[nomile]

I searched around this topic, but didn't find exactly what I was looking for:
I have a stock 328XI that I want to take to an HPDE. When the car was on original Potenza runflats (050's), normal canyon-driving/commuting caused the outer edges to wear substantially more than the inner edges. My question: If I get go-flats (RE11's or similar) and don't change suspension geometry, will I destroy the outer tread blocks on the new tires after one HPDE day, or are the go-flats more forgiving in their wear pattern?

Ultimately I want to do something to the suspension, but not before this first event - not an option, unfortunately.

Cheers

[Zoot]

I took my stock 328xi out for an HPDE weekend last year (about 3 hours of total track time). At the time I had almost new Hankook Ventus V12s. They got a fair amount of wear at the edges, but they weren't destroyed. I also used them for a couple of autocrosses before buying a dedicated set of rims and tires for the extreme driving. The V12s still held up to 10,000 plus miles of commuting last year and I plan to put them on my car again as daily drivers this year when the weather warms up.

I can't speak to how the wear of the V12s compares to RE-11s, but I hope this helps.

[IN54NITY]

It sounds like you've left some rubber down on Route 7. Good to hear. I have found the same problem as you, I corded 2 sets of front RE050As at the shoulder last summer, and I am now on my second set of front Yokohama Neova AD08s - all in one year. The AD08s do have a tire shoulder that is more square. The RE050As as you know are quite rounded. Square shoulder design, IMO, is more resistant to wear ~some~. I can't say if regular tires are more resistant to RFTs with ~same~ tire shoulder design, as I don't have the experience to compare the two. I will say though that I corded my front AD08s (~with~ camber plates though!) closer to the tire center, mostly due to braking. I finished off the AD08s in two days at HPR and one day at Pueblo, which btw has very rough pavement. I will tell you that the importance of correct (on the high side) tire pressure is paramount, so bring tire chalk or windshield paint and mark your shoulders! (See http://racingready.com/2010/05/27/ti...s-tuning-tips/ and http://racingready.com/wp-content/up...angle-mark.jpg) In your case (since you have stock suspension), IMO, the next important thing is having ~patience~ with the throttle coming out of turns. Remember that our cars have a propensity to understeer, meaning the front tire slip angles are greater than the rear tire slip angles, and the front tires will reach their cornering limit before the rears. So if you apply throttle too early, near the limit, all you will do is rub your front tire's rubber off the shoulder without going any faster! (The sensation will be that your car is pushing, and not turning.) I hope this helps. Hope to see you out there at HPDEs, I'm in Louisville.

Some tire links:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....VAN+Neova+AD08

Your former RE050As
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....+RE050A+II+RFT

Another good tire:
http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...%2FPerformance

My next HPDE tire: =)
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....r&tireModel=R6

Edit: if you're really serious:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=440609

[IN54NITY]

Tire Rack Extreme Performance Summer Tires Review

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=118

Looks like I'll have to try RE-11s myself.

One more thing, don't bring new tires to a HPDE unless you really have to. Nothing worse than seeing your $1100 tires worth only $600 or $700 after only one day. I only retire mine until I see the cords.

[nomile]

aleckzandr,

Thanks for the tips - your information was phrased perfectly - now I need to figure out if I can do the HPDE at HPR on the RE050's that I still have (the rears have only ~2-3mm tread depth left, and the fronts' shoulders are getting thinner)

Originally Posted by aleckzandr

Tire Rack Extreme Performance Summer Tires Review

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=118

Looks like I'll have to try RE-11s myself.

You should - the predecessor (RE01) is the only thing I've been on, and they are amazingly sticky/precise. I drove these on a 318ti that had suspension and camber fixes, and that car felt better than anything else I've ever driven. I hear the RE11's are even better. Tire Source sometimes gets demo-pairs from Tire Rack, so that's a good way to get them "to try out". That's probably what I'll do for the HPDE.

Also - aleckzandr - are you going to attend the HPDE with BMWCCA in spring?

[IN54NITY]

Yes, I'll be there both days probably, at least one. (I may corner work volunteer one day.) I'll be in 'A' and my wife will be in 'C'. I think I've seen your 318ti around, is it blue with a BMWCCA sticker on rear driver's side window? I'll PM you shortly about the tires.

[nomile]

I'll see you there then - I am not sure which day yet. I used to own a white ti that I sold to a friend (mistake), but then again, he's cool enough to let me co-drive it. Still trying to figure out if I want to buy it back... if he'll sell it... Funny how that works.

[PKumarM3]

u will be fine for one track event on the stock tires. most tracks are very smooth and if you are a novice, you will not push the car hard enough for them to wear down.

if anything spend your money on upgrading your brake fluid, which will definitely boil over at the track.

[IN54NITY]

^ I could argue that if you're driving hard enough to boil the brake fluid, you're going to wear some rubber as well. Anyways, BMWCCA requires a tech inspection form filled and signed by a qualified and authorized mechanic/shop, and one of the tech inspection items is tires/minimum tread depth. So the OP will need to have an alternative setup, or have new or adequate tires for the HPDE.

[nomile]

I think I'll kill off the old RE050's at the CCC and then get some demos from Tire Source if I can. Will have to see. Thanks for the pointers - definitely doing brakefluid before. No doubt about that one.