Low tread = more grip?

  1. Established Member Joined: Jul 2004 Stockport/Sheffield United Kingdom (England) Posts: 1569 RS 182
    #1
    surely not?

    ive been told by a friend that the less tread on my tyre the more grip i will get in the dry. As they act like slicks?

    In the wet of course not but recently ive found the car sticking really well, is this just coincidence or is their any truth behind it?

    Only interested because im doing a track day in may and don't know if its best to replace all 4 before then or replace them afterwards?

    cheers guys.
  2. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #2
    depends how worn they are. What you are probably noticing is the lower tread depth means there is less movement in the tread pattern when cornering, so that unwanted 'give' is not there anymore. Thats why new tyres are not recommended for trackdays.
    Problem is that your tyres are not designed to run as 'slicks' so when run too low can drop off in performance.
  3. Established Member Joined: Jul 2004 Stockport/Sheffield United Kingdom (England) Posts: 1569 RS 182
    #3
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KamRacing View Post
    depends how worn they are. What you are probably noticing is the lower tread depth means there is less movement in the tread pattern when cornering, so that unwanted 'give' is not there anymore. Thats why new tyres are not recommended for trackdays.
    Problem is that your tyres are not designed to run as 'slicks' so when run too low can drop off in performance.
    cheers, their about 2mm in good places, the edges are worn pretty bad though.

    So do you recommend i stick with these tyres for this track day or get new tyres and run them in quickly?
  4. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 11423
    #4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by platty View Post
    cheers, their about 2mm in good places, the edges are worn pretty bad though.

    So do you recommend i stick with these tyres for this track day or get new tyres and run them in quickly?
    Your tyres for road use are verging on illegal, if not already. Suggest you go and get them changed and then keep your old tyres. When track day comes round go and get them swapped over.

    EDIT: Just seen you've got roughly a month till track day, you should be ok on the roads till then with your current tyres so long as:
    A) They are legal
    B) You dont wheel spin/handbrake all the time
    C) It doesnt rain much
  5. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #5
    do your track day and then change as a trackday will murder a new set of tyres...
  6. Established Member Joined: Jul 2004 Stockport/Sheffield United Kingdom (England) Posts: 1569 RS 182
    #6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KamRacing View Post
    do your track day and then change as a trackday will murder a new set of tyres...
    thanks mate.
  7. Established Member Joined: Jul 2004 Stockport/Sheffield United Kingdom (England) Posts: 1569 RS 182
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Peejous View Post
    Your tyres for road use are verging on illegal, if not already. Suggest you go and get them changed and then keep your old tyres. When track day comes round go and get them swapped over.

    EDIT: Just seen you've got roughly a month till track day, you should be ok on the roads till then with your current tyres so long as:
    A) They are legal
    B) You dont wheel spin/handbrake all the time
    C) It doesnt rain much
    cheers for the advice, i live in manchester so c) is expected.
  8. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 11423
    #8
    just be careful on the roads then. Your going to have virtually no grip
  9. Established Member Joined: Jul 2004 Stockport/Sheffield United Kingdom (England) Posts: 1569 RS 182
    #9
    in the wet its preety poor but dry grip is really impressive at the moment.
  10. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2005 St Andrews United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 7384 Green mk1 vtr/s and Focus zetec
    #10
    bear in mind if you get stopped you risk 3 points per tyre...
  11. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2006 Bristol Posts: 2784 8valve tbh
    #11
    I noticed that as my tyres have got worn down they grip better, yes
    i'm about 1mm away from the marker at the mo, coupe of months yet
  12. Established Member Joined: Jan 2008 Durham - Newcastle Posts: 1208 Saxo VTRRRRR
    #12
    I think one of mine is illegal now, the markers are pretty much in contact with the road so I'm just waiting for Wednesday to get new ones fitted. I'll let you know how it feels with a fresh tyre compared to a slick tyre.
  13. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2005 Aycliffe Posts: 32205 Saxo VTS
    #13
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Nick_T View Post
    I noticed that as my tyres have got worn down they grip better, yes
    i'm about 1mm away from the marker at the mo, coupe of months yet
    you're shitting me?

    grip for road sped tyres comes from the deformation of the 'blocks' on the tyre during cornering... the deformation allows the patch in contact with the tyre to remain 'stuck' to the road where it would otherwise skim across it.

    As the tread goes down the deformation of the blocks reduces because the blocks get shorter.

    so once you're running 1-2mm you'll have less grip than say 5-6mm of grip.
    Secondly you have to be on a serious amount of Class A's to have very very borderline low tread considering our crappy weather.

    ads
  14. Regular Poster Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 343
    #14
    Low tread means 3 points! Tyre company's design tread patterns for a reason, grip and longevity....
  15. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2006 Bristol Posts: 2784 8valve tbh
    #15
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by adsayer View Post
    you're shitting me?

    grip for road sped tyres comes from the deformation of the 'blocks' on the tyre during cornering... the deformation allows the patch in contact with the tyre to remain 'stuck' to the road where it would otherwise skim across it.

    As the tread goes down the deformation of the blocks reduces because the blocks get shorter.

    so once you're running 1-2mm you'll have less grip than say 5-6mm of grip.
    Secondly you have to be on a serious amount of Class A's to have very very borderline low tread considering our crappy weather.

    ads
    Yo, i wasnt arguing mr scientist man
    Was merely stating my opinion... i have about 3mm of tread left so perfectly legal thanks, i said about 1mm over the markers which themselves are at 1.6mm
  16. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #16
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Mini-valver View Post
    Low tread means 3 points!
    per wheel
  17. Regular Poster Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 343
    #17
    Well, tyre if you're being pedantic
  18. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2004 Kunt & Sorrey Posts: 5763 Rep mobiles & Joes ma
    #18
    The markers are at 3mm btw. And 1.6mm is the legal limit, over 3/4 of the tread.

    As Ad said, more tread is good. And you are highly unlikely to last over an hour or so at a track day with 2mm tread left, you'll end up on the cords, then you'll get a blowout, then you'll crash and die, in a ball of flames
  19. Super Moderator Joined: Sep 2006 Wakefield Posts: 14427 Golf GT
    #19
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AlexR View Post
    The markers are at 3mm btw. And 1.6mm is the legal limit, over 3/4 of the tread.

    As Ad said, more tread is good. And you are highly unlikely to last over an hour or so at a track day with 2mm tread left, you'll end up on the cords, then you'll get a blowout, then you'll crash and die, in a ball of flames
    slightly pessemistic but funny as fcuk
  20. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 5302 Helicopter
    #20
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AlexR View Post
    The markers are at 3mm btw. And 1.6mm is the legal limit, over 3/4 of the tread.

    As Ad said, more tread is good. And you are highly unlikely to last over an hour or so at a track day with 2mm tread left, you'll end up on the cords, then you'll get a blowout, then you'll crash and die, in a ball of flames
    lol! will definitly inspire peeps to drive with 2mm on track day
  21. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Aug 2007 Paisley / Brighouse lol Posts: 4561 Corsa VXRacing
    #21
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AlexR View Post
    The markers are at 3mm btw. And 1.6mm is the legal limit, over 3/4 of the tread.

    As Ad said, more tread is good. And you are highly unlikely to last over an hour or so at a track day with 2mm tread left, you'll end up on the cords, then you'll get a blowout, then you'll crash and die, in a ball of flames
    pmpl made me laugh !!!!

    its something like you got to have 1.6mm over 80% of the tyer can find out later a family friend is a traffic copper !!!!

    no point and risking points and a fine (upto £1000) if you got other wheels you could change them over, then change 'em for the track day

    we have one of the fronts on the saxo bout 2mm wet or dry if you pull away quick its always trying to spin esp turning right