View Single Post
Old 24-10-2010, 09:16 PM   #20
titan
S5 - Full Throttle
 

Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 268
Casino cash: $1363
titan is on a distinguished road
Default

As some of you know, I've a mentalist race-prepped evo. That runs 285 profile DZ03 rubber at each corner.

I don't run slicks. And I'll tell you why by way of an example.

When I was at snetterton last in the evo a fellow northlooper was out in a GT3 on cups. He was going round Corham as fast as his level of grip would allow. He came and saw me later to tell me that I went around the outside of him like he wasn't trying.

Stick slicks on and you'll go faster still.

And therein lies the issue. When you do come off you'll be doing god-only-knows how much extra speed than you were before. Fine if its a track with a load of run off (but I still reckon you'll end up in the tyres) but I enjoy trackdays at the ring. Not quite the run-off area you need ;-)

The other issue is that these cars weren't designed to run with that level of grip. Wheel bearings, strut towers, suspension, even the chassis will be asked to do stuff it wasn't designed for. I haven't had the experience of a wheel bearing breaking mid-corner but I can't see it being a cheap one.

My last trackday was the first trackday I've done in the CSL, sitting on smaller-profile-than-specified contis. UB was there with his R888. And he was tramping round far faster than I with barely a glimmer from his DSC light. Me? I had the DSC off and was having the time of my life. Yes I spun on one attempt to set a new drift record ;-) , but at the speeds I was doing, it was a non-issue.

I want to learn how to drive and control a RWD car properly and I don't see that happening with slicks. I'd be back where I was with the evo, tramping around but ultimately not learning much.

Ultimately we all have different reasons for trackdays so I'm not judging. If you want to blast around (and timing suggests you do!) then go for it.

I did just buy a set of cups for the CSL 19" so it sounds a bit hypocritcal, but I'm waiting on some TD 18" where I'll run Federals or something. The cups were just to have a set of CSL wheels with the specified tyres on them :-)
titan is offline   Reply With Quote