R7's would be a good choice IMO

 

A longer radius is easier on tires....the way to save tires is to be gentle on brakes, gas, and run out all the way on exit.....not by going to late apexes.

 

If you say so, Scott.

Those are things a skilled driver would be doing anyway on every lap...

 

You know that I am mean gentler on the brakes and gas than you normally would be...and you also know that sometimes you don't want to run all the way out exiting a corner depending on what is going on in the race....so stop it.

Squaring off corners is no way to keep tires cooler...and it sure isn't going to be the way to keep a similar pace nor a good way to keep your position in a race if anyone is behind you.

 

Extending the straights and spending a lot less real estate with the front wheels turned surely is. But I am not gonna argue the point...

 

At my level, I wouldn't go so far as to say the NT01s "suck", but I have to concur the Z214s are freaking magic on that Moton/spring setup. I was running laps today at TWS within 3 seconds on old NT01s (likely their last hurrah) in 103 degree heat as compared to sticker Z214s in the low 90s.

With any luck I'll get to the point where NT01s "suck" .

-Mike

 

Can you clarify the comparison pls? Old NT01's on 103deg were 3sec slower than sticker Z214's on 90deg? Also, 3sec on what laptimes?

 

I bought Dave's old car, so I am literally commenting on the same setup. It came with a set of NT01s that had been on the car for quite while as well as a new set of sticker Z214s.

I ran the Z214s for the first time last June at TWS CCW and achieved a new personal best of 2:00.7, multiple times. Air temps then were in the 90s.

After wearing out the Z214s, I went back to "finish off" that old set of NT01s and ran them yesterday at TWS, also CCW. Air temp was 103, and I was still managing 2:03s. I suspect the air temp alone accounts for some of the difference.

I'm not racing, just doing DEs and instructing, so the 3 seconds doesn't bother me that much and money is a factor. For the driving skills I'm concentrating on, the NT01s are still sufficient. NT01s cost about $170 each, vs $225 for the Z214 C51. Z214s heat cycle out before they cord. I got about 20 cycles out of them before they started to go off. They corded at 34, but by cycle 25 the magic was gone. NT01s are generally good for 25-30 cycles at which point they peak and cord.

I'm due for another set of tires and haven't decided which way to go yet. It will either be Z214s or NT01s. The car really likes Z214s. I also like how the Z214s are no fuss. All brand new ones require are a couple of very easy laps and then you can hit the grip crack pipe.

BTW, VR ran 2:53 and change on the Z214s, so I've got a ways to go.

-Mike

 

I ran a 1:53.2 as a personal best with the Z214's. Best I could ever do with the NT01's was 1:54.7. And that was like first hot lap, as the Nittos would go away after just a couple of laps, no matter what I did with the dampers.

 

VR and TX, that's good input thanks.

 

Mike:

This is Denis Clavette. I drive a grey E46 M3 out there. I am friends with Sally and Scott Landon.

I have driven behind you a number of times and watched your videos. You're solid driver. What's your thinking on why you've not been able to break 2:00 in VR's E36? Even on NT01's, I think YOU should be able to do 1:57 - 1:58's pretty easily. What data logger do you use? Where do you see Dave gaining time on you?

 

It is SUCH a momentum car... all about entry speed and radius

 

Some low 2:02s today, so my PB spread is also about 1.5 seconds between the NT01s and Z214s. I think it's possible the NT01s are not done yet, I won't know until I do the post weekend inspection.

To me, they are feeling better as the wear, but it could also be rising comfort level with a still relatively new car. One of those 2:02s was on the lap just before the checkered.

-Mike

 

I am a very smooth and conservative driver. Frankly, probably too smooth and too conservative. Not damaging the car is important to me and me not getting hurt is important to me and my wife. Bottom line is I need to be more willing to slide the car around - which is actually easier for me on the NT01s, as they talk a bit more.

The 2:00.7 was easy. I know there is more on the table. I was also able to turn ~1:51.6s at MSRH CCW with the Z214s, which is considerably better than my goal of breaking 1:55.

That set of Z214s were the first I've had on the car, and I've only had the car since March. I still consider my relationship with the car to be in the "getting to know you period".

Data is the classic Traqmate.

Hee, hee. Like everywhere. The TM still has one of Dave's 1:56 personal bests in it and I can seen it count up as I go around the track.

-Mike

 

At the pro level, the differences between being easy on tires and being hard on tires is tiny differences in lots of areas. It's also severly effected by car setup. You can have two suspension packages that produce similar laps times, lat G, etc, but wear the tires completely different.

The differences in driving style include how they roll off the throttle, brake application, turn in speed, car rotation, and throttle application. My personal style is not as easy on tires, but I'm getting better at going just as fast and being easy on the tires.