TT Gasman

My Pilot Sports have about 25% tread left when I tracked it last weekend. I noticed the rubber really started coming off in chunks or strands, after every run session. This is probably the fastest I have driven the car , but it has never done this before (after many, many track events). Stick was excellent, so I can't figure it out. I wonder if it gets down to a certain level the compound changes and now I will see accelerated wear. Any thoughts?

I was hoping to avoid new tires until the PS2s come out in my size.

Scott_in_Houston

I think you were finally driving it like it was meant to be driven. hehehe
Kidding!

I've never owned them, but I have pieces of your tires on my hood.

TT Gasman

You mean on my bra.

Scott_in_Houston

LOL true! I'll get that back to you after I clean your tire chunks off of it.

NickS

Hmmm, never had Pilot Sport chunk on me before. Maybe you were just driving it harder like you said and were really at the tires limits now?

LanceK

I'm not an expert on tires by any means, but I've learned a bunch of things since starting kart racing.

In the karting world many guys will tell you that the faster you drive the tires will wear exponentially (spelling?) more. For example if you're cutting laps at my local kart track at 42 seconds (respectible) you would have a certain level and rate of wear. A 41 second lap would wear twice as fast as the 42 second lap. A 40 second lap would wear 4 times as fast as the 42 second lap and so on.

Also every time you "heat cycle" a tire the compound gets slightly harder. A cycle being defined as going from cold to hot and back to cold again.

Again I'm not sure how scientific the first part is and how much of it applies to car tires, but I thought I would mention it since you're tracking your car.

fahren affair

i 2nd lance's observations. rubber vulcanization occurs after rapid heat cycling, like repeated runs and then extended cool downs. i'd say that's what you're experiencing. it's happened to me many times (other cars, tires, etc.). and it's more common after you're past the 50% wear mark or so. i always fear my tires 'going off' and getting greasy, it usually spells a shorten lifespan thereafter.

Palting

I've heard the Pilot Sport Cups get real hard after several heat cycles. It lasts longer than Hoosiers, but the compound loses it's grip and hardens as it gets older. Maybe this also makes it chunk more? Don't know if this relates to the Pilot Sports as this is what I've heard about the Pilot Sport Cups.

ZBlue996Kam

I heard the oppsite about MPSC. The MPSC maintain a consistent grip level regarless of heat cycle.

I am trying the MPSC this season and will find out for real.

RJFabCab

Multiple heat cycles, "lots" of miles, and now you're pushing the tires harder than ever... it sounds like you're near the end for that set due to compounding issues. My Rossos and S-03s never chunked.

Oh well, time for some Cups!