Tires for Daytona

[gfcobra04]

That’s supposed to be straight, not Street

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[gfcobra04]

And when you come in and get fuel, I typically still have a couple of gallons sometimes even four left, but the computer said I was out of fuel

 

[GTP]

.... I will typically start with cold (and I mean cold ambient temps- no time in sun, etc) 30 psi on the right rear, 29 on the right front, and 28 on the left side. Keep in mind those are based on ambient temps arount late fall. Summer months would be slightly different.

Okay, but what are the hot pressures?

 

[GTP]

Check MPG after a session? What's that gonna do? I don't care to tame my driving down based on the cars shortcomings. I'd rather enjoy the time I have driving the way I want as opposed to going out and doing parade laps.

With that said, the car would probably fare better if running in an environment with slower drivers and point by requirements. It would induce slower driving and pauses in WOT which would effectively increase the endurance. I like group 1, I like unrestricted driving. Going back to the general population would be boring as hell.

Okay, but what about at other "normal" tracks? Does your car fuel last the whole session?

 

[Tomster]

Okay, but what are the hot pressures?

36, 37, 39. They can and will vary depending on how you drive. Above these numbers and the car slides around on the infield.

One of the things about driving different tracks is that they are all different. Alignment settings and pressures will vary.

How many times have you driven Daytona?

 

[gfcobra04]

Tire temps are probably more important on this car than anything else when you’re out on track. A friend of mine who has a 500 says that he puts the tire temps in his center console and drives his car according to his tire temps if they start to go up, he slows down a little or maybe drive through the pit Lane. When I come in, I check my tire temps and usually bring them 35. However, it does depend on track so you have to go with your experience on that track.

 

[GTP]

36, 37, 39. They can and will vary depending on how you drive. Above these numbers and the car slides around on the infield.

One of the things about driving different tracks is that they are all different. Alignment settings and pressures will vary.

How many times have you driven Daytona?

None. I'm an intermediate driver, just now getting onto Cup2 tires after 16 track days on summer tires. I want to learn whatever I can that will help them last. If heat cycles gradually reduce their speed, oh well, I'm already used to summer tire traction.

I want to go to Road America and Watkings Glen next year as higher speed tracks.

 

[GJarrett]

Keeping up with this thread since I will be at Daytona next month. I'm just an intermediate driver with a highly modified Ecoboost, but have been curious about tire pressures at the higher speeds. I try to keep hot pressures in the 36-38 psi zone and wondered if I needed to start lower cold at Daytona to get there. Thanks for the experienced input.

 

[Tomster]

Keeping up with this thread since I will be at Daytona next month. I'm just an intermediate driver with a highly modified Ecoboost, but have been curious about tire pressures at the higher speeds. I try to keep hot pressures in the 38 psi zone and wondered if I needed to start lower cold at Daytona to get there. Thanks for the experienced input.

The best advice I can give is you don't just show up at Daytona. The car needs to be gone over for high speed driving. Tires should be new, serviceable, alignment needs to be spot on, and every part of the car needs to be gone over to include new brakes and flushed and bled with a high boil point fluid.

Novice and intermediate speeds will reach 160 MPH for sustained periods. All that needs to be 100% reliable. I spend a week going over my car before I attend a Daytona driving event.

 

[Biggsy]

It would probably require some custom fabrication, but is it possible to increase fuel tanks in size to accommodate even 18 gallons vs the 16 (which is putrid by the way) these cars have? I know space is generally very limited in the design of these cars so I’m not even sure if larger fuel tanks are an option. Even just an extra 2 gallons should get you closer, if not all the way, to a full session I would think.

Just thinking out loud more than anything.

surge tank will allow the cars to run with lower amount of fuel without starvation. Not the most plug and play though.

 

[GJarrett]

The best advice I can give is you don't just show up at Daytona. The car needs to be gone over for high speed driving. Tires should be new, serviceable, alignment needs to be spot on, and every part of the car needs to be gone over to include new brakes and flushed and bled with a high boil point fluid.

Novice and intermediate speeds will reach 160 MPH for sustained periods. All that needs to be 100% reliable. I spend a week going over my car before I attend a Daytona driving event.

Thank you for the advice. I'll be running at TNiA on September 19th which will be three 20 (25?) minute sessions; intermediate group so hopefully most of the vehicles on track with me know a little bit of what they are doing. Not a full Chin style weekend but at least I'll finally get to Daytona for a day

I've got an Ecoboost with an upgraded internals shortblock, NX2 turbo, assorted FBO supporting extras and 100 octane tune. I don't know my whp but estimate my top speed will be about 140ish at most (?) For brakes I have GT brake calipers, Steeda 2-piece rotors, Motul 660 fluid, ducting and Vorschlag cooling deflector vanes, and will be running new G-LOC R8 pads (I know R8 may be a little conservative for the fronts but that's what I have and so I will run with those).

My one prep that will not be up to your suggestion is tires. I currently have 275/40r18 Firehawks on it that are not new and have about 1/2 - 2/3 tread left. Once I wear those out (sounds like Daytona may do that in one day) I'll go to a 200tw tire, but for now I'll be using the rest of the old tires before putting new ones on. I'll be sure to closely check them before and after each session.

 

[GTP]

... alignment needs to be spot on...

What are your alignment numbers?

 

[Tomster]

What are your alignment numbers?

I run a GT500. My numbers are not applicable to yours. Go into your manual supplement and start with the recommended settings. The way you verify them is use a tire pyrometer and check the inside vs the outside of the tires tread. You are looking for a delta of less than 15 degrees. Don't go nuts with the camber because you are not running on a small tech scale track.

 

[Tomster]

Oh, and does your Mustang GT have trans and diff coolers? Probably going to need them......

 

[TeeLew]

Okay, but what are the hot pressures?

For Daytona specifically, keep pressures to a minimum of 35 psi hot on all tires. There is _a lot_ of banking, so you need to have the load capacity in the tire. It should still have decent grip in the infield with these numbers. I'd start with morning colds around 28psi lefts and 27 rights. Bleed as temps come up through the day.

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