Tire Choice for Cold Weather HPDE?

Nihilation · 10-20-2016, 03:13 PM

Let's say the track event takes place on a day where it's dry and temps are in the high 30s to mid 40s. And remember, it's just an HPDE. Does it make more sense to run Michelin Pilot Super Sports or an all-season tires like my Bridgestone RE970AS? At what temperature is the MPSS is useless for an HPDE and an all-season make sense?

Richbot · 10-20-2016, 04:03 PM

Stick with the PSS. Even in cold ambient temps, once the tire gets warmed up to 80-100F, it'll stop turn and go better than any all-season and if it's dry and sunny, even if ambient is cold, the track temp will be above ambient air temp by a few degrees or more, especially this time of year when subsurface/ground temps are still up from the summer. I've no experience with the RE970 but the RE960 and various other all-seasons I've used are pretty much guaranteed to chunk and otherwise suck when pushed hard for more than a couple laps.

Just take an extra lap to make sure the tires are warmed up. PSS should be be right in their happy place at the operating temps you'll end up with, unlike on a 70 degree day where they'll start to melt a bit

Estoril Blue · 10-20-2016, 08:35 PM

I ran Dunlop Direzzas on a very twisty track this April with snow falling in the first session. Temps didn't get above 44F all day. Performed very well.

Datka · 10-20-2016, 10:10 PM

+1 on Dunlop direzzas. They are great in the cold and wet weather

Ggeezer · 10-20-2016, 10:18 PM

I ran Michelin PSS back in May when temps were 5 Celsius (44F) all day and reached a high of 9 (48F). Track was wet in the morning and snow was still falling.

Once warmed up, they actually performed quite well.

However, getting to the track was a different story ... temps hovered around 32-35F on my way up there and the ground was wet and snowy in certain parts so it made you truly appreciate the benefit winter tires have in cold conditions! I even have the video from my dashcam as proof!

10-20-2016, 03:13 PM	#1
Nihilation Lieutenant 184 Rep 518 Posts Drives: BMW M3, 328xi AT and 328i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Haymarket, VA iTrader: (1)	Tire Choice for Cold Weather HPDE? Let's say the track event takes place on a day where it's dry and temps are in the high 30s to mid 40s. And remember, it's just an HPDE. Does it make more sense to run Michelin Pilot Super Sports or an all-season tires like my Bridgestone RE970AS? At what temperature is the MPSS is useless for an HPDE and an all-season make sense? __________________ 2003 M3 \| SMG \| KW V1 \| Apex ARC-8s \| 3.85 LSD \| Cobra Nogaro \| S2R Tuning Sunroof Delete \| Billy Boat Section 3
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10-20-2016, 04:03 PM	#2
Richbot Major General 2760 Rep 5,483 Posts Drives: Jerez Black E90 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: STL iTrader: (5)	Stick with the PSS. Even in cold ambient temps, once the tire gets warmed up to 80-100F, it'll stop turn and go better than any all-season and if it's dry and sunny, even if ambient is cold, the track temp will be above ambient air temp by a few degrees or more, especially this time of year when subsurface/ground temps are still up from the summer. I've no experience with the RE970 but the RE960 and various other all-seasons I've used are pretty much guaranteed to chunk and otherwise suck when pushed hard for more than a couple laps. Just take an extra lap to make sure the tires are warmed up. PSS should be be right in their happy place at the operating temps you'll end up with, unlike on a 70 degree day where they'll start to melt a bit __________________
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10-20-2016, 08:35 PM	#3
Estoril Blue First Lieutenant 75 Rep 387 Posts Drives: 2006 M3 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	I ran Dunlop Direzzas on a very twisty track this April with snow falling in the first session. Temps didn't get above 44F all day. Performed very well.
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10-20-2016, 10:10 PM	#4
Datka Lieutenant 450 Rep 465 Posts Drives: 2009 M3 ,2021 M340i Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (1)	+1 on Dunlop direzzas. They are great in the cold and wet weather __________________ "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." Steve MCQueen
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10-20-2016, 10:18 PM	#5
Ggeezer Captain 252 Rep 822 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montreal iTrader: (4)	I ran Michelin PSS back in May when temps were 5 Celsius (44F) all day and reached a high of 9 (48F). Track was wet in the morning and snow was still falling. Once warmed up, they actually performed quite well. However, getting to the track was a different story ... temps hovered around 32-35F on my way up there and the ground was wet and snowy in certain parts so it made you truly appreciate the benefit winter tires have in cold conditions! I even have the video from my dashcam as proof!
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