Clare

Got a spare set of alloys to use on track for the Fiesta, not sure whether to put a set of slicks on them or just normal road tyres.

Opinions please? Pros & cons of using slicks?

TIFF

Slicks

Better grip and saves you wreaking a set of road tyres

SteveB

iTrader: (3)

Pros.... as above...

Cons.... gotta lug the poxy things about and change them whilst you are there

plynchy

Slicks if it's dry...if it rains your in trouble.

Always put road legal slicks on the rear of the saff for trackdays,stick like shit to a blanket.

Clare

Hmmmmm so slicks are my best option............... except if it rains? Oh dear, well I wont know that until the day, arse.

racer

Hi Clare, the slicks will give you incredible grip, sometimes enough for the oil in the sump to run to one side if you don't have a baffled sump, this will give you oil starvation which is bad, very bad, please be careful.

Andy Lloyd

david

Slicks, we put them on for Croft and the difference in handling was great

cossy abuser

you can still drive in the rain on slicks, well I do.........................


No one will try to get past you coz your all over the shop trying to regain control, no they aint that bad really

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Depends on what compound you have got

If they are too hard they will take too long to warm up and send you flying off

Trust me to be technical

Clare

Tony, what would you recommend?

Obviously I dont have a massive amount of bhp in the Fessy so not likely to be doing mega stupid speeds, but I am a relative novice to track driving and a tad aggressive with my acceleration / braking (something im trying to overcome btw).

cossy abuser

unless you are buying brand new slicks you tend to have to take whats available
luckily with front wheel drive the front tyres do all the work so you should get heat into them quite quickley

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

I recommend borrowing some for the first time and seeing how confident you feel with them.

If your looking for 15" then thats one of the most popular sizes so a decent compound can be hard to get hold of.

If your not sure on the weather then go for a set of moulded slicks as these can be run in full dry / damp or drying wet conditions.

cossy abuser

According to the weather forecast you won't be needing slicks this weekend anyway

Clare

The spare alloys I have are 15"s, any recommendations on where I can get some moulded slicks? Im pretty sure my local tyre centre will look gawmless if I ask them to get me some.

Thanks Tony

cossy abuser

have a word with Marco

Clare

Good job I dont need them until Donny later in the month then

cossy abuser

I'll shut up then

wildheart

iTrader: (4)

Check out this site www.camskill.co.uk

I wont put slicks on my fiesta due to oil surge.

Clare

lol, dont worry, I have blonde days all the time too

marco polo

iTrader: (1)

Clare
like Racer and others have said if you do use full slicks surge will be your major problem

i can do you a set of 190-57-15 Mich full slick but i would feel bad if you poped your engine

Marco

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

**Edit as Marco has replied **

For comparison new tyres I would recommend are here.

http://www.ears.co.uk/motorsport/aca...TARMAC_17.html

But there are not many in the country at the moment.

If you find any let me know

Clare

Hiya Marco

I didn't realise this oil starvation thing was such an issue with slicks, im not too fussed if the engine goes bang but i'll be pretty gutted if it did it early on in the day.

Maybe I should just stick a set of cheap road tyres on the rims for now and see how I go from there.

markk

iTrader: (2)

seeing as im in a good mood and i know that you know a very good freind of mine ( stu@msd) if you can get them on your little fezzy, i am prepared to lend you a set if you like ???

they are already on 15" rims for a ford , just not too sure about the width for your car, they are on std 3dr cosworth rims iirc ( havnt used them since croft last year )
will have to check that there all still holding air pressure ( slicks have a habit of going down when there not used) so if anyone can confirm they will fit and you can collect them there yours - there a dunlop 200-580-15 nice tyre actually only done about 15 miles from new !

any use ?


mark

AJ Escos

just a thought, but if you do run slicks then remember you will be cornering faster so if you do have an off(hopefully not) generally it will be a bigger off than with road tyres

Clare

Mark, thats a fantastic offer, thank you. Im not sure if they will be too wide or not, if not i'd love to borrow them, even if only for a couple of laps to get a feel for them.

The generosity of people on this site never fails to amaze me!

Anonymous

If you have never done dono in the car then road tyres is advisable and see how you get on. Slicks create a lot of grip that the rest of the car might not like...

As for not bothering if ya engine lets go...

That will stop the session - put oil on track maybe and cause everyone else issues - personally think thats not a good thing.

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

If it helps ease your mind Clare I have never ever run a baffled sump - just always modify the pick up pipe as its easier

Take it easy round the tight corners and your engine will be fine

Clare

Ok fair enough Dingy, hadnt thought of it like that, sorry

I am taking precautions for the engine tho, as its likely to take more abuse this month than its ever had in its life and its pushing 95k. Its having a full service and new brakes & lines this week

Anonymous

Clare have you done track days before ?

Clare

Only a couple, and I have 2 booked for this month, why?

Anonymous

Just wondered - if its ya first track day then straight onto slicks is very brave.

If you are used to the car then give it a go, but the festa - unless its got a breather will have issues at dono - as wildheart says and he fooked is in a couple of sessions LOL....

markk

iTrader: (2)

my knowledge of what fits on a fiesta is slim to none if you can find out then if they fit i will pull them out the garage for you whens the track day ?

wildheart

iTrader: (4)

Cant see a problem with cheap road tyres

You saw mine at Combe (red M reg RS1800) When you was out with Pon on track and it handled quite good (for a fiesta lol).

markk

iTrader: (2)

i can - everytime i use them - road tyres are shit

wildheart

iTrader: (4)

Yep my first time on track with the rs1800 last year and it was pissing out oil of the breather

At Combe i fitted a high tech breather system (a plastic drinks bottle found in the nearest bin )

Ive also fitted an oil cooler to mine now too

Clare

Dingy, it doesnt have a breather, in fact its running totally standard, im used to the car but havn't taken it on track yet as it wasn't really ready until now. Its going to handle like a boat on standard suspension, I know that much, and its not going to like being driven hard for too long so as long as I get in a couple of laps per session i'll be happy.

Mark, I will try and find out, the first one is National Day (21/08) im also booked on at Bedford on 26/08. I will let you know once ive found out about the width

Anonymous

They are but so is a festa engine.....


Slicks on that i recon 2 sessions and you will have issues

Road Tyres and you last the whole day.....

This aint a competition car and quite shocked and some of the advise LOL

wildheart

iTrader: (4)

True but its not a race

Mine was going better around corners than the so called better handling cars

markk

iTrader: (2)

do you use a baffled sump dingy ?

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Advice is for general reading Dingy as I must get about 5 PM's per week on the subject. Saves re-typing it all seperatly.

If you really want my opinion Clare stick on a GOOD set of road tyres like the ones Christian sells in the traders room You will get far more from them than a set of slicks - and can drive home on them too if your too tired to change them at the end of the day