Spyder -- New Tires
04-12-2012 | 02:56 PM
#17
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 4
From: Southern California
04-13-2012 | 11:18 AM
#19
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 797
Likes: 313
From: Monterey CA
Ran at Laguna yesterday with a new set of Michelin Sport Cups. They are awesome! Could not believe what a difference they make in handling. First thing you notice is not hearing the screeching of the (Goodyear Eagle) street tires. The grip is incredible.
The track was wet for the start of the first session but then dried out but rained again for the second session. The track was dry for the rest of the runs so it was an excellent first test. I was surprised how good the drip was when the track was wet. I also drove to the track (75 miles) in the rain and had no issues.
On a dry track it was almost a new learning experience. The street tires give you all sorts of feedback. The cups let loose quietly. For example, going into Turn 2 (single apex for me) a little hot the rear breaks out and was easily corrected but it alerted me to needing to understand the limits rather than relying on how loud the screeching of street tires is.
For tire temps in Session 4 dry track after lunch -
Cold: 29.2 LF, 28.2 RF, 29.3 LR and 28.8 RR.
Hot: 35.3 LF, 35.2 RF, 35.0 LR and 35.5 RR
Measured the temps with the Pyrometer -
Left Outside to inside, Right Inside to Outside
LF 144, 147, 149 RF 138, 141, 146
LR 134, 144, 147 RR 145, 144, 141
For tire temps in Session 5 dry track last session of the day I lowered the pressures all around -
Cold: 28.0 LF, 28.0 RF, 29.0 LR and 29.0 RR.
Hot: 32.8 LF, 34.2 RF, 33.9 LR and 34.9 RR.
Again, I measured the temps with the Pyrometer -
Left Outside to inside, Right Inside to Outside
LF 141, 149, 142 RF 135, 145, 147
LR 128, 137, 140 RR 142, 144, 138
I didn't push the tires very hard since it was the first day. Back at Infineon on the 23rd and will hopefully take a full set of measurements before making any alignment changes. I am also going to try a little lower tire pressures to start just to see the changes. I am not yet at the point of being able to test the differences in handling but will with more track days.
Net/net the car felt great! On the street tires I ran 1:51 - 1:52 laps. I am sure I was faster on these, even on the first day.
Thanks to everyone that provided the recommendations for the Cups, I was blown away with their performance.
The track was wet for the start of the first session but then dried out but rained again for the second session. The track was dry for the rest of the runs so it was an excellent first test. I was surprised how good the drip was when the track was wet. I also drove to the track (75 miles) in the rain and had no issues.
On a dry track it was almost a new learning experience. The street tires give you all sorts of feedback. The cups let loose quietly. For example, going into Turn 2 (single apex for me) a little hot the rear breaks out and was easily corrected but it alerted me to needing to understand the limits rather than relying on how loud the screeching of street tires is.
For tire temps in Session 4 dry track after lunch -
Cold: 29.2 LF, 28.2 RF, 29.3 LR and 28.8 RR.
Hot: 35.3 LF, 35.2 RF, 35.0 LR and 35.5 RR
Measured the temps with the Pyrometer -
Left Outside to inside, Right Inside to Outside
LF 144, 147, 149 RF 138, 141, 146
LR 134, 144, 147 RR 145, 144, 141
For tire temps in Session 5 dry track last session of the day I lowered the pressures all around -
Cold: 28.0 LF, 28.0 RF, 29.0 LR and 29.0 RR.
Hot: 32.8 LF, 34.2 RF, 33.9 LR and 34.9 RR.
Again, I measured the temps with the Pyrometer -
Left Outside to inside, Right Inside to Outside
LF 141, 149, 142 RF 135, 145, 147
LR 128, 137, 140 RR 142, 144, 138
I didn't push the tires very hard since it was the first day. Back at Infineon on the 23rd and will hopefully take a full set of measurements before making any alignment changes. I am also going to try a little lower tire pressures to start just to see the changes. I am not yet at the point of being able to test the differences in handling but will with more track days.
Net/net the car felt great! On the street tires I ran 1:51 - 1:52 laps. I am sure I was faster on these, even on the first day.
Thanks to everyone that provided the recommendations for the Cups, I was blown away with their performance.
