986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post - AOS Smoke Bombs, spins, a new fast lap at Roebling, and one that was a second faster

steved0x · 02-01-2017, 06:00 AM

I recently picked up a set of Nitto NT-01 and some more wheels as part of a deal (it's a sickness) and so I was running them at this particular event and trying them out. Usually I run Hankook R-S3.

I should probably pick just one tire and stick with it, but what I have learned (and what works for me) is to mix it up, last time I drove on the R-S3 for half a day and then switched to a set of stickier tires for 3-4 sessions (Toyo R888) at another track called "The FIRM" in Keystone Heights FL, and I could really feel the extra grip and was a few seconds faster. During those sessions I got to build my confidence and feel in my body what it felt like to go faster. Next time I went back I stayed on the R-S3 and was able to match my times (what do you know, I didn't fly off the track at the first turn), and then the next time I went back 6 months later, still on the R-S3, I was able to take several seconds off. Maybe next time I will try the Nittos there and see if I can take more time off, and repeat the cycle.

It is all kind of a mental game with me. I know that I am not pushing to the limits of the tires but I had a couple of big spins and kind of lost my pace last year at Roebling when I was tinkering with setup and this is one way to help me build my confidence back up.

Here is a kind of auditory cheat sheet way to tell: If the tires are howling and squealing like the devil, I am on the R-S3... If the tires are not squealing like a monkey, I am on the Nittos. Either they don't squeal as much or I am so far below the limit that I could probably get better results by setting a pile of money on fire instead of spending/trading for more sticky tires...

One thing I will add to that, I have been running Carbotech XP8/10 pads in the front/back the last few events and they don't match up well with the R-S3, I get into ABS much more easily with them (could just be my technique though?) than I used to with the EBC Redstuff. With the Carbotechs matched with the Nittos, I can brake like the hand of God, modulating at will, and can pull the contact lenses out of the eyes of an unwary passenger.

02-01-2017, 06:00 AM	#4
steved0x Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: FL Posts: 4,144	I recently picked up a set of Nitto NT-01 and some more wheels as part of a deal (it's a sickness) and so I was running them at this particular event and trying them out. Usually I run Hankook R-S3. I should probably pick just one tire and stick with it, but what I have learned (and what works for me) is to mix it up, last time I drove on the R-S3 for half a day and then switched to a set of stickier tires for 3-4 sessions (Toyo R888) at another track called "The FIRM" in Keystone Heights FL, and I could really feel the extra grip and was a few seconds faster. During those sessions I got to build my confidence and feel in my body what it felt like to go faster. Next time I went back I stayed on the R-S3 and was able to match my times (what do you know, I didn't fly off the track at the first turn), and then the next time I went back 6 months later, still on the R-S3, I was able to take several seconds off. Maybe next time I will try the Nittos there and see if I can take more time off, and repeat the cycle. It is all kind of a mental game with me. I know that I am not pushing to the limits of the tires but I had a couple of big spins and kind of lost my pace last year at Roebling when I was tinkering with setup and this is one way to help me build my confidence back up. Here is a kind of auditory cheat sheet way to tell: If the tires are howling and squealing like the devil, I am on the R-S3... If the tires are not squealing like a monkey, I am on the Nittos. Either they don't squeal as much or I am so far below the limit that I could probably get better results by setting a pile of money on fire instead of spending/trading for more sticky tires... One thing I will add to that, I have been running Carbotech XP8/10 pads in the front/back the last few events and they don't match up well with the R-S3, I get into ABS much more easily with them (could just be my technique though?) than I used to with the EBC Redstuff. With the Carbotechs matched with the Nittos, I can brake like the hand of God, modulating at will, and can pull the contact lenses out of the eyes of an unwary passenger.