View Full Version : Will track day destroy my new tires?
MerkurRS
04-10-2015, 01:50 PM
I have been wanting to participate in a High Performance Drivers Education track day with my car, but am worried that I will destroy my tires. I just put on a new set of Michelin A/S 3's a week ago, track day is in a month.
Will I kill them, or just some minor wear?
Thoughts?
aaronz
04-10-2015, 01:55 PM
Depends on how you drive, the track lay out, the track material....lots of items go into tire wear.
Your biggest one is you: smooth is fast, fast is slow...kinda impacts your tires in the same way.
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bhvrdr
04-10-2015, 01:59 PM
But yeah, if you plan on having a good time you will probably destroy your all season tires at a track day.
Mike
joefig44
04-10-2015, 02:01 PM
what about if you have performance tires on? Will they get destroyed in the same way as A/S?
bhvrdr
04-10-2015, 02:07 PM
No, they will not wear in the exact same way. All seasons will wear worse in performance driving/ tracking. Max summers like the PSS, S04, whatever will be next. They will wear a bit better. If you want to get multiple events out of a tire a good dual duty tire or a harder r-comp will help with wear. I get all kinds of use out of a set of RA1 tires. Hankooks RS3 tires wear pretty well on the track too. It can save money in the long run to get a super cheap set of wheels with a dedicated set of tires for tracking.
Mike
New summer performance tires won't get destroyed in one track day but do NOT expect them to look as new anymore after you go. If you drive the car hard, you will put wear on the tires (particularly the fronts). If you can live with that, then go, otherwise have other tires for the track.
shizzrock
04-10-2015, 02:34 PM
Short answer: yes
priceprince
04-10-2015, 02:49 PM
I was kinda happy that it was raining like crazy at my track day last year. The wet conditions kept my newish PSS tires from getting cooked that day. Tons of fun.
B8 S4
04-10-2015, 02:54 PM
I was kinda happy that it was raining like crazy at my track day last year. The wet conditions kept my newish PSS tires from getting cooked that day. Tons of fun.
Racing + rain = no fun + dangerous
Thumper3
04-10-2015, 04:13 PM
But yeah, if you plan on having a good time you will probably destroy your all season tires at a track day.
Mike
Wrong.
In fact, if you are new to the track, A/S are the BEST tire for you to run. On slicks or even high performance summers they will grip and grip....until they don't. That departure point is nearly instantaneous and at that point you are way out on the edges of control. A/S will not let you reach that high level of grip which sounds bad, but that means if you lose it you are not way out there. Also the A/S will squeal and complain and let you know when you are on the edge of it's grip long before you lose grip. You will learn a lot more and become a better driver learning on a lower power car and less than super tires.
Will you accelerate the wear on the tires? Yeah. Will they be worn out after 1 day? LOL no. I tracked my GTI heavily on A/S tires. Sonoma, Thunderhill, Laguna Seca...... over 12 track days, the first set of tires the factory Pirrelli A/S had about 6/32 on them and after about 5 track days were down to 4/32. Switched out to a set of Goodyear Eagle A/S with 7/32 on them, and after a couple Sonoma's, 2 Thunderhill's, and one Laguna Seca.....they were down to 4/32
GeoJoe
04-10-2015, 04:53 PM
OP- "Destroy" your tires is a harsh term. You can definitely take some chunks out but they will most likely still be ok on the street. Just watch your PSI as they heat up. Newbies often eat into the sidewall quickly with the wrong pressure.
I agree that going out bone stock as a novice on A/S tires is good for skill building.
Racing + rain = no fun + dangerous
Wrong again.
This is what the Quattro was made for! Passing everyone and never felt more safe doing 115mph.
http://youtu.be/CqiHrsFJvaM
AudiA4Style
04-11-2015, 06:48 PM
Absolutely!
skiptowncat
04-12-2015, 05:39 AM
If they don't get destroyed, you're doing it wrong
MrFunk
04-12-2015, 07:07 AM
This is what the Quattro was made for! Passing everyone and never felt more safe doing 115mph.
http://youtu.be/CqiHrsFJvaM
I'm surprised it took you 5 minutes to pass that GTI!
GeoJoe
04-12-2015, 07:13 AM
I'm surprised it took you 5 minutes to pass that GTI!
Yeah. Safety first and all that shit.
In reality, there's only 3 places to pass under the club rules.
Chandler
04-12-2015, 08:38 AM
Racing + rain = no fun + dangerous
I gotta a little slide ways at my last track event. I disagree, all the old people in porches were scared and discouraged so they left which cleared the track up xD
drew4392
04-12-2015, 08:40 AM
I'm thinking about doing a local auto-cross event at a small airport. It will scratch the itch of wanting to a track-like event, but not kill the tires and brakes. One lap at a time, about 40-50 seconds.
Some are saying yes about harsh wear, others are not. Interesting. Guess it varies quite a bit.
Dominick's S4
04-12-2015, 06:00 PM
It has a lot to do with the type of track you are on and how hard you push the car/tires.. If there are a lot of turns and less straights you are more prone to burning your tires. Key is let the tires talk to you.. If they squeal you are pushing too hard Smooth is better and faster.. I use Michelin Super Sports and have burned through a set of fronts (blistered the right front outer edge and good old discount tire warrantied it for me) with 5K on them in one hard track day at AMP- Atlanta Motorsports Park.. Road Atlanta is a little easier on the tires as its not as tight and has longer straights.. If you want to play, you have to pay... For me, I go to the track to drive faster than I can on the road.. My first few track days I was really hard on the tires and brakes. Once I learned to hit the apex a little better there was less wear and tear on the tires..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-QvlNN2UI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m0HRqUAAE8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCgn9uJ7AT0
Racing + rain = no fun + dangerous
I disagree here too. I mean, as long as you are driving with in your and your cars abilities, wet track days are fantastic fun. The S4 especially shines in the rain.
drob23
04-13-2015, 10:32 AM
I disagree here too. I mean, as long as you are driving with in your and your cars abilities, wet track days are fantastic fun. The S4 especially shines in the rain.
It probably depends also on the track surface and what kind of rain we are talking about. I had decent rain at mid-ohio and the indy cars had just finished with qualifying...so there was really slick rubber all over the surface. Not to mention which tires you are running...
I have yet to have a DE really rained over, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time [:|]
Thumper3
04-13-2015, 10:35 AM
I'm thinking about doing a local auto-cross event at a small airport. It will scratch the itch of wanting to a track-like event, but not kill the tires and brakes. One lap at a time, about 40-50 seconds.
Some are saying yes about harsh wear, others are not. Interesting. Guess it varies quite a bit.
As was mentioned, depends a lot on the track and how well you pick up the right lines and cornering. If you hammer into every turn too fast and go off line and fight to get back.....yeah, you'll scrub the front tires to melting point. LOL
I disagree here too. I mean, as long as you are driving with in your and your cars abilities, wet track days are fantastic fun. The S4 especially shines in the rain.
Yeah, it all comes down to being an intelligent driver or not. The guys that forget they are in the rain or think they are F1 drivers and don't adjust will be dangerous as heck. It's just extra dicey as rain will literally make the track different each lap, almost like being under debris caution at every corner. Where there was a puddle last lap may be dry now, and a new puddle somewhere else. I would never have attempted it in the GTI with the FailWD, doing it in an AWD would be interesting. lol
S42014forme
04-13-2015, 10:37 AM
If you enjoy yourself and are somewhat of a decent driver then 1 HPDE = 5000 miles of wear.
I have been wanting to participate in a High Performance Drivers Education track day with my car, but am worried that I will destroy my tires. I just put on a new set of Michelin A/S 3's a week ago, track day is in a month.
Will I kill them, or just some minor wear?
Thoughts?
pcardenas
04-13-2015, 10:38 AM
I disagree here too. I mean, as long as you are driving with in your and your cars abilities, wet track days are fantastic fun. The S4 especially shines in the rain.
I agree!!! Rain jut put some additional challenge to drive, but is FUN and you need to drive in rain or slippery surfaces. I really like tracks days, SUNNY or STORMY!!!!!
And the other question , the ANSWER is YES: You will destroy you tires in one, two or... X tracks days, you will note heavy wear in each track day.
[:)]
S42014forme
04-13-2015, 10:42 AM
Completely disagree, rain allows the Quattro to shine. Drove Gateway Motorsport Park in IL last Summer and had a blast in the S4. Car was amazing and was able to pass cars that normally should pass me, including Ferrari's! AWD vs RWD in the rain changes everything.
Racing + rain = no fun + dangerous
Sales@DriveAuto
04-13-2015, 10:59 AM
You won't destroy them over the course of a track event. Driving a smooth line will help preserve the tread, as will proper pressures. I ran Summit Main in my BMW with all-seasons (snowed the night before; was too lazy to change wheels over) - the tires survived fine, with no noticeable decrease in tread depth or chunking. Yes, they get greasy and you start to lose grip as they heat up, but if you're a beginner, this will help teach you how to drive within the limits of the car.
When you get there, ask your/an instructor what the proper tire pressures should be - they'll be happy to help explain. Is this for ACNA-NJ Pocono's event?
B8 S4
04-13-2015, 10:59 AM
Alright since everyone keeps disagreeing with my comment, maybe it is still fun. We could all agree that it is for sure expedentially more dangerous than tracking when it is dry out
MerkurRS
04-13-2015, 11:28 AM
You won't destroy them over the course of a track event. Driving a smooth line will help preserve the tread, as will proper pressures. I ran Summit Main in my BMW with all-seasons (snowed the night before; was too lazy to change wheels over) - the tires survived fine, with no noticeable decrease in tread depth or chunking. Yes, they get greasy and you start to lose grip as they heat up, but if you're a beginner, this will help teach you how to drive within the limits of the car.
When you get there, ask your/an instructor what the proper tire pressures should be - they'll be happy to help explain. Is this for ACNA-NJ Pocono's event?
YES!
This would be for the NJ ACNA Pocono event- running the IMSA course.
http://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/p707/gofastqa4/512px-Pocono_Raceway_long_road_coursesvg__zps3568a346.pn g
Since this is not a competition event, I have a good chance of 1) learning a lot and 2) leaving with tires somewhat intact and 3) having a blast!. I think I am going to sign up!
Sales@DriveAuto
04-13-2015, 12:32 PM
YES!
This would be for the NJ ACNA Pocono event- running the IMSA course.
Since this is not a competition event, I have a good chance of 1) learning a lot and 2) leaving with tires somewhat intact and 3) having a blast!. I think I am going to sign up!
It's a great event put on by a great group of guys (a large number of them are our customers) - definitely sign up. Tires will be totally fine - just go out and enjoy (and learn)! We will (hopefully) see you there!
MerkurRS
05-09-2015, 04:57 PM
It's a great event put on by a great group of guys (a large number of them are our customers) - definitely sign up. Tires will be totally fine - just go out and enjoy (and learn)! We will (hopefully) see you there!
I am not sure if I met you (?) or not...I tried to move about during free times.
I did have a BLAST and barely did anything to the tires. Yes...I pushed the car pretty hard- considering it was my first time. The car performed beautifully! SOOOO glad I did it!!