Which tires for DE ?

[cashflyer]

Okay, I have signed up for my first DE. Do you have to have race tires?

I am planning on running my Hankook Z212s.

[jorian]

I ran Bridgestone SO3's at my last DE and was amazed at the difference over the Yoko ES 100's they replaced.

[turborat]

Race tires are not required.

I have had very good performance and wear from Khumo Victoracer. Discount Tire nows sells and mounts them. They have enough tread to drive to track and deal with a little water.

Will you be at Road Atlanta next weekend?

[Todd Simpson]

No, not at all. You should consider using street tires for at least 5-10 events before moving to track tires. Street tires make lots of noise and break away gently and predictably-just what you want as a student. They force you to be smooth to get the best out of the car. Some will even tell you to go back to street tires every now and then as a learning tool once you've made the move to track tires.

I'll defer to others on pressure recommendations, I haven't used street tires on the track in a while. You'll also want to keep an eye on wear and chunking at the outside edges.

[boyt911sc]

All you need is a properly inspected car for your first DE. Good street tires are more than sufficient and enjoy the thrill of driving in a well controlled enviroment. WARNING: Driver's Ed maybe addictive for some people!!!!! Have fun and be safe.

TD

[911 heathen]

Have until recently run SO3's but have given Yokohama AO48 a go and they are unreal. being street legal track tyres they are super sticky, no tread block squirm (unlike the SO3's when new and until half worn).

But the Yoko's will probably wear twice as fast as the SO3's....

Not sure how the Yoko's will run in the wet but probably not quite are good as the SO3's whose wet performance is very good. Still, if the road is that wet where any performance difference is going to be noted, then you shouldn't be driving hard anyways.

[Jack Olsen]

In my opinion, r-compound tires will slow down the learning process and waste a lot of your money if you use them in your first year or so of DE's.

[cashflyer]

Thanks for the input!!
I'll not be at RA, but am signed for the March 4&5 weekend at CMP.

Pretty much, the same was said to me when I started autocrossing - to start with street tires and "graduate" to race tires. And it seems to be the same reasoning, too.

Thanks again!

[Joe Bob]

The purpose of DE is learn to take your car to a level that you rarely see on the street. Why would you change the handling characteristics by changing tires?

[911 heathen]

...Yes, sorry I agree with keeping street tyres for a formal DE session.
Normally a DE for us down here means a few token exercises and then the afternoon on the track....Driver Training is an 'excuse' to get the track hire...

[Dantilla]

I race on Hoosiers, but don't use them for DE's. no sense wearing out expensive rubber for no reason.

You're going to have a blast.

[Emission]

Originally posted by Todsimpson
No, not at all. You should consider using street tires for at least 5-10 events before moving to track tires.

I agree.

[porschenut]

Also be aware that if you use R-compound tires, most regions require you to have a fire extinguisher as well because it bumps you up one class from stock.