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Heat cycles shouldn't really be affected by driver or alignment, just whether the tires come up to temp, which they always should on a track day due to heat from the brakes if nothing else. I've seen 22-28 heat cycles quoted for Cup 2s and RE-71Rs, so given that I usually attend 2-day DEs that have 5 sessions per day, I'm replacing my tires after 2 events, which is a lot more frequently than I'd expected, but what can you do?
Now that I have a well balanced car with very even tire wear, I'm seeing 20+ heat cycles for the Cup 2's. They wear like iron, and still have plenty of tread (1-2mm above the wear bars), but on track days 7 & 8 there was a very significant loss of grip. I don't have comparative data from HC's 1-5 vs. 15-20 (different tracks and ambient temps), but I'll have a chance to check more carefully this spring.
I suspect I'll be replacing tires every 6 track days, not worrying too much about grip loss toward the end.
Great, thanks for the input. I had 12 HC's on my current Cup2's, with brand new RE-71R's waiting in the wings. My car came with Dunlops, but when I switched to the Cup2's after 24 HC's on the Dunlops grip was so much better, and lap times dropped by a full second without any other changes.
I replaced my PSC2s after 4 trackdays (16-18 heat cycles) last season at the Glen, Lime Rock and NJMP. Might have been slightly premature to do so, but I wanted fresh tires for my last three events of the season, and I knew that first set wouldn't last for 7 total events.
I'm interested to see others' findings, because I'm about to replace this current set of tires. I run a 19" setup, 255/35-19 and 295/30-19. Unfortunately, the 295/30-19 must be the "hard to make" tire for Michelin, because it's ridiculously expensive now--actually $100 more per tire than the 305/30-19. If the RE71Rs get good longevity reports here, I may try them next in 255/35-19 and 305/30-19.
Great, thanks for the input. I had 12 HC's on my current Cup2's, with brand new RE-71R's waiting in the wings. My car came with Dunlops, but when I switched to the Cup2's after 24 HC's on the Dunlops grip was so much better, and lap times dropped by a full second without any other changes.
Dunlops also have much shorter longevity, especially in frequent road use scenarios. Trofeo Rs also offer noticeably more grip in exchange for noticeably shorter lifespan.
Originally Posted by paradocs98
I'm interested to see others' findings, because I'm about to replace this current set of tires. I run a 19" setup, 255/35-19 and 295/30-19. Unfortunately, the 295/30-19 must be the "hard to make" tire for Michelin, because it's ridiculously expensive now--actually $100 more per tire than the 305/30-19. If the RE71Rs get good longevity reports here, I may try them next in 255/35-19 and 305/30-19.
People who have run both report that the RE-71Rs last about as long or a little bit longer than the Cup 2s, fwiw. Evidently the tread wears quickly early on and then at 50% the wear rate levels off so the second half lasts longer, but that doesn't really become a factor for people consuming these tires on heat cycles.
Although not on your list, Hoosiers are lasting me up to 15-17 session. The durometer readings are still fine...I just run out of rubber on the outside portion of the tire.
Different car (GT3) so some things may be relative due to diff weight distribution, tire size etc..
In my case SC2 last about 16 to 18 HC at good performance, then they get 1-2 secs slower and after 24/26 lose about 3+ sec a lap at COTA. Experience from several sets.
My Hoosier experiment lasted only 9 HC before I corded them... great grip... for me about 2 sec quicker than SC2 at COTA. There was more on the tire, needed to get more track time with added grip
Had MPSC2 for 20 heat cycles last year but for the last 4, it was pretty bad... Still plenty of tread left but no more grip. It was on my GT3 though and maybe not as fast as some here.
Starting my new season with a new to me GT4, cant wait to see/feel the difference
Switching to R71 after my current MPSC2 are shots...
At 32 Heat Cycles, the RE71Rs have held up well. The rears have about 2/32nd of tread left and the fronts are at about 4/32nds. Granted 8 of the sessions were in the rain. My car is aligned properly which has helped extend the life of my tires.
03-19-2017, 10:16 PM
Heat cycles
