DE Day, Tires
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
DE Day, Tires
I would like to participate at an upcoming DE day in Seattle but have tire concerns and a limited budget. Can someone validate my theory?
My 1986 944 Turbo makes about 320 RWHP (Mustang) and has a 6-Speed LSD. The car was brought out of storage in January after sitting for 5 years. The tires were purchased 2 years prior to being put into storage (7+ years old). The fronts or 255/40 17s and the rears are 285/40 17s.
After coming out of storage, the fluids were changed, the wiring harness was replaced and timing belt changed. The car is running great.
The shop alerted me that the front tires were out of round and cracked. The car had a small wobble while driving (now perfect). I replaced the front tires with all season Michelin Pilot Sports. The rear tires are original. They are Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 Max Performance summer tires. There is no evidence of cracking, air holding capacity issues, or imbalance issues. The tread has 95% of it left. However, when the fronts were changed, the tire tech said that the tires are dried out.
On dry pavement at 45 degrees, the tires break loose under moderate acceleration in 2nd gear at 4,000 rpms. The turbo spools quickly but reaches its max at about 4,000. I am trying to determine if the lack of traction is a result of the temperature or the hardening of the tire.
I would like to do the DE day, but I do not have the immediate cash flow to drop $400 dollars on new rear tires. Also, the only tires available in this size are Max Performance summer. Would I still have issues with a 45 degree track?
I am guessing that I am going to have to sit out the first few DE days. Also, I may have to change to 275s to get access to all weather tires. Thoughts?
My 1986 944 Turbo makes about 320 RWHP (Mustang) and has a 6-Speed LSD. The car was brought out of storage in January after sitting for 5 years. The tires were purchased 2 years prior to being put into storage (7+ years old). The fronts or 255/40 17s and the rears are 285/40 17s.
After coming out of storage, the fluids were changed, the wiring harness was replaced and timing belt changed. The car is running great.
The shop alerted me that the front tires were out of round and cracked. The car had a small wobble while driving (now perfect). I replaced the front tires with all season Michelin Pilot Sports. The rear tires are original. They are Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 Max Performance summer tires. There is no evidence of cracking, air holding capacity issues, or imbalance issues. The tread has 95% of it left. However, when the fronts were changed, the tire tech said that the tires are dried out.
On dry pavement at 45 degrees, the tires break loose under moderate acceleration in 2nd gear at 4,000 rpms. The turbo spools quickly but reaches its max at about 4,000. I am trying to determine if the lack of traction is a result of the temperature or the hardening of the tire.
I would like to do the DE day, but I do not have the immediate cash flow to drop $400 dollars on new rear tires. Also, the only tires available in this size are Max Performance summer. Would I still have issues with a 45 degree track?
I am guessing that I am going to have to sit out the first few DE days. Also, I may have to change to 275s to get access to all weather tires. Thoughts?
#2
Don't take this the wrong way, but... if you can't afford new tires, you can't afford to DE.
Don't skimp. Tires are what connect you to the pavement. Rubber dries out. Even if no cracking is evident. I wouldn't run on anything that's more than a couple years old. 5+ is too old.
You shouldn't have any issues in the cooler temps, just allow yourself more time for the tires to warm up.
Don't skimp. Tires are what connect you to the pavement. Rubber dries out. Even if no cracking is evident. I wouldn't run on anything that's more than a couple years old. 5+ is too old.
You shouldn't have any issues in the cooler temps, just allow yourself more time for the tires to warm up.
#4
I would not recommend all season tires for a DE event. I would suggest to go with some stratable semislicks front and rear if you want to be fast. If you are participating just for fun, than buy the same model rear tires (that you just bought for the front) so you have the same ones in front and rear.
#6
Pro
Thread Starter
I would not recommend all season tires for a DE event. I would suggest to go with some stratable semislicks front and rear if you want to be fast. If you are participating just for fun, than buy the same model rear tires (that you just bought for the front) so you have the same ones in front and rear.
Michelin does not make the size I need for the rear. In a 285/40 17, there is a very small selection for Max Performance Summer tires available.
#7
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Thread Starter
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#9
#10
Pro
Thread Starter
Don't take this the wrong way, but... if you can't afford new tires, you can't afford to DE.
Don't skimp. Tires are what connect you to the pavement. Rubber dries out. Even if no cracking is evident. I wouldn't run on anything that's more than a couple years old. 5+ is too old.
You shouldn't have any issues in the cooler temps, just allow yourself more time for the tires to warm up.
Don't skimp. Tires are what connect you to the pavement. Rubber dries out. Even if no cracking is evident. I wouldn't run on anything that's more than a couple years old. 5+ is too old.
You shouldn't have any issues in the cooler temps, just allow yourself more time for the tires to warm up.
Spending $800 for a single day (fees, tech inspection, tires) at the track just is not worth it. If the tires were not streetable, then I could justify the expense. But, for a single track day, it just is not worth it. Thanks for the input.
Last edited by seattle951; 03-16-2015 at 06:24 PM.
#12
Pro
Thread Starter
I stand corrected. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...40&diameter=17
If I move down to 275s, there are a more choices including all season.
#13
Rennlist Member
Upgrade the tires as a first step to see if you enjoy the track hobby enough to go down the slippery slope that is this serious track addiction
#14
Pro
Thread Starter
I already know that I like track days. I am just not willing to throw out a set of tires with only 2k miles. I was hoping that the tire tech was exaggerating about the tires getting too hard with age. However, the ease at which the tires break traction at low temperature was already a concern. I wasn't sure if it was that the pavement was too cold for summer tires or that they had just dried out. The consensus appears to be that age is a bigger factor than temp.
#15
Three Wheelin'
I already know that I like track days. I am just not willing to throw out a set of tires with only 2k miles. I was hoping that the tire tech was exaggerating about the tires getting too hard with age. However, the ease at which the tires break traction at low temperature was already a concern. I wasn't sure if it was that the pavement was too cold for summer tires or that they had just dried out. The consensus appears to be that age is a bigger factor than temp.
I deal with the tire age issue all the time with customer cars; I am constantly begging and pleading with some to replace their old tires on low-mileage cars, but they don't always listen. We don't sell tires, so we don't have any other interest but customer's safety. I often drive Porsches/BMWs before and after old tires are replaced, and the difference can be night and day, even on the street.
I hate to bring it up, but the tires on the Carrera GT in which Paul Walker lost his life were over 9 years old, and this was cited in the final police report. I'm not saying that a set of new shoes would have definitely saved him, but it might have helped or made the accident less severe.
Just some food for thought.