Sam's build thread

[Sydneykid]

Sam/Gary/anyone else with experience, if I might briefly interrupt Sams thread to ask a question of my own. I ran Ringwood on semis (295/30R18 Continental Contiforce Contact, 80 treadwear) for the first time yesterday, and it sucked... I think maybe the semis I picked up might be toast, I did get them very cheap and although new, they were manufactured 5 years ago (rookie error, didn't check before buying). I had way less grip than I normally have on my (admittedly very good) 285/40R17 Continental ExtremeContact Sport road tyres (like probably about 3-4 seconds slower than I expected, based on other entrants I normally compete against). Just want to make sure that I'm not missing something before I offload them, I've never run semis before so I may have missed a trick? I'm assuming I had enough heat in them, as it was hot, I did a quick burnout, and was turning the tyres basically all around the track for a ~80 second course. 295s might take some heating, but I would have assumed that would do it? I didn't seem to have much if any more grip at the end of the run. The reduced sidewall shouldn't be a major issue should it? Any advice?

I could rattle off a bunch of suggestions like changing spring rates, different tyre pressures, geometry, damper rates etc. Being 5 years old may not be an issue if they were stored properly, not in the heat, away from ultra violet light, excessive moisture etc. Were they still in their original plastic wrappers? If they were in their wrappers maybe they sweated over the years and were covered in release oil, which takes some burning off. Did you give them a run, at least one heat cycle, before you went to the track?

If I had them I would run the durometer across the tread and see what hardness they were actually at, that's really the only objective measure. Would the guys who sold them to you have a durometer perhaps? Or maybe we can catch up somewhere, shoot me a PM and see what we can organise.


Cheers
Gary

[metalhead]

Wow, thanks guys!

I could rattle off a bunch of suggestions like changing spring rates, different tyre pressures, geometry, damper rates etc. Being 5 years old may not be an issue if they were stored properly, not in the heat, away from ultra violet light, excessive moisture etc. Were they still in their original plastic wrappers? If they were in their wrappers maybe they sweated over the years and were covered in release oil, which takes some burning off. Did you give them a run, at least one heat cycle, before you went to the track?

If I had them I would run the durometer across the tread and see what hardness they were actually at, that's really the only objective measure. Would the guys who sold them to you have a durometer perhaps? Or maybe we can catch up somewhere, shoot me a PM and see what we can organise.


Cheers
Gary

I'd love to hear your thoughts/advice, I'll send you a pm rather than derailing Sams thread further, thanks! The tyres were not wrapped when I received them (internet purchase from tyresales). As above, I took them for a brief drive locally, then they had a single session at Wakefield where the tyre pressures were way too high when I came in, then the hillclimb this past Sunday.

I'm assuming you're in Sydney, I'm a bit north of Newcastle, don't suppose you know anyone up here who could help with the durometer?

[Sydneykid]

Wow, thanks guys!
I'd love to hear your thoughts/advice, I'll send you a pm rather than derailing Sams thread further, thanks! The tyres were not wrapped when I received them (internet purchase from tyresales). As above, I took them for a brief drive locally, then they had a single session at Wakefield where the tyre pressures were way too high when I came in, then the hillclimb this past Sunday.

I'm assuming you're in Sydney, I'm a bit north of Newcastle, don't suppose you know anyone up here who could help with the durometer?

PM responded to.

One of our guys lives at Raymond Terrace, we will be together at R1 of the NSW State Championship 16 to 18 March. If you want to give him a tyre or 2 I can test them over the weekend and then you can pick them up from him afterwards. Let me know.

Sorry, I'm not aware of any in that area, closest would be Greg (suspensionconcepts.com.au) he is at North Wyong if that's a help. Give him a call and see if he has a durometer, use my name if you like, but he might charge you more.


Cheers
Gary

[metalhead]

Thanks Gary! PM replied. Raymond Terrace is convenient (I'm in Clarence Town). I had a bit of a ring around mates last night and I couldn't find someone locally with one, but they're not overly expensive so I said screw it and just ordered one. Always need more tools anyway...

Cheers,

Andrew.

[Sydneykid]

Thanks Gary! PM replied. Raymond Terrace is convenient (I'm in Clarence Town). I had a bit of a ring around mates last night and I couldn't find someone locally with one, but they're not overly expensive so I said screw it and just ordered one. Always need more tools anyway...
Cheers,
Andrew.

I have a couple of the Longacre kits (Duro and Depth) and as you say they're not expensive.



There are a few tricks in using it, the main thing is to be consistent, the absolute number is irrelevant, it's more about consistent hardness across the tread, 3 or 4 times around the circumference. Lots of practise, they don't wear out. Once I have a base line for a new tyre, I can then monitor their life cycle.

Cheers
Gary