[S4to335]

My friend is in this 318iS with a E30 M3 engine...and I was having definite handling issues...ESPECIALLY in the esses at Buttonwillow. This was a BMWCCA driving event on 9/19 and 9/20.

At the end of the video I pull of the track...wondering what the hell is wrong with my tires. Just to provide details..I was on brand new R888s R compounds on the rear axle..and on chorded Pilot Sport Cups on the front...both front and back were overinflated to about 42 hot - front, and 47 hot - rear. They really are best..when there is tread at about 32 hot front (Pilot sport Cups) and about 39-40 hot rear with the R888s (atleast in my experience).

Anyway, enjoy the video..I am the white car in front.

[The HACK]

That's the same excuse I was using all weekend long whenever someone catches up to (and passes) me.

In all honesty I was having a terrible time with the tires that weekend. Really.

[chaz58]

Nice having a chase car, eh?

Since we are sharing ;-) here is the track wagon lapping Waterford Hills. The chase car is a full Dinan 330 with some nice sticky tires. I love the camera angle - down low right behind the front tire!

Its a tight little track with lots of elevation changes. I love it.

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by The HACK

That's the same excuse I was using all weekend long whenever someone catches up to (and passes) me.

In all honesty I was having a terrible time with the tires that weekend. Really.

I was able to feel a bit better when I lowered pressures..but I finally called it a day when I saw strings of tire fabric hanging off my tires. It was hot that day...what...about 96 or so? I dont remember seeing you on the track...what sessions did you get to run in? I was in "A" on Sunday.

[vwong]

Originally Posted by S4to335

I was able to feel a bit better when I lowered pressures..but I finally called it a day when I saw strings of tire fabric hanging off my tires. It was hot that day...what...about 96 or so? I dont remember seeing you on the track...what sessions did you get to run in? I was in "A" on Sunday.

Slightly off topic......how many laps per session were you able to run in a hot day before the oil temp started to climb? Last weekend at Spring Mountain, I could manage about 4 hot laps, then I had to pit. It was about 100 degrees that day.

[S4to335]

I am guessing about 6-7 hard laps until I hit 290+ in oil temps.

[vwong]

Originally Posted by S4to335

I am guessing about 6-7 hard laps until I hit 290+ in oil temps.

Hmm.....maybe I could've done couple more laps. I pretty much slowed down when the oil temp just passed the 270 mark.

Anyways, the chase car looks pretty quick. I see that the Star Mazda was used. I've never run Star Mazda in CW. The organization I run with usually runs config. #13 CW.

[S4to335]

I was the chase car...and I was having handling issues and slowed down in Talledega a bit...notice how far I was away from the apex cone at the exit of Talledega? Also I did braking at the last berm of the esses..I normally would be totally WOT there. I didnt like how my car did the bus stop at all.

[vwong]

Oh....I always thought "chase car" refers to the car chasing. I guess it's the other way around.

Yeah, I noticed you braking at the end of the esses. You also braked at the left hand kink leading up to magic mountain, didn't you?

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by S4to335

I was able to feel a bit better when I lowered pressures..but I finally called it a day when I saw strings of tire fabric hanging off my tires. It was hot that day...what...about 96 or so? I dont remember seeing you on the track...what sessions did you get to run in? I was in "A" on Sunday.

I only drove 3 sessions over the weekend, once in the "instructor derby," and once in B on Saturday and once in B on Sunday. The R1-Rs just doesn't seem to like higher tire pressure, had max grip around 35 psi hot but at that pressure there seem to be a lot of sidewall flex too.

Ended up cutting the instructor session short, after about 6 laps I just didn't feel comfortable with the tires (car had gone sideways multiple times) and instead of trying to keep it under control, I just called it a day. The rears had gone up from 29 psi to 38 psi in 6 laps.

It felt like closer to 100 if you ask me.

[Hit_Apex]

It was a great weekend despite the heat - car ran awesome considering. I know several instructors that didn't get much track time at all even though 5 mins were trimmed from every session Sunday to give you guys some time. I pulled a random lap on the one session I recorded. Looks like I was working on some braking drills and experimenting with staying in 4th gear from T5 through T9. Didn't work out so well as the car seems to lug coming out of the bus stop and magic mountain.

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by S4to335

My friend is in this 318iS with a E30 M3 engine...and I was having definite handling issues...ESPECIALLY in the esses at Buttonwillow. This was a BMWCCA driving event on 9/19 and 9/20.

At the end of the video I pull of the track...wondering what the hell is wrong with my tires. Just to provide details..I was on brand new R888s R compounds on the rear axle..and on chorded Pilot Sport Cups on the front...both front and back were overinflated to about 42 hot - front, and 47 hot - rear. They really are best..when there is tread at about 32 hot front (Pilot sport Cups) and about 39-40 hot rear with the R888s (atleast in my experience).

Anyway, enjoy the video..I am the white car in front.

This what my 888's look like after 3 hours.Not impressed at all as this the second set with the same issue.I ran RA1's the last day with no such issues and still had grip after 3 or 4 hard laps unlike the 888's that went away big time.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

This what my 888's look like after 3 hours.Not impressed at all as this the second set with the same issue.I ran RA1's the last day with no such issues and still had grip after 3 or 4 hard laps unlike the 888's that went away big time.

Yozah. I was going to get R888s because I get employee pricing at Toyo...But now the decision has been made, since I already have a set of rear scrub NT-01s at home.

[S4to335]

I should take some pics of my pilot sport cups...they look like they have dreadlocks too. LOL>

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Yozah. I was going to get R888s because I get employee pricing at Toyo...But now the decision has been made, since I already have a set of rear scrub NT-01s at home.

How are you getting employee pricing...I thought you worked for B AND M? I use to know someone at Toyo..that helped me out...but he left about 2 years back.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by S4to335

I use to know someone at Toyo..that helped me out...but he left about 2 years back.

I know their Director of Motorsports.

[christin.shelly]

Tyres issue are common to all car owners. But these issue can be rectified by following few simple tips regularly. Tires should be rotated, aligned and balanced by a professional to ensure maximum life and performance. It is also important to check your tire pressure because cold weather is known to lower tire pressure. Ensure that your car has been checked and is safe for that particular weather. Also check your battery and brakes regularly.

[mike-y]

what are the recommended operating pressures on the R888's vs the RA1s? I know some tires work better at lower pressures than other tires.

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by christin.shelly

Tyres issue are common to all car owners. But these issue can be rectified by following few simple tips regularly. Tires should be rotated, aligned and balanced by a professional to ensure maximum life and performance. It is also important to check your tire pressure because cold weather is known to lower tire pressure. Ensure that your car has been checked and is safe for that particular weather. Also check your battery and brakes regularly.

Ah..not to sound rude..but we all know this kind of information...several of us use to race.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by mike-y

what are the recommended operating pressures on the R888's vs the RA1s? I know some tires work better at lower pressures than other tires.

The ONLY way to know is to pull off in the middle of a hot session, have someone ready at the pit lane to measure your tire pressure and temperature, make adjustment, and then go out again and see if your time improves.

I have R1-Rs which is, according to some, a very similar compound to RA1s. Typically if I'm over 38 psi hot I'm having a very bad day. Or if I'm below 36 psi hot I'm ALSO having a very bad day. That is according to MY tire pressure gauge, of course. Each different brand of pressure gauge can vary as much as 2 psi in pressure reading so whatever I'm telling you is worthless.

[mike-y]

Well, yes that is one way.. the other way is to call the tire rep and get the info straight from the manufacturer
That would at least get you close.

From the pics, it looks like the tire was overheating. I could usually feel the tires getting greasy, and would pull in to the hot pits and let some air out (I always leave a gauge in the car), then go back out for a few more laps. Usually by the 2nd session, the tire temps were dialed in. I've found that NT-01s liked ~36psi hot on my car by doing this. And after checking with a few other people that ran the same tire, we were all running within 1-2psi of each other.

[DrDomer]

How many laps and heat cycles were on the R888's that look destroyed? What kind of pressures are you running?

I've been running R888's on my miata, and I have been running them at 30-32PSI "HOT".. so about 26-28 PSI "COLD". They seemed pretty good at those pressures. I don't have enough experience to know if they'll end up like those pics, so that's why I'm asking. Just wondering if I made a mistake buying them. Thanks.