SOS

Hey guys. So this is my 3rd set of nt01s, was using RA1 before that. This is my current set with 8 heat cycles on them. Do the outside tread blocks look abnormal? My last 2 sets also did this and I never paid much mind, but at the end of my last set, someone told me that this was blistering due to overheating and the tires were done. I don't deny that I lean on the car hard and I don't have enough rear camber (-2.5), but its only been 2 track days on this set! This is only on the rear tires and the pattern is consistent all the way around. Thoughts?

Veloce Raptor

They're not "done"...

Matt Romanowski

That looks more like cupping than blistering. I'll see if I can find a picture of blisters.

AudiOn19s

No worries, carry on with them they aren't even to the point where they really start to get good yet.

Nitto's tend to show some really goofy wear patterns when pushed hard but those will be fine.

Matt Romanowski

Here is a blistered tire.

jcs_911

THAT's a blistered tire....

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/photo-...n-project-300/

winders

That is delamination.....

Cyril

I am not an expert but I see no blistering and still a lot of life with those NT01 (Great DE tires BTW).

IMHO, you need more camber. With more experience, more speed, you should start to read your tires. You can simply start with an infrared laser gun.
Tire temperature can tell much about how the load is carried and distributed over the tires.
Check your temperature across the section of the tire (inner, center, outer) after a hot lap. Then you will be able to adjust your camber and your tire pressure.

The next step is to use a tire pyrometer for more reliable readings.
A typical operating range for a DOT-R tire is 180F to 200F.

Few tire experts are on this forum and can correct me on this.

Gadsby

Chunking i.e. de-lamination is why you no longer see full blown superbikes in the Daytona 200 on the original track layout!

Blisters start between the cords and the rubber.

Martin S.

Just fresh off the track this weekend @ Buttonwillow Raceway, and my Nittos (NT-01). These tires continue to amaze me. They have close to 20 heat cycles on them, and they kick ***. I have 3 sets of wheels and all are shod with Nittos, 2 used sets and one (1) brand new set that I will send out for shaving, take them down to 4/32.

I have been down the Hoosier R6 and R7 Bunny Trail. Went back to Nittos because of the wear, 2X as long, maybe more, and the price, 33% less.

The great thing that I have found out about Nittos, they are good right down to the cord. Hoosiers would tend to fall off in the last few laps of a 12 lap sprint race. Not so with Nittos.

Veloce Raptor

To the OP: if you cannot add more negative camber to the affected corners, try adding a bit more air to those tires...maybe 1, 1.5, 2 pounds. It will help keep the tires more on the center to outside of the tread in corners, rather than just the outside. Poor man's negative camber!

Matt Lane

Good advice for those of us with compromised setups.

But those Nt-01's still look pretty minty to me. I'd say go and drive them some more.

Once a little more worn, you can reverse mount them on the rims and get the rest of the meat out of them.

wildcat077

I agree with Matt,those Nitto's look marvelous !

I got close to 60 heat cycles with a set of 225/45/17 and 255/40/17 's a few years ago with my 911,all i did was flip them as they're not unidirectional and they wore very well.

They have to be the best bang for the buck DE tire ever made !

Cheers
Phil

Martin S.

"I agree with Matt,those Nitto's look marvelous!"

I rotate them from side to side, left side becomes right side and visa versa, and I flip them as well. Best value track (DOT UTQM 100) tire I have ever used, and dollar for dollar, Lb for Lb, the best value out there.

Man would I like to see 60 heat cycles...as is mentioned above.

CosmosMpower

Those are barely broken in. Mine still felt a bit greasy and squirmy when they were that new.