Tire Spraying

[sjd]

I've noticed a lot of drivers in the U.S. are using sprayers to cool down their tires between runs. (GRM mentioned it a couple of issues ago on their SRT-4) Is this legal up here? I know it's not legal to drip any fluids on the track, but what about in the pit?

[Marsh]

Why on God's green earth, would you ever cool tires at a solo-2? :confused:

[gatherer]

Originally posted by Marsh
Why on God's green earth, would you ever cool tires at a solo-2? :confused:

maybe it's the falkens that they use for street touring classes

[TOYSRUS]

Originally posted by Marsh
Why on God's green earth, would you ever cool tires at a solo-2? :confused:

In the US, a combination of high grip surfaces (concrete) and run format ( 6 runs in less than 30 minutes on a 2 driver car) can elevate tire temperatures beyond optimal ranges. The longer, faster courses also contribute to the high tire temps. The newer autocross compound tires are especially prone however I ran into a overheating problem on 3 year old Toyo's at the Griffis Air force base ( similar surface to the SCCA Nationals )

Bill

[TOYSRUS]

Originally posted by sjd
I've noticed a lot of drivers in the U.S. are using sprayers to cool down their tires between runs. (GRM mentioned it a couple of issues ago on their SRT-4) Is this legal up here? I know it's not legal to drip any fluids on the track, but what about in the pit?

Unless your at an event in the scorching heat with less than 15 minutes between runs, you would be better off without the H2O. (IMHO)

That being said, water in the pits is completely legal in all classes. I do beleive the same application is even allowed to cool down intercoolers, ect. while in the pits but don't quote me on that.;)

[sjd]

The reason I ask is because I will be running Yokohama A032R's and I know that they prefer cooler temps.

[Gary]

Well, just so you have the all the facts, here is some more data. I have a Longacre Memory Tire Pyrometer. I also have Yokohama A032R's (hard compound) on my Mustang. It's heavy - 3600 lbs, without me in it. I occasionally run it at the Corvette Club events at the Bronte GO station here in Oakville.

Here are some tire temps from an event I ran sometime last fall, taken more or less immediately after my run, which took more than 60 seconds to complete if I recall correctly.

Tire temps are read from outside to inside.

LF 107,107,101
RF 107,109,110
LR 105,107,101
RR106,111,113

Edit: Temps are farenheit

Rears are hotter than the fronts due to wheelspin. (heavy foot, small brain) :D

Bottom line is: At a Solo 2 event, even on a long course with a heavy car, you should experience difficulty getting your tires warm, never mind hot.

[superdave]

Would this be legal for in line-up at a pro solo?

This past summer in ottawa at the pro solo when it was down to doing runs less then a minute apart, my RA-1's were really greasy... would have been helpful then.

[Marsh]

I find this so hard to believe. I've checked my V700's after 20 minutes of HARD lapping and they were at almost exactly the optimum temperature. I don't think I could melt my Kumhos if I tried... and I've tried!

[superdave]

Originally posted by Marsh
I find this so hard to believe. I've checked my V700's after 20 minutes of HARD lapping and they were at almost exactly the optimum temperature. I don't think I could melt my Kumhos if I tried... and I've tried!

Maybe I was worried about it and so my mind was playing tricks on me. :confused: I dunno ;)

[Wedge]

I depends alot on the type and condition of the pavement. Bronte for example is fairly smooth, and easy on tires. During the nationals at Sanair there were many different surfaces to deal with, most of which just ATE up the tires. I had A032, Hard compound tires, and a 2000lbs car, I drove how I normally do and the tires were practically molten after the runs. Mind you the temperature was very high that weekend too.
Side note: I didn't figure this out until after the fact, but if I had raised my tire pressures just few psi, they wouldn't have overheated so quickly and I could have saved ALOT of time...

[MitS]

I have a friend who had the same car as I do and ran it in STS with Falkens. He swore by spraying down the Falkens and he was quite successful. Of course, this is in Virginia where it's hotter, the runs are faster, runs are in heats so the time between runs is reduced and the car was camber challenged.

[sjd]

Thanks for all the help. Mine are the soft compound and they'll be on a 2859 lb car with me in it.

[max attack]

Not to worry about tire temps,you won't overheat them.Running tlmc events usually gives at least an hour between runs and I doubt you'll ever get much more than about 110 degrees into them.
Now if you were tires on that mr2 that has 4/5 drivers per event I might worry a little.

[sjd]

Originally posted by max attack
Now if you were tires on that mr2 that has 4/5 drivers per event I might worry a little.

LOL. My thinking is not that I'll overheat them, It's that everything I've read says that Yokohamas are better in cold ambient temps including the rain. So my thinking is since they don't work as well in the heat (say at a 30 degree event in July), can I cool them down and will they work as well as if it was a cooler day? I know they'll never stick like the Kumhos or Hoosiers. I bought them (from Max Attack) for how long they wear and cost. Any thoughts?

[Gary]

Bolt 'em on and make your runs. Focus on your driving, and on the course. There's nothing you can do by messing around with your tires, short of silly tire pressures, that will make as much difference to your times as how you drive the car, IMHO. Even when you're not running, you should be watching the other competitors drive, especially the fast ones. There's a lot to be learned.

[malcolm]

are you guys sure there was only water in those spray bottles??

http://www.insideracingtechnology.com/Resources/hotlap1.jpg

[max attack]

Part of what your missing is that in the cold and wet they work better than most(if not all,well Ra1's are close)other R-tires but that doesn't mean that they work BEST in the cold.
They need heat just the same as all tarmac tires for optimum grip.

[finboy]

Originally posted by Gary
Bolt 'em on and make your runs. Focus on your driving, and on the course. There's nothing you can do by messing around with your tires, short of silly tire pressures, that will make as much difference to your times as how you drive the car, IMHO.

really :confused:

[finboy]

Originally posted by superdave
Would this be legal for in line-up at a pro solo?

This past summer in ottawa at the pro solo when it was down to doing runs less then a minute apart, my RA-1's were really greasy... would have been helpful then.

I had the same problem at the MCO pro..

with the back to back to back to back runs near the end, i had to watch my car temps, and there wasn't enough time to unbelt, and bleed tire pressures (i was adjusting my shocks intead of being able to adjust air pressures because of time restraints)

the pressures went up a lot in the rear and was as slick as soul glow hair products.

my S02 pads weren't as effective either for the pro format, but for a a regular event they're fine

other than a pro in peak temps in july or august.. i don't think a tire cooler would be needed for solo 2 (just my 2 cents but hey.. whatever works.... go for it)

[sjd]

Originally posted by max attack
Part of what your missing is that in the cold and wet they work better than most(if not all,well Ra1's are close)other R-tires but that doesn't mean that they work BEST in the cold.
They need heat just the same as all tarmac tires for optimum grip.
Yeah, I wasn't thinking. A friend told me that all it means is that the Yokohamas have a lower minimum operating temperature than other R tires.

[TOYSRUS]

Now if you were tires on that mr2 that has 4/5 drivers per event I might worry a little. [/B]

:D

[Tony Kloosterma]

Last year in Detroit a bunch of guys were spraying thier tires to cool them down, they also used tire blanmkets to keepo the sun off. They do 5 or 6 runs in about 20 minutes so the tires do heat up some.

Tony

[JoeT]

My dog sprays my tires all the time, and I don't notice them getting any stickier. :D