I'm off to the nurburgring (again!) in about 3 weeks, and need 4 new tyres - currently running some dunlop RF's on my JCW wheels (205/40/18's) - reading up on the handling deficiencies of RFs (tho I've never really found them to be a problem - quite like the bumpy ride!) and the cost (150 EACH - again! £600!) and am wondering if now was the right time to go a different way with it.
So... here's the questions:
a) Suggestions for non-RF tyres - am looking for a medium-soft compound - they're going to get the be-jesus kicked out of them next month anyway so longevity seems a little irrelevant
b) If I did go RF - would a can of Holts tyreweld work with tyres of this profile (205/40) - just in case the unthinkable happened?
Am sure there's some clever bod out there that can advise
I would go for a road legal track day tyre like Toyo R888's or Yoko Advans. Medium compounds are fine. They dont allow full slicks.
I ran with runflats on the first time i went with 215/35/18's and i was fine. Tbh if you get a flat tyre, i wouldnt even think about going on the ring with a can of goo in my tyre, run flat or not i would get it changed.
We're going from 15-18th - staying at the excellent Blau Ecke in Adenau (with the lovely Michaela!) - sounds like I'll just miss you.
Re: going on ring with shot tyres, suffice to say that the color is only now coming back to my face at the mere suggestion of going on there with a 1/2 deflated tyre
was more of question of "I need new rubber - do I go non-RF?" and "if I do get a puncture (on the way to / from the ring) - will Holts work with the 205/40/18s"?
As you're a ringer - what are you running and what's your best BTG time? Mine's MCS rag top, 9:30-35 (I didnt have a stop watch on, just overtook my bro in law who did a 9:40 ahead of me)
For those that own JCW wheels - I'm trying the Toyo px4 (non RF) tyre to replace the dunlop rf's that are on there now.
as they're non RF am also:
buying a couple of cans of holts (the can confirms that it should work - all wheels over 155mm in width is the only restriction I can see) - whether in practice it works properly or not's another story.
Am also trying to source a single wheel and tyre to put on the back seat and take with me to germany in case of a flat (ebay!)
I'll report back with findings should I have anything to add.
Cheers!
Andy
PS - price for the Px4's - 360 all in from camskill - awaiting delivery
If you're carrying a spare tire inside the cabin, I hope you're planning on anchoring it down somehow. You wouldn't want it flying around inside if you got in an accident
i would'nt run R888's at the ring unless you had a spare set, as if it rains you would'nt be able to go out on them. And as April/May you are virtually guaranteed some rain on a weekend trip it would be mad to leave them as your only tyres. Even at easter we had rain when the temps were 25c all weekend.
For most people ( unless there mad) normal tyres wil be ok.
Just a pointer, don;t get hooked on timing laps, most regulars don;t time laps anymore as its just not worth it. Fastest i ever timed was a 9m12 in my old R53, I'm probably a lot quicker now as i have done nearly 100 laps now. In fact i am there on Saturday and sunday and do 5-6 visits a year, this weekend is my second visit in a month.
Just for info, 2 guys in an Elise were seriously injured last weekend, they were both experienced Ringers, so please take it easy.
Miniac - thanks for that - oddly I hadn't considered that side of it Will ensure it's belted down and secured accordingly.
Ant FR - again - thanks - I appreciate the input. The reviews I've read on the px4s (which aren't the same as 888's I believe - they're the really soft ones that throw rocks at your wheel arches aren't they?) - illude to the fact that they're good mid-rangers - which have got to be a big improvement on 80% worn dunlops. I managed to kill my fronts last year after 15 laps and had to call it a day - they just stopped gripping 1/2 way through a corner! scarey stuff... never again.
Re: timing - I only ever do when I've got a pax and then it's only ever for interest only at the end of the lap (i.e. I dont keep on at them "how am I doing?"). I never go out with a view to breaking my records / improving a certain corner / beating my friends time.... tho I understand what you're saying and agree completely. frankly, am not good enough to start considering those types of things anyway.
Ant FR - apologies for the confusion - I was wondering why you'd mentioned the 888's (for a mo there I thought I'd missed something and the PX4s were another name for he 888's.... ) - thanks for the reply and heads up anyway - I'll be interested to see how my px4 (delivered either today or next tues) stack up.
PS - 9:12 in a 53! blimey - you must've been shifting! good man... I'll be happy if any of my laps are sub-9:30.
Actually Ant - maybe you can give me an opinion on handling: spacers or not? do you run them on the front? if so - big improvement? I doubt am pushing the car enough to discover this "washing out" that's been reported. too late for this years trip, but maybe for next year (with a pulley / 210bhp upgrade too)
nah 9:12 is ***** as i have never had the bottle to push it full on at the ring as i want to be able to drive home..... Our first ever trip there a few backs ended up with one guy haveing his car written off on the track and he had to hitch a lift with us. ( we were lucky back then as ring was less known than it is now and we manged to drive the car (with steam coming out and only 3 wheels) about 2 miles down the road then got it recovered from there. Told us all a good lesson. Even at easter when i was there there was a cock in a Clio 197 F1 edition and he was boasting int he car park how he got 9 mins on his first ever visit tot he track, we all laughed as he was a first timer, latter that morning he was seen on the back of a recovery track with the side all caved in.
There is a guy on here i think who using a standard GP managed an 8:25, but he knows the track inside out and is a regular.
brill - I always tell my (utterly terrified and hates the ring) missus that you can do it safely if you just keep your head and dont get into racing people (it always seems to be EVOs and M3's that cause all the trouble)
last year there was a uk M3 that caused all sorted of hassle (3 hour closure, helicopters, police, the lot) - bike tyre marks down his stoved in drivers door. this whole "tyres" question has come up in an effort to make it as safe as possible - I've got a 2yr old daughter who wouldn't be v.pleased if her dad (or mini - she loves it) doesnt come home in one peice.
thanks for the words of wisdom fella - much appreciate it
Last year when we were there on our last day some nob in an m3 was tooling it around and his engine blew! Rather than stopping he kept going for over a mile spitting oil all over the track before his engine finally gave up the ghost and he ground to a halt.
During the mile or so he travelled 4/5 cars crashed behind him as they all skidded off the track on the oil he decided to spread!
needless to say the track was closed for the rest of the day!
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Will ensure it's belted down and secured accordingly.
) - thanks for the reply and heads up anyway - I'll be interested to see how my px4 (delivered either today or next tues) stack up.
Our first ever trip there a few backs ended up with one guy haveing his car written off on the track and he had to hitch a lift with us. ( we were lucky back then as ring was less known than it is now and we manged to drive the car (with steam coming out and only 3 wheels) about 2 miles down the road then got it recovered from there. Told us all a good lesson. Even at easter when i was there there was a cock in a Clio 197 F1 edition and he was boasting int he car park how he got 9 mins on his first ever visit tot he track, we all laughed as he was a first timer, latter that morning he was seen on the back of a recovery track with the side all caved in.
