How many sessions do you get out of NT01 (or similar) tires?

[BaylorCamaro]

I posted this same topic on the Corvette forums, unfortunately it seems like the number of people that road over there is less than here. Or at least forum participants.

I'm fairly new to the road course / HPDE events, only been doing it for about two years now. When I was first starting off I was using basic summer/performance street tires (Pilot Super Sports, Eagle F1's, etc) but as my skill level has increased I've moved to a more aggressive tire, specifically Nitto NT01's.

I've been tracking a 2013 Camaro ZL1 until I traded it in for a C7 Z51. I have done one single day event a few weeks ago with the C7 but this past weekend was my first two day event with the C7 (at Texas World Speedway), I was running the NT01's this weekend and the car felt VERY VERY loose and was very squirmy when getting on throttle on mid apex or corner exit. The fronts (NT01s, 275x18) only had maybe 6 sessions on them going into this past weekend. The rears (NT01's, 305x19) had probably closer to 12-15 sessions on them. The rears (305x19) I'd run on the Camaro a few times before I transferred them over to the Corvette. The fronts only ever on the C7.

I'm defining "a session" as one 20 minute stint. So the rears had at least 12 20 minute stints on them. A lot of people say you'll cord the NT01's before you heat cycle them out. By the end of this past weekend it looked as if my rears were getting close to cording. My alignment is -1.5 camber front, -1.1 camber rear, 0.05 toe in front & back. Since the alignment is a moderate track alignment I don't think that is to blame. I played with tire pressures throughout the weekend ranging from 36-39 PSI hot. The Camaro usually liked to be at 36 PSI hot.

Looking for any insight as to why the back end of this Corvette was so sketchy. I was running about 2.5 seconds slower in the Corvette than the ZL1, which shouldn't be happening. Granted the ZL1 was modified and the C7 is bone stock except for brake fluid and Carbotech XP20 front, XP12 rear pads.

*NOTE, I do not have mag-ride. So all sessions on the C7 were run in Competition Mode.

[X25]

I think you should seek help in the Corvette Forum, not since we'd not want to help, but you should learn what settings work best for your new car : )

Since you're stating the rears were very loose, I suppose you should also try it with a brand new set. You might also try lowering the pressures of rears only, and see if it balances out the car?

[BaylorCamaro]

Originally Posted by X25

I think you should seek help in the Corvette Forum, not since we'd not want to help, but you should learn what settings work best for your new car : )

Ahhh one step ahead of you. Unfortunately the responses ranged from 29-40 psi hot.... Lol

Originally Posted by X25

Since you're stating the rears were very loose, I suppose you should also try it with a brand new set. You might also try lowering the pressures of rears only, and see if it balances out the car?

agreed, I'll be going to new rears soon as I think the most plausible explanation is the tire.

[X25]

When I asked at the time, Nitto USA said the hot target for NT01s is mid to high 30s. For lighter cars, they said, it's usually more towards mid-30s (Miata, etc.), while high 30s is the norm for higher HP, heavier cars (like Corvete, Camaro, etc.).

Sometimes it helps to reduce the pressure of the loose side, though; it's worth trying. The difference in # of cycles is not minor; I'd also guess it's just the difference in tire age/wear .

Good luck!

[SPCBA]

I'm impressed you got "15 20 minute sessions" out of them.Even at 8/10s or something that's a few hundred miles of a track no?

I used several tires in a few competitions and corded them in a weekend which has a sharp drop off in performance. Aren't the Hoosier road race tires in those sizes?. I like 34 ish hot in the rear but I am on a much different setup.

Been nice to see your progress.

[BaylorCamaro]

Originally Posted by SPCBA

I'm impressed you got "15 20 minute sessions" out of them.Even at 8/10s or something that's a few hundred miles of a track no? .

The first track event that the rears were used was on my old ZL1 at COTA in high 40 degree temp and heavy mist/light rain, so I was probably going 6/10 at best. However looking at other events there were at least 6-8 sessions where I was going pretty hard. They lasted a good while but I think I was pushing my luck with them this past weekend.

[evobeaner]

What is the build date of the tires? On an 05' Evo 8 I ran 6 year old NT01's with pretty good grip. 6 months later they felt like big wheel tires. Flew off the track a couple of times and spun a 4wd car on the warm up lap!

[L99CAMA2011]

Originally Posted by BaylorCamaro

I posted this same topic on the Corvette forums, unfortunately it seems like the number of people that road over there is less than here. Or at least forum participants.

I'm fairly new to the road course / HPDE events, only been doing it for about two years now. When I was first starting off I was using basic summer/performance street tires (Pilot Super Sports, Eagle F1's, etc) but as my skill level has increased I've moved to a more aggressive tire, specifically Nitto NT01's.

I've been tracking a 2013 Camaro ZL1 until I traded it in for a C7 Z51. I have done one single day event a few weeks ago with the C7 but this past weekend was my first two day event with the C7 (at Texas World Speedway), I was running the NT01's this weekend and the car felt VERY VERY loose and was very squirmy when getting on throttle on mid apex or corner exit. The fronts (NT01s, 275x18) only had maybe 6 sessions on them going into this past weekend. The rears (NT01's, 305x19) had probably closer to 12-15 sessions on them. The rears (305x19) I'd run on the Camaro a few times before I transferred them over to the Corvette. The fronts only ever on the C7.

I'm defining "a session" as one 20 minute stint. So the rears had at least 12 20 minute stints on them. A lot of people say you'll cord the NT01's before you heat cycle them out. By the end of this past weekend it looked as if my rears were getting close to cording. My alignment is -1.5 camber front, -1.1 camber rear, 0.05 toe in front & back. Since the alignment is a moderate track alignment I don't think that is to blame. I played with tire pressures throughout the weekend ranging from 36-39 PSI hot. The Camaro usually liked to be at 36 PSI hot.

Looking for any insight as to why the back end of this Corvette was so sketchy. I was running about 2.5 seconds slower in the Corvette than the ZL1, which shouldn't be happening. Granted the ZL1 was modified and the C7 is bone stock except for brake fluid and Carbotech XP20 front, XP12 rear pads.

*NOTE, I do not have mag-ride. So all sessions on the C7 were run in Competition Mode.

I see it this way. I rented a C7 Z51 and of all the settings I would track in the softest setting, why because the car rotated better and got around corners better. The track mode seemed too stiff and understeered like hell.

[NVR2L8]

I have a slightly different opinion than some. First, the track alignment on my Z06 is -2.8 front and -1.5 rear. Second, the toe-in on the front is 1/8", and the rear is 1/16" toe-out. As far as air pressure, I shoot for hot pressure of 32 lbs., depending on track conditions. On hot days I go out at 26 lbs. This may be your problem.

Regarding the NT-01s, I have run them on both the Z06 and a Boss 302. I will normally get 12-14 track days on the Z06, slightly less on the Boss. I have found that the tires heat cycle out and get hard before the tires cord.

Of course all of this depends on the track surface, the technical characteristics of the track and driver experience. Some tracks will eat through tires twice as fast.