Does a R feel much different from a 2019+ GT350?

[svttim]

Can't believe that I write a comment and CLEARLY state that I will not be tracking my 2019 GT350 and yet what do I see ? - a reply to my comment that has nothing to do with my comment - duh !

Furthermore I did not comment on the benefits of CR wheels when tracking. Why - duh - it has nothing to do with my comment - which EXCLUDED tracking. Guess some cannot follow the obvious subject matter as written.

As an aerospace engineer I am certainly qualified to comment on CR vs. aluminum wheels.
CR wheels are quite rigid, much more so than aluminum. Except, as a material CR is much softer than aluminum. End of discussion. CR wheels are "strong" when it comes to rigidity, like an aluminum sheet monocoque chassis structure for a race car. Except, what happens when you whack the side of that aluminum sheet structure - it'll cave in like a tissue box. It's intended benefit is to resist twisting, like a CR wheel. Smash the side of the CR wheel and what do you get - trash. Smash the side of an aluminum wheel and what do you get - a small impression.

Next a writer will try and justify how their GT350 is faster than my street C7 Z06 Corvette 0-60 at 2.85 sec. Or, faster than my 1968 IMSA Trans Am Corvette race car that received the "qualifying top (not lap) speed" award at Daytona 1973 for 222 mph. That's with a L88 427 iron big block. There have been many, many cars since then that cannot achieve that speed, cars with all sorts of exotic equipment, i.e. aluminum blocks, fuel injection, etc., and that have the benefit of the 3 mile long straight at Le Mans, where I've been a number of times few times.

Nothing like amateur car experts.

I'm assuming you are referring to my reply. My comment had everything to do with yours. Odd thing is, I agree with everything that you wrote above concerning the CF wheels. However, no where in the above statement did you use the word fragile. And while I respect your profession and your knowledge, you are also an amateur car expert

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[UnhandledException]

A comparison....

I think the difference between R and GT350 has shrunk considerably after 2019 MY. If you put the R tires on GT350, they'll be less than half a second apart.

Also as a side note, Andy lapped the same track with the new 992 GT3 (PDK car and it literally makes 6 times the downforce GT350) 2 seconds faster. While 2 seconds isnt small, for what you get out of the GT350 is pretty remarkable. If the 992 GT3 was manual, he'd probably be about a second or so slower. You are basically 1 second apart between a $60,000 car and a $220,000 car.

 

[stanglife]

I think the difference between R and GT350 has shrunk considerably after 2019 MY. If you put the R tires on GT350, they'll be less than half a second apart.

That's kinda a wild guess there. The video above had both cars on SC2s...and you don't say what track. Can't make all-encompassing statements without noting that we're 100% bench racing here lol.

 

[DaveB]

Completely understand

Just trying to figure out where it happened since the curbing at Putnam seems incredibly mild compared to NCM or Mid Ohio. I’m guessing he dropped the tires on the outside of the curb where a rut existed and caught the edge of the concrete when coming back in. I could definitely see that happening at turns 4 and 10. So glad I don’t run carbon

I'm not sure if he did drop off the backside...I just know that it was just the curbing...and yes that is probably the smoothest/mildest curbing I've been around...im mean so smooth you actually use it as part of the turn vs it just being a warning that you're out of track! Lol

 

[UnhandledException]

That's kinda a wild guess there. The video above had both cars on SC2s...and you don't say what track. Can't make all-encompassing statements without noting that we're 100% bench racing here lol.

If you are referring to the R vs GT350 = It's the NCM track (in video). He does say in the video that the Cup2 tires in GT350R are like Cup2R tires (he says similar). He does say the Cup2 tires in GT350 is not the same tire.

If you are referring to the 992 GT3 lap, here it is (Andy is the driver):

 

[pilotgore]

That's kinda a wild guess there. The video above had both cars on SC2s...and you don't say what track. Can't make all-encompassing statements without noting that we're 100% bench racing here lol.

It’s true that both cars were on cup 2’s in the video at NCM, but they’re different flavors and sizes of cup 2’s. The 350R was on R compound cup 2’s, and Andy makes it a point to say in the video he feels alot of the lap time difference between the two models comes from a difference in mechanical grip (IE wider stickier tires.) I’ve run both sets of cup 2’s back to back, same track, same day, spare set of same rims, and for me the R compound netted a .75 second average faster lap time on a track where my variation in lap times is typically within .12 seconds on laps with no traffic.

That track is Putnam park, and my fastest lap time is a 1:15.32, the day of testing I got 1:16.3’s with the standard 350 cups, and 1:15.6’s on my third lap out. Significantly better grip.

 

[pilotgore]

I'm not sure if he did drop off the backside...I just know that it was just the curbing...and yes that is probably the smoothest/mildest curbing I've been around...im mean so smooth you actually use it as part of the turn vs it just being a warning that you're out of track! Lol

Ha, so true! Great track, but so hard on tires and brakes.

 

[Egparson202]

It’s true that both cars were on cup 2’s in the video at NCM, but they’re different flavors and sizes of cup 2’s. The 350R was on R compound cup 2’s, and Andy makes it a point to say in the video he feels alot of the lap time difference between the two models comes from a difference in mechanical grip (IE wider stickier tires.) I’ve run both sets of cup 2’s back to back, same track, same day, spare set of same rims, and for me the R compound netted a .75 second average faster lap time on a track where my variation in lap times is typically within .12 seconds on laps with no traffic.

I’m not surprised that the 350R-spec Cup2’s are quicker. And I appreciate the firsthand experience you shared. Through an odd set of circumstances, I’ve never had my Shelby on track in the GT350 Non-R Cup2’s. If the 350R SC2’s are 0.75 sec quicker, that might be OK if they last longer. Do you have any comparison in the wear department?

 

[Mr. Maboomba]

If they're faster tires then they are going to wear quicker as a general principle.

 

[pilotgore]

I’m not surprised that the 350R-spec Cup2’s are quicker. And I appreciate the firsthand experience you shared. Through an odd set of circumstances, I’ve never had my Shelby on track in the GT350 Non-R Cup2’s. If the 350R SC2’s are 0.75 sec quicker, that might be OK if they last longer. Do you have any comparison in the wear department?

I get 3-4 days out of the FP cup 2’s, and 2-3 days out of the R cup 2’s. Not really worth it overall….. that being said, lately I’ve been running the R compound on my front and FP on the rear which has eliminated my understeer issue that I wasn’t able to solve with the suspension currently on the car. I have 28 newish takeoff tires (a mixture between FP and R compound) waiting to be used over the next couple of years, after that I might give SC3’s a try.

 

[stanglife]

Not sure where people get this R compound stuff. Yeah it's more mechanical grip, the tires are wider. These tires last on the street a surprisingly long time, which cup2Rs would not. His lap was 1.5 seconds faster in the R and he made some mistakes with the R. Also note he said only difference in suspension was stiffer springs..we know that's not accurate.

PS - first it was 350 tires vs cup2s - and that was the difference. Now it's cup2s vs cups2s but now it's the difference in the cup2s. Kinda funny.

 

[Egparson202]

I get 3-4 days out of the FP cup 2’s, and 2-3 days out of the R cup 2’s. Not really worth it overall….. that being said, lately I’ve been running the R compound on my front and FP on the rear which has eliminated my understeer issue that I wasn’t able to solve with the suspension currently on the car. I have 28 newish takeoff tires (a mixture between FP and R compound) waiting to be used over the next couple of years, after that I might give SC3’s a try.

This is helpful info. Thanks. That leads me to give the FP SC2’S a try. As for SC3’s, I’ve found them to be surprisingly quick and rewarding with very good wear. Mine had about 5 track days on them when the season ended. If the winter treats them well, they’ll likely last another 3-4 days. Slower (obviously) than R SC2’s but a lot of fun and economical.

 

[pilotgore]

Not sure where people get this R compound stuff. Yeah it's more mechanical grip, the tires are wider. These tires last on the street a surprisingly long time, which cup2Rs would not. His lap was 1.5 seconds faster in the R and he made some mistakes with the R. Also note he said only difference in suspension was stiffer springs..we know that's not accurate.

PS - first it was 350 tires vs cup2s - and that was the difference. Now it's cup2s vs cups2s but now it's the difference in the cup2s. Kinda funny.

Per Michelin, the compound in the 350R cup 2’s is different (more track focused) than the compound in the 350 FP cup 2’s. So wider and stickier = more mechanical grip.

 

[pilotgore]

This is helpful info. Thanks. That leads me to give the FP SC2’S a try. As for SC3’s, I’ve found them to be surprisingly quick and rewarding with very good wear. Mine had about 5 track days on them when the season ended. If the winter treats them well, they’ll likely last another 3-4 days. Slower (obviously) than R SC2’s but a lot of fun and economical.

Good info!

Sorry everyone for getting off topic.

 

[svttim]

The Cup 2s on the 19/20 GT350 are slightly harder than the R Tires. Why they branded them the same is beyond me. The R tires do not have the FP markings

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