'm suprised these haven't been stickied as the information is invaluable for those who want to improve their driving skill.
And not get blinded by the never ending quest to justify modifications to their machines.
So much more can be achieved if you improved your driving skill first and always foremost.
Less Is More, and all the best with your circuit programme.

[timmiblc]

I am also watching this thread with interest. Have experience on two wheels but not four, so the comments/advice that anyone with decent experience gives is always valuable.

Track days are a whole different ball game to full curcuit racing, that's for sure!

I too will be starting slowly at NIMM and trying to speed up as the day progresses. I have a new suspension setup in the works that I will be trialling (a little less hard core than the Buddy Club setup I have at the moment) as we are aiming at Targa, and not curcuit, but if the results are good enough then will be looking seriously at Honda Challenge!

Keep up the good work guys. :thumbsup:

[BLAZED_RACER]

good info for track days indeed. :thumbsup:

i stickyed this for future reference, hope you dont mind that i edited your title jase.

[95ITR]

Originally Posted by BLAZED_RACER

good info for track days indeed. :thumbsup:

i stickyed this for future reference, hope you dont mind that i edited your title jase.

Sweet as.

The more info we have the safer we will be on the track

[tysonzane]

New tyres would be a good idea for sure. Tyres are whats between you/the car and the road so you want them to hold on and work. There are 2 schools of thought when using dodgy tyres for practicing:

1. The tyres will limit your ability to drive the car at full speed so as soon as you get some good tyres (ie for the real motorsport events), you'll suddenly become alot faster.

2. The tyres will limit your ability to drive the car at full speed so when you go into the next event with good tyres you might suddenly have far too much confidence or after the first run think "these tyres showed no sign of letting go so ill push twice as hard next time", then next time comes and so does the first corner and the cars upside down and you're in hospital.

Take what you want from that but i think that the second school of thought is more correct then the first.

What tyres should be used? I would reccomend starting with a decent semi slick like Dunlop or Toyo. I haven't run Bridgestone or seen/heard of anybody run them so i cant comment, nor can i about the new Advan's but if you love the JDM coolness then go for it! The advantage of running a semi slick is that they work good in all situations especially when you compare running a full pleged soft slick around a damp track with standing water to say a Dunlop D01 (IMO performs the best in the wet), the semi slick will be better. You can also (legally) drive the semi slick on the road to events which is a bonus. For most sprints these days and definetly for tarmac rallying you'll have to run a semi slicks because you'll drive on public roads at some stage so going from a full on soft compound race slick on a smooth even circuit to running a semi slick on a dodgy, narror, slippery, uneven (and mossy as the case is in New Plymouth) you might come hurtling into the first corner thinking you have lots of grip when in fact you have next to nothing.

Running a new set of semi slicks at the NIMM would be a good idea because then you get to "scrub" them in, in a safe enviroment (remember you cant just start racing at full speed with new tyres, you need to bring them up to temperature slowly and wear off the first shinny layer). This will then give you an idea of how the tyres feel and what they feel like as you push them to their limit (its a good time to because the circuit is a safe enviroment compared to "pukeheti road S/S" in New Plymouth :wink: where the road is narrow with a bank on one side and a cliff on the other!). But remember your average New Zealand road cannot be compared to Taupo race circuit .

Pressures.... This is somewhere that you'll have to experiment during the day of racing. Dont make huge changes in pressure at any one time and dont change the suspension setup and then pressures at the same time because you're still learning the car and wont have an idea of weather the reason you're oversteering is because of the over inflation of the tyres or over stiffening of the dampers. Check the pressures at the start and end of a season because pressures do rise as you the tyres heat up. I keep the front and rear tyres at exactly the same pressures (i.e. if i drop the fronts 1 psi, i'll also drop the rears 1 psi).

For the first time on the circuit with your new car dont go getting lap times and comparing them to what you've done with the setup because you wont be able to drive the car at 100% straight out of the box so comparing them is useless, most likely your lap times will get better and better during the day regardless of weather the car setup is getting better or worse. Just make sure you get the car setup to what feels comfortable for you. Even if you can get the car to be really fast but feel out of control and really hard to drive at that level, it is wrong. Because consistancy is always important as is keeping the car on the circuit.

Some of the stuff i said is talking in extreme cases but this is what you have to plan for. Sorry if i have said stuff that you already know and is basic. I think this thread is a good one stickied for people in general.

Good luck and remember preperation is everything!