Track Day Wheels and Tyres help

[bearded_ed]

Hiya,

So I'm wanting to do my first ever track day soon. I've only had my Zed 3 months so far and have done a reasonable amount of driving. It came with runflats and it was awful to drive, now I have a full set of Uniroyal Rainsport 3s on my 108s which I love.

Problem is I've heard that unless it's wet, I could well destroy my new tyres in one track day! Which is the last thing I want.

Am I wrong about this?

If that is the case, do I get my runflats put back on for the track days or is there a cheap set of 17s or something I can get with tyres?

Forum experts, what would you do?

 

[mmm-five]

It depends on how you drive.

Doesn’t matter what tyres you’re have...you can go through a set of tyres whether they’re the shittiest budget brand or the best track tyre...it will depend on how you drive on your first track day.

Personally I’d recommend a wet/cold event for the first event as it’s likely to be a shorter & quieter day anyway...and unless you’re sliding it everywhere then I cant see you going through a full set anyway...worst case would be a set of rears, but I don’t think you’ll be going hard enough for that.

I can ruin a set of rears in 15 minutes of a drift circuit, 30 minutes of an airfield circuit, or make a set last 20,000 miles of steady road/track/Ring driving.

 

[bearded_ed]

Doesn’t matter what tyres you’re have...you can go through a set of tyres whether they’re the shittiest budget brand or the best track tyre...it will depend on how you drive on your first track day.

This is a very good point. I suspect that I will make them last more than just the track day. Mainly because it'll be my first time on track and I suspect I won't be pushing at 100% of my ability.

The Zed is my daily and only car now so I will have to look after it!

But if they tyres are done after a day then I guess I'll replace them and get a second set of wheels!

 

[NeilP]

Set of 17”s can be had for not much money (for use as track set) - not to mention that some track/fast road tyres are also more affordable in the smaller sizes!

 

[brillomaster]

Id use the runflats on track... the main problems with tramlining and poor comfort dont apply to tracks, but stiff sidewalls will help. And then once theyre worn out, get a second set of cheap 18" wheels with proper track tyres.

 

[Mister T]

There's no way you'll finish off a new set of tyres on your first track day.

Edited to add: I had Rainsport 3s on my Fabia VRS and found them a bit soft for anything other than daily driving. I think they'll be a bit s**t on track.

 

[bearded_ed]

Id use the runflats on track... the main problems with tramlining and poor comfort dont apply to tracks, but stiff sidewalls will help. And then once theyre worn out, get a second set of cheap 18" wheels with proper track tyres.

This is kinda what I am thinking. Shred them as much as possible.
Sure it'll cost me a bit to get them swapped onto my wheels but it'll save my RS3s for daily use.