My track tires accumulate layers of old rubber from driving around the track. It seems like this stuff gets melted on as a new layer on top of the tread. Is this anything to worry about and/or do anything about, or should I just keep driving on them that way?

 

HPDE? I seen the same lately.
Perhaps we're going off-line into the marbles too much?
Methinks the line is usually the clean part?

 

No, I'm pretty good at staying on the line. However, some tracks seem to accumulate a lot of rubber chunks even ON the line. Notably GingerMan, where I've been picking up a lot of rubber lately (yes, in HPDE events). The track management is even pretty good at sweeping off the track at the start of the day, but by that same afternoon, there's all kinds of rubber to pick up.

 

It's normal.

 

I realize it's normal, but... should I try to get that stuff off the tread (and if so, how)? Does it affect the performance of the tires?

 

they will get flung off once the tires get hot, and the next guy will pick em up. no worries. no affect.


[Modified by Tyson, 8:42 PM 7/6/2002]

 

Could this be in-part because of the additional race groups running the same weekend as the HPDE?

 

Just leave them. No worries.

This is why you weave back and forth. Not really to warm up the tires. Mostly to scrub the **** off them, imo.

Warren

 

No man, its good stuff. That way it wear the free rubber you picked up instead of your precious tires!

 

Thanks, guys. I feel much better now.

 

straying a bit from topic, but i was just reminded of this comment, that at the end of last F1 race in germany the commentator pointed out that ruebens and michael were going thru the marbles and dirty line to pick as much crap as possible on their tires to help meet minimum weight. funny...

 

I don't think it's much to worry about. Those marbles get heated up and thrown from your tires at speed. But if you're still worried, I believe Longacre sells a tire scraper that takes marbles off and evenly distributes tire rejuvenator(sp?). I've also seen something like it GRM. If you like, I can take a look at some of my old issues and give you the specifics.

 

In AZ, any rubber that lands on the track will melt (or or off line). Even my Azenis picked up this crud. I think you get most of it on the cool-down laps, because it seems to come off during the first few hot laps of the next session. The first time this happened to me, I seriously thought I blew a tire! I took the car up to speed and all hell broke loose with rubber everywhere. And for some reason, some of it will become a permanent addition to your tire. The worst is the rubber from the non-DOT slicks run on the formula cars.

My advice would be to follow Warren's advice...scrub it off as best as you can and forget it.

 

try mad toe out and mad camber....seriously!! keeps excess track rubber on the track and not on my tires!!!

 

Your theory being that the extra toe will give that contant "scrubbing" effect?

 

Yup!

As long as you're not picking up nails, glass or such, it is really no problem.