Road Racing at the track

[suprarx7nut]

Where do you folks get tires for racing at a track or autocrossing?

Do you just use your regular tires?

Do you buy cheap-o tires or used tires?

Do you just have the cash to burn to spend on brand new tires to rip into?

There's a track nearby that I'd love to get onto, but I dont have the money to buy tires to use for a few days at a track.

Any suggestions?


-Andy

 

[Poodles]

depends on your tires, the kind of track, and how aggressive you drive

just don't go on crappy H rated tires...

 

[slidebabyslide]

You can get take off's from some people, but they are used and some times you don't know what heat cycle they been and things like that. Try thes tires out, there good for the money.....http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compa..._rating=W&speed_rating=Y&RunFlat=All&x=45&y=8

 

[suprarx7nut]

^^How long would tires like that last? I dont plan on being very aggresive, just driving harder than I would on the streets. I've been dying to try real track racing, but never had the opportunity. So I'm no pro and not looking to slide around each corner.

I was thinking about spending much less than 130/tire, but if it got me ten full days at the track, that may be worth it.


Thanks

 

[slidebabyslide]

if you go to like a track it really kills the tires, you got heat cycles . Have to heat them up good for them to be used and if you don't you can get your tire to waste prematurely. Auto-x you only race for a short time, lets say you only use the tires a minute at a time( Depends how long it takes you to get around the track. If you go to like a race track you will have time to proper warm up your tires and let them cool down, but ether way they don't last that long in a road race.

 

[slidebabyslide]

like auto-x track or like a road race track?

 

[suprarx7nut]

Well give me a ballpark if I were to use them 5-10 mins at a time and then allowing them to cool between uses.

Its a 2.5 mile track. I'd drive rather conservatively as far as racing goes. Should I expect 10 laps? 100? 300?

Sorry, but I really have no idea what to expect.

Its a road course. http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/CO/Pueblo.html

 

[Poodles]

don't run slicks your first time out (that link is for slicks) slicks don't talk back to you the same way a normal street tire will, they will just go mid corner without much warning...

use normal tires, but they may wear away fast if they get too hot. If you can't afford to possibly lose a tire from the heat, don't do it...

 

[suprarx7nut]

don't run slicks your first time out (that link is for slicks) slicks don't talk back to you the same way a normal street tire will, they will just go mid corner without much warning...

use normal tires, but they may wear away fast if they get too hot. If you can't afford to possibly lose a tire from the heat, don't do it...

Can you give me a ballpark of what I should expect to pay for tires for 5 track days?

100? 400? 600?

I'd have separate tires for track use. I would never use my main road tires at the track.

 

[slidebabyslide]

You do have feed back from the road.
Safe way to start, i started with falken azinas sports, then falken rename them RT-215 then they made the RT-615 http://www.vulcantire.com/azenis_rt615_t.htm
I have not had the chance to drive on these tires.

 

[slidebabyslide]

If you are going to the track, to road race, some people take 3 to 4 set's of tires. If you are going to auto-x then with some falkens will be good a while it's hard to say, really it depends on the way you drive and what kind of track it is, if it's smooth and nice then they will last longer. If i had to guess (i hate to do it) i would say 100 laps give or take

 

[Poodles]

you'll more than likely be fine with a good street tire, most people bring that many tires becuase they're really into it...

EDIT: the point of not running slicks is so you become a better driver, much like driving a slower car before you drive a fast car

 

[suprarx7nut]

Ya, I think I'll be looking into some cheap, possibly used tires to start with. The track only charges 60 for a half day, so even 75 per trip in tires is very doable. (even for a college kid) Add on fuel for the trip there and at the track and I should be able to have some great fun for less than 200 bucks.

How many people here do road racing? I can see it being a rather expensive thing to do more than a few times a year.

Thanks for the input!

 

[bowsercake]

Just run your street tires if they have tread. Depending on your treadwear you could get 3+ track days in addition to daily driving on them.

 

[flubyux2]

if you want to stay in a Street tire class. Toyo T1-S are pretty good. i do beleive thats what the Realtime Acura's run in the SCCA series... albeit shaved before use. also, Bridgestone SO-2's are really good in my experience. Advans are pretty good. the Stock Subaru STi tires are BMF too, those are A032's arent they? A048's are also good.

 

[Poodles]

you'll burn a LOT of gas at the track...

 

[annoyingrob]

Damn, $60 for half a day? The local track here does $25, from 5pm-11pm. that covers drag, and auto-x.

With that being said, just use your normal street tires at the track. Go through a set, and you'll have an idea how long they will last on your car.

 

[themadhatter]

lol i think last time i checked it was 300 for a full day at vir(local track)

 

[supraguru05]

rt615s have heat management problems on tracks i would recommend a little harder tire that can handle the heat something along the lines of the bridgestone re01r if you want tire choices go to sf and get in the roadrace section this has been covered many times.

also tire size is a very important factor in the tire temps also alignment to much camber or to little will improperly heat a tire

 

[tekdeus]

I wouldn't worry about tires for your first couple of times. I didn't, and had lots of fun at the auto-X. Some street tires get greasy when they get hot, but at least you'll learn your car's limits.