HILLCLIMB, to SEMI or not to SEMI??

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 12:03 pm

With a Hillclimb event this Saturday, Just wondering what the consensus is for tyres?

My brother is doing his first Hillclimb and we have a set of used Semis on Wats in the garage but i am doubtfull of getting heat into them before the run.
Am i correct in thinking it would be better off just using street rubber?
IE- Adrenalines that are on the car already.

He will be taking the 5 there and i will be lugging gear and a passenger in a hatchback so i will have the room but if it is completely useless then What is the point? :roll:

Thanks in advance.

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 12:15 pm

Forgot to mention the track is Oakburn Park at Tamworth.
Temp is predicted to be about as low as 2 Degrees!! YIKES!!!! :shock:

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 12:43 pm

Put ice skates on it ... :lol:

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 12:59 pm

Haha. Yeah maybe save the space for bloody chains!!! Damn Winter!

evil_weevil · Postby **evil_weevil** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 1:03 pm

if you have a super soft semi that will heat up right away, go for it, say an r888 on the soft compound.
otherwise a good street tyre might be best as some other semis wont even warm up to get the best out of them and maybe even slower!

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 1:22 pm

Below 15 degrees it takes me about 60 secs to warm up medium compound r-specs on a track, though they're probably better than street tyres after about 25-30 secs with weaving. It would need to be a reeeeally long hill climb to get them working at Tamworth.

wozzah1975 · Postby **wozzah1975** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:02 pm

Definately use semi's, even cold they will work better than an ordinary tyre.

cheers
Woz

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:36 pm

wozzah1975 wrote:Definately use semi's, even cold they will work better than an ordinary tyre.

cheers
Woz

Ohh really??
That goes against what I've been told. Thanks for the input.
Maybe they are worth lugging up there??

They are Yokohama M compounds.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 3:41 pm

Not all semi's are created equally of course, but the fastest guys at the Fairburn track here in Canberra are all on semi's. We're talking <50 second run times.

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 3:46 pm

Thanks Joe.

Have you seen any tricks they use to heat them?
Im guessing you can't exactly go for a quick blast round the block first :grin:

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OurCognitiveSurplus · Postby **OurCognitiveSurplus** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 4:11 pm

Here in Canberra people do a big burn-out onthe pad to get some heat into the rears (and feel out the grip levels). Not much for it on the fronts.

I think I agree with Jeo that, warm or not, the Semis are quicker in Canberra.

olboy · Postby **olboy** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 5:07 pm

I would put the semi's on and go for a drive for 20 minutes before the event
That way you will get a bit of warmth into them instead of being stone cold

Olboy

Smokinscotty · Postby **Smokinscotty** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:43 pm

+1 for use the semis. I think a subtle burnout would be best, saw a few cars suffer from big under steer at turn 1 at Grafton after big burnouts.

Is this the state round? If so be sure to check out the Dallara with the motorbike V8 in the back! :shock:

wozzah1975 · Postby **wozzah1975** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:57 pm

Dweezle wrote:
wozzah1975 wrote:Definately use semi's, even cold they will work better than an ordinary tyre.

cheers
Woz

Ohh really??
That goes against what I've been told. Thanks for the input.
Maybe they are worth lugging up there??

They are Yokohama M compounds.

Drive up there on them

I run the Kumho's, the V700 victor racers in a medium, because thats the only compound they do in my size. They are a very soft meduim at 50 treadwear though.

On the tracks that allow you to do a "tyre warming exercise" :wink:

I deliberatly set my car up to oversteer. When I warm the rear tyres the car is then usually about balanced during the hillclimb run. On some of the longer tracks on a warm day enough heat is generated in the front tyres toward the end of the run to make it oversteer again, but I have found overall this technique works pretty well, and it promotes generating heat into the front tyres during the run IMO.

The competitive guys in the hillclimb series down here are all on semi's.
Cheers
Woz

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:03 pm

Not sure about other events but here they specifically disallow people from going for a drive to get heat in them by making you line up for at least 5 minutes (normally more like 10) before your run. Most guys will position their car so that the tyres are out of the shade and facing the sun to attempt to keep some heat in them. While I'm not convinced it would make a noticeable difference, it is entertaining to watch.