semi slick warmup ?

[jpar196]

hey all, Ive bought some semi slicks to try on the track, how long do semis usually take to warm them up ? Ive got 2 mediums and 2 softs, Im assuming I should be putting the mediums in the front ? is 1 lap of full taupo track gonna be enough to warm up the mediums? I dont wanna be out there warming up my tyres for the 5 laps any recommendations on tyre pressure for the semis? do they warm up quicker with higher pressure or lower tyre pressure?

cheers

[VTAKYO]

What race format is the event taking? Or is it an open day.

Generally you want them at about 28>30psi cold to start with, keeping in mind the pressure increases as they heat. So end up around 34psi hot. Between sessions just take a look at the tyre to see if it is developing blue patches in it. Adjust the tyre pressure to try minimise this and maximise your contact surface, also considering it could also be the result of incorrect camber if its on the edges of the tyre. Generally the pressure will be too high if your getting spots unrelated to camber. Also starting with a lower pressure warms the tyre up faster as there is more of it on the track.

[americ_ian]

i feel going hard from the get go gets them warm faster.. just watch for oversteer :-D

first 3-5 corners should be getting all the dirt/crap off them, so be carefull, usualy by end of lap 2 you are good to go

note: i had a k20a ek/f20c ae86... conditions may vary between cars/setups

[jpar196]

should I be running mediums in the front or the soft in the front ?
Im assuming oversteer will be a problem with the mediums in the back until they warm up ?

[americ_ian]

well if your car is fwd, the fronts will always heat up more faster, so id say mediums, but in 5-6laps id hardly notice between mediums and softs

[Loudsoundz]

I find the first three and maybe four corners get the dunlops pretty damn sticky. You will feel when they are at their prime and you will also feel when they start to "go off".

[Kiwi XTR2]

The infield of Taupo is ideal for getting heat into your tyres safely as the speeds are quite low. You need to deliberately work the tread block and sidewalls to get solid build-up of heat rather than just excessive temperatures on the contact surface.

Get yourself a good quality pressure gauge and check the hot pressures as soon a you get back to the pits after each run.

[jpar196]

sweet, will do, thanks for the advice guys

[offset]

I'd say a good 2 laps, and when doing your warmups, just give them a stretch across the track so that you help them that little bit further to warm up quicker, a few slalom's if you can do so. The pressure will build up when hot, so make sure you put less pressure in to them when cold so once they warm up, they are at a good operating pressure. Mediums should be on the fronts and the softs should be on the rear, this will help with the wear rate as the fronts will wear out faster and medium compound will wear slower than softs

Have fun, they will be a hell of a lot better than going hard on street tyres you'll feel a lot more comfortable pushing it a bit further around corners etc when they're hot, they'll be sticky as!!

[Coupe-R]

really, I find the first few corners of the infield and they are away!
using RA1

definatly after the 1st lap of going nuts they are well and truly up to temp.

I'd be careful on turn 2 and 4 I think it is on the first lap out of the pits, the rear may let go if you try to go to fast.

[xsiv]

Originally Posted by jpar196

hey all, Ive bought some semi slicks to try on the track, how long do semis usually take to warm them up ? Ive got 2 mediums and 2 softs, Im assuming I should be putting the mediums in the front ? is 1 lap of full taupo track gonna be enough to warm up the mediums? I dont wanna be out there warming up my tyres for the 5 laps any recommendations on tyre pressure for the semis? do they warm up quicker with higher pressure or lower tyre pressure?

cheers

jake here =
Pressures in your tires should be changed at track to maximise the grip off all 4 wheels.
With your tire pressures as stated before, start around 28 - 30 psi to start with - after a few hot laps come in - what u need here is an infra-red temp measuring gun or another method of measuring tire temp quickly- u wanna get all your tires the same temp so if one is cooler then the others by a couple of degrees or more pump a pound or two of air into the tire - likewise if a tire is alot hotter then the others, take some air out...

]Im pretty sure thats the procedure we do on the evo when messin on the circut!

[tysonzane]

Originally Posted by xsiv

jake here =
Pressures in your tires should be changed at track to maximise the grip off all 4 wheels.
With your tire pressures as stated before, start around 28 - 30 psi to start with - after a few hot laps come in - what u need here is an infra-red temp measuring gun or another method of measuring tire temp quickly- u wanna get all your tires the same temp so if one is cooler then the others by a couple of degrees or more pump a pound or two of air into the tire - likewise if a tire is alot hotter then the others, take some air out...

]Im pretty sure thats the procedure we do on the evo when messin on the circut!

Actually from alot of Targa work and a bit of circuit work i am far of the preference of getting all the tyres the same pressure all round. I dont know why but thats just what i've found. The fronts will always be a tad hotter but they're doing different work to the rears (they are the drive wheel on a Honda AND the steering wheel).

I know with the Porsche guys like to run different temperatures front to back but you cant compare that to a Honda . Wouldn't have a clue about EVO's but i'd be inclined to do the same trick as the Hondas.

jpar196, dont worry about this at all. Will this be your first track day? If so dont even worry much about trying to heat your tyres up. The first few laps will be like an observation of where the track goes and how tight the corners are, just drive each corner like a blind road, then just slowly up the pace lap after lap. Your tyres will be fine by now.

Then on your next outing just taking it easy for the first half a lap and then they'll be sweet as, dont bother swerving around to try and put heat into them just dont drive at 100%. With softs even on a tarmac rally stage i found they were sweet as after 2-3 corners at 80-90%.

Remember there is no prize for first haha

[d16a7]

just if you are wanting to warm your tyres up remember that most of the heat is transferred through the rim from the brakes.. more than what is done from doing the swerving.. the swerving is mostly to make sure they are clean and scrubbed a little..

but yeah .. just take it easy and 28-30PSi should be all good on SEMI's id more tend with 30 in the winter.. on a cold day.. summer id start at 28PSi

full slicks however is a different story and a whole new bag of chips so yeah..

[Loudsoundz]

Apart from pressures, You will know when they are ready. No one can really tell you one way/style to warm them up as we all drive differently. It may even take a few spins/offs for you to know the limits of your car, tires and you. Just don't go out there like a bat out of hell and expect to stick to the track. Slowly increase your aggressiveness as your confidence increases. Just remember, stopping is just as important as getting around a corner fast. Some people overlook this aspect!! Spend some money on some good brake pads/fluid if you haven't already.

[dazznz]

Shit you guys all seem to start your tyre's at very high pressure. On a cold or wet day i start at around 26-27psi, and on a very hot day i can be down as low as 20-21psi. This is with dunlop 02G semi's, to get them to their optimum of 30-32psi. Never really have any issues with grip on this setup.

[tysonzane]

Originally Posted by dazznz

Shit you guys all seem to start your tyre's at very high pressure. On a cold or wet day i start at around 26-27psi, and on a very hot day i can be down as low as 20-21psi. This is with dunlop 02G semi's, to get them to their optimum of 30-32psi. Never really have any issues with grip on this setup.

I've been the same actually. usually between 24 and 27 at the most.

[americ_ian]

x3.... maybe not driving hard enough? :-P

[Coupe-R]

I've been the same actually. usually between 24 and 27 at the most.

x4 me too

[Logger]

I started at 28psi with my DZ03G's last time and the crowns started wearing pretty damn quick, looks like I'll be starting at about 24psi next time.

[tysonzane]

lol this thread turned around pretty quickly

[offset]

I was thinking 28 was a little high still as cold pressure too ..

[jpar196]

jpar196, dont worry about this at all. Will this be your first track day? If so dont even worry much about trying to heat your tyres up. The first few laps will be like an observation of where the track goes and how tight the corners are, just drive each corner like a blind road, then just slowly up the pace lap after lap. Your tyres will be fine by now.

Hey, thanks for the advice, Its my third trip to taupo track, last two times on re01-r tyres. They're really good tyres but wanted just a bit more grip. turns 2 and 4 can be quite tricky I found the back will come out if flick it in to turn 2 too quickly. I found this out on the first trackday 2nd lap lol but yeah since its my first run with the semis I shall focus more on what the car is doing rather than trying to just go fast

[SLOTEG]

quick question:
what about starting pressures for road tires? if funds dont stretch to semis for nimm ill be running either eagle f1's or direzza dz101's

[americ_ian]

road tyres ive ran once... at ruapuna... i think 1st session they went up to 32psi... from 30.... couple dunlops, 1 bridgestone, and one perelli... they just dont get enough heat into them.........

but im in a bit of a mind blank at the mo... it was either they didnt raise much... or raised heaps... 32 could be 42psi lol......
and they didnt take heat too well.... ahah

needs sleep

[offset]

Im pretty sure that street tyres dont raise too much with heat. not huge jumps like semi's do, as they get real hot, dont think street tyres get 'that' hot?
correct me if Im wrong.