What drift tyres?

[randomnine]

I went up to Santa Pod yesterday and it was a blast :D but I noticed the different tyres I took up worked out very differently.

I started off with Pirelli P6000s on the rear, which slipped out well and lasted over half a day from around 3-4mm tread. Then I switched over to some Goodyear Eagle NCT5s with even more tread on - which seemed to drift less easily and which fell apart after just a couple sessions. (Admittedly including one opaque-cloud-of-smoke burnout :wack:)

I'm wondering what tyres to look for or even buy new for next time. I had a search but I couldn't find any threads about this. So here goes: what makes of tyres have you tried to drift on, and which have stood up best to the abuse?

[gaz_moose]

work your way through all the different brands of tyres and work out the differences yourself.
il start you off,
1.continentals rip massive strips off.

[Monkey Magic]

Generally the top brands are the best.

I found Bridgestone potenza's to be the good because they rarely delaminate and wear off smooth rather than in chunks :)

I had a pair of maxxiss with loads of tread on once and they didn't last very long at all.

It's suprising how tyres smoke differently as well, some makes don't seem to smoke much and others are ridicuosly smokey!! I seem to remember having eagle nct's on and the smoke was coming through the window whilst drifting in 2nd :D

[CH1EF]

yes, on the whole if your drifting on tarmac the better the tyre the better it is. But I find conrete a different game, alot of top makes just get destroyed instantly.

e.g. NS2 nagkangs I love on tarmac but on concrete they rip them selfs apart.

[karl elwell]

i used nankangs 255/40/17 on a half concrete half tarmac course. and yes the concrete ripped them to bits.

the best ones i have used are bridgestone potenzas found it would come out and grip when you need it.

[SM]

The skylines loves the Marangoni's, it used to overheat R888's and chunk T1R's in no time. Avons and Nankangs also chunked I seem to remember. I dont think any others have been tried.

[bobbitt]

federal . thats what dw use!!

[Monkey Magic]

federal . thats what dw use!!

Arn't they sponsered by them though? I've never even seen any federals at the local tyre haven (quick fit :wack:)

[sketch]

i found nankans make too much noise
i run to sets of goodyear eagle f1s and loved them they smoke up silently
and im now running some bridgestone potenzas which i like but still prefur the f1s

i dont like continentals as theres something about the construction of them, i had a seta nd rolled the tyres off the rims twice, never happened with the other tyres and when i took them off it feels like the side walls are quite thin

[Matt_S]

P6000s? :eek:
Shit for grip and really noisey too :wack:

For me? It was Bridgestones. The flash ones that look like non road legal tyres :thumbs: cant remember the model. NS-01 maybe?

They grip well, smoke well and dont delaminate.

THings to remember with used / 'taken' tyres. Theyre probably been out in all weathers hardening along the way, so they will chunk easier etc.
Keep an eye on the tyre pressures. As you run them they get hotter, so youre pressure goes up. Run the tyre 10 psi over your normal settings to start with. As they get hotter, keep dropping the 'running' pressure to the same. If there still isnt a lot of grip then try droppipng them again by 2 psi at a time. (Easier to deflate than inflate ;) )

But yeh, you get used to tyres and get ya own fave. I used to love Michelin Pilot 2s but you pay for them thro the nose, even if they did last me a whole day at Silverstone Carpark when I first got my locker diff 4 years ago. :wack:

Run V pattern backwards too.

[Monkey Magic]

Run V pattern backwards too.

Whats the benefit of doing this? To stop them chunking or delaminating so quickly??

[diamondsink]

I found the more expensive tyres better. Like Conti contact 2, lots of smoke and good grip. The more grip give your more control but you'll need enough power.

[bobbitt]

Arn't they sponsered by them though? I've never even seen any federals at the local tyre haven (quick fit :wack:)

order online (camskill)and get a mate with a tyre place.. you dont go to kwikfit do you ??

[Monkey Magic]

order online (camskill)and get a mate with a tyre place.. you dont go to kwikfit do you ??

Only for part worn tyres to drift on :D

[Teggers]

Arn't they sponsered by them though? I've never even seen any federals at the local tyre haven (quick fit :wack:)

You'll be able to use mine in a couple more months when I replace the rears 245/40/17's this time :thumbs:

I'll expect a full and in-depth report of the performance with measured amounts of de-lamination, chunking and smoke levels backed up with photographic evidence... Or just have a bit of fun with them :wack:

[Monkey Magic]

You'll be able to use mine in a couple more months when I replace the rears 245/40/17's this time :thumbs:

I'll expect a full and in-depth report of the performance with measured amounts of de-lamination, chunking and smoke levels backed up with photographic evidence... Or just have a bit of fun with them :wack:

Cheers :)

I'll report back as soon as they get killed :D

I should Imagine they smoke fairly well judging by the driftworks cars but having said that they are savage power levels and jz'd up yo! :wack:

[bren]

Marangonis are amazing. We have run quantities of ZZ3s, T1Rs, Nankangs, R888s and Cooper along with a range of others and the Marangonis walk all over the others. They give great grip, consistancy and they dont delaminate or lose big chunks.

[docwra]

If you run the V pattern backwards it increases lifetime apparently, but isnt so good in the wet.

Longest lasting set of tyres Ive used were Infinity's - I got nearly a whole day at Lydd out of them :eek: when I can usually do no more than 5 mins at Santa Pod before having to change.

[Monkey Magic]

For reference I lent Greg off driftworks a set of wheels with part worn pirelli p zero rosso tyres on for his 1jz'd ps13. He did loads of runs at chepstow including a massive rolling burnout and they were still road legal when we finished whereas I was changing wheels after 1-2 runs.

I can remember having a set of rosso's on for a whole day but it was my first drift day so I thought it was because I was inexperienced and not being aggressive enough. Brought a whole van load and didn't even go through one set :rolleyes: :D

[Monkey Magic]

If you run the V pattern backwards it increases lifetime apparently, but isnt so good in the wet.

I have tried this recently and it does seem to work, the way the tyre wears off definatly looks different on the tread pattern.