What is the danger if any if the weather is around 40F-55F ambient and I was to run r comps, more specifically NT01s. Im assuming track temps are 10F more than ambient. What are the pros and cons of running r comps in this weather.

Example:
Cons
-Going off = might flip due to wet dirt
-Traction = sudden breakaway
-Too cold for tires to get to heat range
-Possibility of black ice?
etc etc...

Pros
-Good for engine (theoretically more hp if any)
-Good for brake cooling
-Wont overheat tires
-Lower track times vs summer weather 100F in theory

Track is Buttonwillow Raceway in California. Obviously if its gonna rain or track is wet, ill stick to street tire (RE01R). Im asking if its just cold cold. I might just do 2 sessions on re01r and switch over as it gets less cold or warmer.

 

It's simpler than you think. In the midwest, there's plenty of weekends where it'll be frosty in the morning and then peak around mid-50's by the middle of the day. We still run r-comps and hoosiers.

It'll just take longer to bring your tires up to temp.

So raise your initial tire pressures in the morning, and make sure to take a few more warm up laps to let them get up to temp & grip levels. If it's really cold, I rarely go past 8/10's in the morning session ever. Heck, there's really no need for that anyway if it's the first session of the day. Be sure to ask others what they think of the track in later groups; make friends!


It's kinda the opposite of those crazy hot days when your tires come up to temp really quick and you have to worry about over driving them and going sky-high on the temps after lunch. Make sense?

 

You'll be fine running the nt01s, just give the tires a little extra time to warm up.

 

NT-01's are great in the cold from my experience. And that's down to mid 30's.

Never heard of black ice on a track in 40*+ weather though, and if there is no one should be on track.

 

Ohh those California guys and their black ice.

I have driven NT01s in the low 40s, high 30s. No big deal, just monitor PSI and follow the advice mentioned by others.

Dan

 

I actually was just out at Thunderhill in 28 degrees the day after the 25H with some Toyo RA-1's and had an amazing time. Yes, they took a couple laps to really come in, but I could push 10/10 probably 5-10 laps consecutively and they NEVER overheated... friggin' awesome!

Those tires will do just fine and they don't require a fraction of the heat to bring to temp as a slick would. Keep in mind as well, the colder the temp, the softer the tire you'd want to use-- maybe use the R-Comps in the real cold and switch to the street tires once they're shredded.

 

2 good warm up laps and you will be fine wet or dry, ck tire temps before and after your runs.

 

Don't expose them directly to freezing outside air though, as it WILL harden the compound and you cannot reverse that.

 

this is not bad to read

http://www.toyo.com/sites/default/fi...ireStorage.pdf

 

Was gone the past few days. Thank you all for your responses! Sounds like its gonna be a real fun track day. I will for sure take it easy the first 2 laps, then get into my normal groove. I'll also raise tire pressure 1-2 psi cold from my normal hot track days and monitor psi after i pull in. I'll see if i can manage to beat my previous best. I have been stuck at 2:09 for a while. I want to crack 2:06. This time im armed with brake ducting, PF01 pads, and PF 2 pc rotors.