Track day announced plus top five motorsport tyre tips!
Kicking off the relationship with the NSW 86/BRZ Club, Toyo Tires held its inaugural tech night at its Sydney headquarters this week.
Over 50 Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZs descended on the Minto warehouse from all over Sydney for presentations from Toyo’s technical manager Steve Burke and motorsport veterans Gordon Leven and Bill Pearson from Gordon Leven Motorsport Tyres.
The biggest headline of the night was the announcement of the 86-BRZ Track Day presented by Toyo Tires, to be held at Sydney Motorsport Park’s South Circuit on 21 November.
Entry to the super sprint competition is free to NSW 86/BRZ club members using a set of Toyo tyres. Stay tuned to the Toyo blog for more details.
Many questions were asked during the presentations. Here are their answers to the most popular questions during the evening.
Many questions were asked during the presentations. Here are their answers to the most popular questions during the evening.
WHAT AIR PRESSURES SHOULD I USE FOR MY RACE TYRE?
Steve Burke – The right pressure is dependent on so many variables: suspension set up, ambient and track temperatures, time on track and weight are just a few. As a general rule for 86 fitments using Toyo Proxes R1R, aim for hot pressures of 35-36 psi. For the semi slick Toyo Proxes R888 32-33 psi is ideal.
If you are doing a hill climb with no warm-up, start 1-2 psi off the hot temperature you want, almost the same as your hot pressure.
If you’re doing a super sprint with one warm-up lap, three flying flaps and one cool down lap, you would start 5-6 psi lower than your peak pressure.
Keep in mind if the car is prone to understeer or oversteer you will get more pressure build-up in the sliding tyres. With so many variables it is best to seek expert advice, especially for heavily modified cars.
TYRE PRESSURE ON A WET TRACK?
Steve Burke – On a wet track you should generally increase pressures, so you are working with a smaller contact footprint.
A downside of a wider tyre is aquaplane resistance: you need to move a much larger volume of water.
The water will generally reduce your temps all around so you won’t be getting the same amount of pressure build-up, and with a smaller footprint you don’t need to move as much water.
HOW LONG CAN I KEEP A RACE TYRE?
Steve Burke – Toyo’s maximum age for new R-Spec tyres is three years at the time of despatch.
The compound will only change noticeably when you start to use the tyre; that’s when performance does change considerably. If you use the tyre, then store it for many years it will have poor performance.
WHY ARE TYRES BLACK?
Steve Burke – The main reason is the use of carbon black, a really fine black powder. Carbon black is used as a reinforcing agent. Naturally rubber is actually amber.
HOW CAN I MAXIMISE TYRE LIFE?
Bill Pearson – To get a bit more out of your motorsport tyres, buy new tyres in colder months and use your older tyres in hotter months. Older tyres tend to run cooler. If you want to do a high ambient temperature event, don’t do it with brand new tyres as there is a higher chance of overheating.
