New racing tires for old man. Suggestions

[Ruadhd2]

So, at the tender age of 68 I have signed up for up for my first track training day at Summit Point for June. I will be running my Rotus. Currently it has 15 inch wheels with Kuhmo Esta ASX 205-50-R15 tires. I understand these tires are not appropriate for the track.

 

I will probably run on my 14 inch racing Panasports, but would like suggestions for a track tire. I do not plan to autocross, just occasionally track it at Summit Point.

 

Suggestions?

[turboeric]

First, based on my experience with heavier cars (Miata, RX7), those tires will survive your first track day just fine. They won't give you face-stretching grip, but you probably won't be exploring the outer limits of your car's capabilities on your first time out anyway.

 

I've had excellent experience with the Nitto NT-01, which has the added attraction of being cheap and durable (as these things go).

[TLRracer]

Nitto NT-01's are great !

[Boxologist]

for ur 1st track day, those are fine. Those tyres will ensure that ur limits are low enough that u survive to see ur next track day.

[S1Steve]

I agree with Boxologist, you may get to the limit with the Kuhmo's. You will be feel it

 

come up to the limits in a more controlled setting. The sticky tire's will also mask some

of the handling problems, and mask some driver error till something bad takes place.

Then all the fun goes away, fun is what a DE event is all about in my view.

 

Good Luck and enjoy, Steve

[Ruadhd2]

Great advice. Thanks

[Ian7]

all sound advice, I'd add also that the advantage of a lower ultimate grip tire means you'll find and understand the edge at a safer level, and more importantly, the tires need to stay consistent throughout the day so you don't confuse tire degradation with loss or lack of skill :-)

[Kitcat]

IF you will be on the Shenandoah Circuit, find an in-car video of a hot lap and watch it every day until you can run the course in your mind without the video. Those of us who did the track as part of LOG 30, and who never had been there before, found its 23 or so turns enormously confusing. It is hard to get the "line" right when you think the course veers right after the blind turn in, only to see it goes the opposite direction. Like driving an auto-X course w/o first walking it a few times.

 

Tom,(Yellow SS7) can I get an "amen!"?

Edited April 8, 2011 by Kitcat

[yellowss7]

AMEN!!! I got confused twice and went in the pit out lane on two occations. In my defense, I will say that this is the only track I've seen where You can actually do that without doing a spin. You come off a right hander and the pit out is staring you right in the face. The guy waving the black flag and pointing at me confused the hell out of me. So I drove right in. WRONG!!!! The fact that I did it twice tells you that it's easy to do. Although then again, my wife has called me "clueless on more than one occasion." :blush::svengo:

 

It is a fun course for a seven though. Enjoy.

 

Tom