Please share your experiences with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires in cooler weather. They tend to be hard to warm up anyway, especially for lighter weight cars (mine is 2200lbs/911S3.6). The temps at Heartland Park-Topeka are forecast to be low 50s next weekend. Do I run MPSCs or just run my streets w/Yoko AVS ES100 tires?
Thanks for any real-life input,
Nick

 

I have a 3100# car and had to be very easy while warming up the tires the first few laps. I have since moved to RA-1's

Mike

 

Hey;

MAKE SURE YOU WARM UP CAREFULLY. MPSCs are designed for heavy cars. Even then, they are not easy to heat up in warm weather. Take your time and warmup thoroughly! Perhaps drop the pressure a pound to help out if necessary.

 

Run the MPSCs but take your time warming them up, especially in the first session each day.

 

I find the opposite works. If you're agressive with them in the first couple of laps them will come in nicely. You have to be comfortable sliding them around. The harder you are on them in the first couple of laps that faster and better they come in.

 

MPSC are difficult to get temperature into them and they don't communicate very well when not warmed up. As mentioned above, you need to overdrive the tires (sliding the car) to get temps into them. If you take it easy, especially when cold, they will not likely come up to temperature on the cooler days.

 

Nick, don't forget you will be running on virgin surface (new pavement). FYI-they are forecasting 8-10 inches over here in the KC metro area by Tuesday. I thought about running next weekend too with the BMW boys but its now doubtful. I hear Corsa's are better suited for cool weather !

 

Thanks for all the input guys.
Tom- Heartland is my home track, are you there often?
GeeZ! 8-10 inches??? Didn't see that on the NOAA forecast for Topeka. Hope it warms up quick!
Thanks,
Nick

 

What temp do they work best at?

 

Don't get us started!

Dan
President MHCA

(MPSC Haters Club of America)

 

I've run MPSCs in ~32-35 degree ambient on both a Boxster S and Turbo 3.6. No problems. Just understand the conditions and don't be too afraid to drive. They need heat...

 

Nick, yea I guess it is my home track, 70 miles from me. I will run it a couple times (April&Oct) this season and watch the run-offs too. Would do it again in June (DE) but Mid-Am up in Iowa is the same weekend. I'll be in a blk/blkTT with a lot of painters tape. Can't miss it ....see ya there.

now back to you regulary scheduled MPSC debate

 

Be VERY careful. I thought I was warmed up on my second session at Road America in the low 60's. After 3 miles, I was at the kink, and the front tires were still cold. The car did not turn in at the kink (gulp). They need lots of heat. I think they recommend much higher temps than most. I use Kumhos now when it is 60 or below. I've been through 4 sets of MPSCs and still like them, but show extra respect in cool weather.

 

Thanks Chuck.
It's very cold in the Midwest now, and thought it suppose to be sunny this weekend, temps will be in the 40s and 50s. The MPSCs have been hard to heat up even with temps in the 60s-70. As I am instructing my daughter this time around, I may opt for the Yokohama AVS streets. Thanks for all your advice.
Nick

 

"Be VERY careful. I thought I was warmed up on my second session at Road America in the low 60's. After 3 miles, I was at the kink, and the front tires were still cold. The car did not turn in at the kink (gulp). They need lots of heat. I think they recommend much higher temps than most. I use Kumhos now when it is 60 or below. I've been through 4 sets of MPSCs and still like them, but show extra respect in cool weather."

I agree. At least with the first part. The darn things scared the crap out of me once too often and I just use the Hoosiers now.