Potomac-Greg

And I think 41 is acceptable if measured right AFTER the run.

CP

They get slick after 5 laps. They're more of an autox tire. I trashed a set of those in 3 months last spring after multiple track events. They're pretty bad in the wet with less than half the tread left too, and loud.

I'd suggest the Hankook Z212 RS2 from Edge Racing. They handle the heat generated from repeated lapping well, yet tend to chunk like all street tires do when pushed. They're good in the wet, and not too loud when worn. I'm on my second set.

Both these tires like around 36psi hot for lapping in my experience (3200# car).

rbt

the MX is an aging design, I really think the RT615 is better on most fronts.

however the new Kumho is called Ecsta XS; no idea on pricing yet, but i'm guessing it will be closer to Falken than Yoko in that regard. Also, Toyo has the new R-1R, also in the same class (sort of a street version of the RA-1). make sure to at least check those out before buying.

J. Patterson

Did Barber Motorsports, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway ,and Daytona (3 day) in November and December.
(yeah it was a good month:-) )

The Falkens are a big improvement over Bridgestone S03 and Pirelli P Zero Nero street tires that I have used at HPDEs in the past. Compared to street tires they are wearing well with no chunking. Tread depth is about 1/2 after six days on track. (500--600 miles? ) They have stiffer sidewall and don't roll over. I usually start at 38 psi cold and measure tire temps across the tread to adjust. On a warm day, tire temps are pretty even across the tire and hot pressure ends up at about 45-47 psi on front after a 30 minute session.( I have -1 degree camber frt. and -1 1/2 degrees rear.) These pressures are higher than you mention but have worked well for me. Yes they do give up a bit of grip as they get hotter. But---- I was able to run with anybody in group 4 in the infield section at Daytona, with some driving 911s and Z06s. Too bad I couldn't do the same on the banking :-) .

I think the Falkens are a good intermediate tire choice for someone who tracks a street driven car a few times a year. And they are cheap! I still run P Zero Neros on the street.
Good luck with your choice.

CP

Damn. I'd begin the morning at 26-28psi cold with those tires, settling in at around 36psi hot. Grassroots Motorsports had an article in the fall that tested this tire and found 35-37 psi the optimal hot range. Running your pressures so high may be part of your ultimate grip problem.

Here are a few shots of my tires after an event in early July at NHIS:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/815/dscf3166.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/815/dscf3165.jpg">

All street tires tend to chunk (in my experience) if you beat on them hard enough in hot weather. Here's the Hankook:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/815/franknhisbob3.jpg">

Mr. Mom

PS2's are corded and I'd like to try something different.


Thoughts?

J. Patterson

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/815/dscf3165.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/815/dscf3166.jpg">

Your's do look good without evidence of rollover of the outside corners. I also notice that you have more wear on the inside edge. Do you have more than 1 degree negative camber? I have a bit more wear insde as TTs are prone to do at rear, but not as much as you. Sorry I don't have pics to share but my tires are only worn slightly more than yours after 3 events. Maybe I need to drive harder :-)
after reading your post I may try a few pounds less at my next event. I will say that at Daytona, Bob Woodman (a high performance tire dealer) was cautioning everyone to keep their pressures up for safety. Despite this there were a couple of tire failures. One on a 911 did lots of damage and could have been disasterous. Thanks again for sharing.

rbt

everyone talks about them 'getting greasy'; maybe it's only me, but *every* street tire I've used on track starts to overheat and lose a bit of grip after several consecutive laps. you just have to know this and incorporate this into your driving. I believe that the Falkens have such good cold grip compared to other street tires, that the 'dropoff' when hot is just more noticeable....not that the actual 'hot' grip level is any worse than another performance tire. just IMO.
but Falken aside, if you're the early adopter type, go try out the new Kumho or Toyo models I mentioned, they look very promising.

CP

Which would explain the excessive wear on the inside portion of the tires (rear camber was -2.5*). I got 8 track days from that set last spring on the Mitsubishi in my sig.

(I still haven't figured out how to post multiple pictures in a single post).

billybobster

Thanks for all the great responses.

Some of my bundled comments.

First - see below for a picture of the rolling over. This is during a session when the FR was at 41 psi immediately after.

I think I'm doing the Falken RT-615s. In the 245/45/17 they have a 99 load rating, good for my 3800 lb grocery getter (I kid, I love my Avant).

- Mr. Mom, the white out is a great idea. Actually, I brought some shoe polish but never got around to putting it on. But the visual evidence is scuffing is clear, halfway down the letters. Also, the picture...

- PoTTomac-Greg - more negative camber would help but I think the P6s are still not track worthy. Also, daily driving is still job #1.

- BuddyDog - the Flik Lex's should fit, less offet than OEM 18s, plenty of ID clearance on the OEM brakes with the 18s and they're coming from a Nor Cal track dayer with an A4 Avant (Pat W. - do you know him?).


<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/131300/2008-01-thill-10-entry-800.jpg">