Getting Ready for the Track and Autocross this Year
03-23-2005, 05:14 AM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Getting Ready for the Track and Autocross this Year
I got those forged wheels (okay, they haven't arrived yet)...going on vacation this Friday for a week and then the following weekend is the first Chicago Audi club autocross.....
So I'm finishing up my set up.....
Just ordered my tires for the A8 from tirerack:
265/35ZR-18 Dunlop SP Super Sport Race
For four of them with shipping, it was $549.00, what a great deal! I then asked about heat cycling them in the Chicago forum and Luke from the tirerack stated he could change my order and they would heat cycle them.
So they are doing that now.....the rest is from Luke's post, interesting, didn't know anything about heat cycling, but it's basically heat treating for tires. Now I see the difference between sticker tires and tires that have a few laps on them. It's good to have friends at the tirerack!
<img src="https://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/tiretech/heatcycle/hc_machine.jpg">
As participation in autocrossing, track days, driving schools and road racing continues to grow in popularity, the tire manufacturers have developed unique DOT legal competition tires which feature very sophisticated tread compounds. However just like other high performance parts, these tires will provide more consistent performance and last longer if they are properly broken-in.
Close up of hest cycle stampThe first time a competition tire is used is the most important. During that run, its tread compound is stretched, some of the weaker bonds between the rubber molecules will be broken (which generates some of the heat). If the tires are initially run too hard or too long, some of the stronger bonds will also be broken which will reduces the tire's grip and wear qualities. Running new tires through an easy heat cycle first, and allowing them to relax allows the rubber bonds to relink in a more uniform manner than they were originally manufactured. It actually makes them more consistent in strength and more resistant to loosing their strength the next time they are used. An important heat cycling step is that after being brought up to temperature, the tires require a minimum of 24 to 48 hours to relax and reform the bonds between their rubber molecules.
Picture of tire on heat cycling machine spinningLooking at the heat cycling system, it positions a mounted and inflated tire between rollers which apply pressure while the tire is rolled up to speed. It is very important to note that this allows heat to be generated as a result of deflecting (stretching) the tire within its normal operating range. There is no "artificial" heat added (no oven, no forced air, etc). Then they receive the stamp showing they are Tire Rack heat cycled.
Measuring the tread temperatures with a tire pyrometer we confirmed that in our controlled environment we were able to achieve appropriate and more consistent temperatures across the tire's tread without causing treadwear. All of these are significant improvements over heat cycling tires on our test track. And the 24 to 48 hour waiting period efficiently occurs while the tires are in transit to you. That means the tires are ready to use when they arrive!
So I'm finishing up my set up.....
Just ordered my tires for the A8 from tirerack:
265/35ZR-18 Dunlop SP Super Sport Race
For four of them with shipping, it was $549.00, what a great deal! I then asked about heat cycling them in the Chicago forum and Luke from the tirerack stated he could change my order and they would heat cycle them.
So they are doing that now.....the rest is from Luke's post, interesting, didn't know anything about heat cycling, but it's basically heat treating for tires. Now I see the difference between sticker tires and tires that have a few laps on them. It's good to have friends at the tirerack!
<img src="https://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/tiretech/heatcycle/hc_machine.jpg">
As participation in autocrossing, track days, driving schools and road racing continues to grow in popularity, the tire manufacturers have developed unique DOT legal competition tires which feature very sophisticated tread compounds. However just like other high performance parts, these tires will provide more consistent performance and last longer if they are properly broken-in.
Close up of hest cycle stampThe first time a competition tire is used is the most important. During that run, its tread compound is stretched, some of the weaker bonds between the rubber molecules will be broken (which generates some of the heat). If the tires are initially run too hard or too long, some of the stronger bonds will also be broken which will reduces the tire's grip and wear qualities. Running new tires through an easy heat cycle first, and allowing them to relax allows the rubber bonds to relink in a more uniform manner than they were originally manufactured. It actually makes them more consistent in strength and more resistant to loosing their strength the next time they are used. An important heat cycling step is that after being brought up to temperature, the tires require a minimum of 24 to 48 hours to relax and reform the bonds between their rubber molecules.
Picture of tire on heat cycling machine spinningLooking at the heat cycling system, it positions a mounted and inflated tire between rollers which apply pressure while the tire is rolled up to speed. It is very important to note that this allows heat to be generated as a result of deflecting (stretching) the tire within its normal operating range. There is no "artificial" heat added (no oven, no forced air, etc). Then they receive the stamp showing they are Tire Rack heat cycled.
Measuring the tread temperatures with a tire pyrometer we confirmed that in our controlled environment we were able to achieve appropriate and more consistent temperatures across the tire's tread without causing treadwear. All of these are significant improvements over heat cycling tires on our test track. And the 24 to 48 hour waiting period efficiently occurs while the tires are in transit to you. That means the tires are ready to use when they arrive!
03-23-2005, 06:22 AM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Probably....getting Fikse 18x9.5 forged wheels (used)
<img src="http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/dunlop/du_super_sport_race_ci2_l.jpg">
Gonna mount them on my soon to get wheels, the black wheels are the actual wheels, the following is a stock photo:
<img src="http://www.audipages.com/images/trackwheel1.JPG">
<img src="http://www.audipages.com/images/trackwheel2.JPG">
Gonna mount them on my soon to get wheels, the black wheels are the actual wheels, the following is a stock photo:
<img src="http://www.audipages.com/images/trackwheel1.JPG">
<img src="http://www.audipages.com/images/trackwheel2.JPG">
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
O.W. Kenobi
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
9
09-21-2004 03:35 PM
Bruce M
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
4
05-08-2003 05:34 AM