HPDE car - tires?

[jstam]

tire choice is covered many times I'm sure, but I'm taking my e30 to its first HPDE in a couple of weeks (not my first). Currently has bottle caps and pretty Bridgestone G009's (<5k miles), + the suspension mods you see in my sig + new ss lines and PFC06's I just installed last weekend.

Question to all - should I just run w/ what's on the car, or quickly upgrade to what I have planned in the future, which is bimmerworld 15's w/ RA-1's or NT01's (or something equivalent)?

I have a feeling the Bridgestones may be sliding all over, which can be good and bad I guess. Treadwear is listed at 460.

[xphiledan]

dunlop direzza z1 starspec

[dreeves]

Just run what you have. The first couple days are about learning the line and the basic technique; there'll be time for sticky tires in the future.

[balooshinakus]

r comps are probably overkill for now. If you are running all seasons you will tear them up at the track though, so it might not be a bad idea to upgrade to star specs or something along those lines (a tire that can survive the track but doesn't cost a bunch and has long life).

My dad used his street tires on a PCA driver skills day (autox type stuff) for 1 day and tore his tires up pretty good.. If he had gotten better tires for driving events it would have saved him money because now he has to get new street tires and is going to get summer tires for driving events.

[Bimmerman325i]

Have YOU been to an HPDE before or run on sticky R-comp tires (NT01, RA1, etc)?

If no, then run what you have until they are gone, then switch to the Dunlop Star Specs. If yes, run what you have until they are gone, then switch to either Star Specs or a stickier tire if you can justify the higher cost, faster wear, and all for your skill level.

Remember that an HPDE is supposed to teach you car control applicable to street cars. I know it's mostly an excuse to get track time and prep for racing, but if you're looking to transfer skillsets over to street cars, race rubber won't help.

[balooshinakus]

On the other hand, I really don't see the point in destroying all season tires on the track if you commute this car. He has brand new all seasons, it's not like he has tires he's about to throw away.

A star spec isn't an extreme tire, but it will withstand track time just fine and still last a bit. A lot of all seasons will start shredding apart at the track. I'd rather save the tires and use them on the street and get a set of tires for the track that won't fall apart. Right tool for the job.

[e30s50dan]

hard to beat Toyo R888..wear like iron,and no too bad on price!

[E30Gus]

dunlop direzza z1 starspec

Just got a set on the car and LOVE them!

[jstam]

Thanks all for the input - I'll probably stick w/ what's on the car for the September event, and focus on upgrading after that. I don't commute w/ the car (maybe 2-3x/month) so I just need something that can perform on the track but also have good durability.

I'll still need need to settle the r-comp vs. dunlop debate at some point...dunlops sound good (and pretty cheap) if people like them on the track. I have read some iffy reviews though (i.e. they reach their limit and break away w/out much warning). Anyone have this experience?

[Rascal2pt0]

R-Comps are great but they will hide your mistakes. If you want to be fast learn on street tires. There also a whole lot CHEAPER! Once your making consistent lap times and can't seem to squeeze anymore speed out (which should take at least a year). Then get some used R-Comps for cheap, a lot of people do one track day and never wear them out.

A good set of R-comps will run around 150->200 a tire, and you'll burn thru them in a track day or 2 depending on how rough you are.

Take the money you save not buying R-comps and put it into driving schools and instruction, that will make you a far better driver than good tires ever will.

[nrubenstein]

Thanks all for the input - I'll probably stick w/ what's on the car for the September event, and focus on upgrading after that. I don't commute w/ the car (maybe 2-3x/month) so I just need something that can perform on the track but also have good durability.

I'll still need need to settle the r-comp vs. dunlop debate at some point...dunlops sound good (and pretty cheap) if people like them on the track. I have read some iffy reviews though (i.e. they reach their limit and break away w/out much warning). Anyone have this experience?

10 years ago, the Dunlops would have been called r-tires. As a rule, the higher performance the tire, the faster the breakaway. To me, the Dunlops feel extremely forgiving, but if you don't have much feel for the car, it'll be fast for you.

Basically, the people that are complaining about rapid breakaway with the Dunlops have a point. But they have less rapid breakaway than R-tires. The only reason they are complaining about that is because, frankly, they are clueless and shouldn't be driving on such sticky tires in the first place.

Edit: And yes, when starting out, stick with the junk tires. There's no reason to upgrade until at least you start melting them.

[carnurd]

Go cheap and basic falken azenis 615K's quite predictable on breakaway and are super cheap for the grip.

[Wh33lhop]

hard to beat Toyo R888..wear like iron,and no too bad on price!

Define "iron."

[nrubenstein]

Define "iron."

They heat cycle out fast and turn into rocks. ;)

[Wh33lhop]

Yeah, sounds about right. :p

Fuck it, I'd do it. I <3 epic R-comp sidewalls.