Race slicks - Weight / Heat / Size - Dilemma

[yellowss7]

I know you guys are alot faster than me, but assuming a 1:40 average lap at Tbolt, a 25 minute session that we do would be about 15 laps. At. 2.25 miles a lap that's 33.75 miles per session.

 

Michael are you doing significantly longer sessions? Even 30 minute sessions would only get you 40.5 miles per session. I know you, Croc and Kitcat are faster than me, but you don't lap me 5 to 7 times per session.:toetap05::ack:

 

I just did the calculations on my usage, on the Hoosier 25b compound and I get around 1000 to 1200 miles per set and that is wringing them out. They usually don't wear out but get less sticky. Althought I will admit to cording the rears on one set last year. But I think that was due to my rear camber ears being ones for a radial tire. I'm changing them over to the .25 degree ears shortly.

 

Tom

Edited January 15, 2013 by yellowss7

[Kitcat]

Yes Tom, I mite be a bit speedier than you, tho dont recall ever lapping more that 1x, often none- but what you are forgetting is whatever time I may gain on you I lose sliding backwards into the dirt, returning to the pits, pleading my sad excuse to the track manager, etc:). It really cuts down my total mileage!.

 

I consider it a good day if I can log 100 miles on track (and that's w/o any off track adventures). Young guys, like you and MikeD, can just blast around til your tires melt.

[MichaelD]

Tom,

 

You make some good points. I don't know my lap times at NJMP. However, Summit is 2.2 miles and I do that in 87 seconds. With a 30 minute session that is 44 miles per session with seven sessions or 303 miles per weekend. That's still over 3,000 miles in 20 days on the track.

 

R6s are significantly harder that your 25bs. However, they don't get greasy as fast as the A6s, 25bs or Avons do in July and August.

Edited January 15, 2013 by MichaelD

[Klasik-69]

I realize you guys run up north and the temps are different than what we have in the south. I talked to Jeff @ Hoosier yesterday on tire recommendations. He strongly advised staying with a bias ply racing slick for the 7's, explaining that the lightweight negates any advantage the DOT radials have, like the A6 and R6 tires they have. I ran 6 races last year on the R6 205-50R 15 (SM6 tires) and did well. I just ordered some 13" bias ply race slicks in the R35 compound to mount on my stock 13" wheels. Can't wait to see how they perform. The advantage of the 13" wheels is like changing the rear axle ratio, giving me more rpm's at the top to allow me to use 5th gear. I run TT events in the SEDIV SCCA and will be also running two hill climb events at the Tail of the Dragon. There, I plan on switching back to the Miata wheels fitted with the A6 autocross compound. Hill climbs don't give you enough time to warm up tires to where they need to be to stick, hence the A6 choice.