I am going to an evolution school with my stock tires, and I was wondering how much tire wear will 1 phase cause. The conditions of my stock tires are pretty bad, with 5mm of thread left with some chewed up sidewalls. Now I have one more regional before the school. Could my tires last through the school, or do I need to slap on the azenis?

 

Figure on doing 30-40 runs on a 30-40 sec course. Enough runs to equal 8-10 normal autox events. On the plus side, as the day progresses, you will probably not wear the tires as much as you learn what they are teaching. You don't want the tires to give up during the day and change how the car drives or make it hard to see how your driving compares to earlier in the day.

 

If I end up going, I'm putting on new tires first. That's what I would recommend for sure. And a good alignment wouldn't hurt.

 

I was hoping to save my azenis for the new season, guess I'll have to buy two more new ones.

 

Is it safe to say that 2 phase of evolution school could waste 2 front azenis?

 

As long as your tires will pass tech, use up your current tires at the Evo school. Save your new tire budget for next season. IMO, it doesn't make sense to waste new tires on practice...

With 5mm of tread left on your current tires, they will be perfect for using up in Phase1. If you plan on doing Phase2 as well, I would rotate the fronts to the rear after the first phase.

I did both phase 1 and 2 last spring. I used up maybe 1/4 total of an older set of S-03s I had over the course of the weekend.

Andrew

 

I've taken a Phase 1 and a Phase 2 and I did not think that the wear was excessive. Probably the same as 3 normal events (even thought the math says its like 8, the fact is that they are teaching you smoothness and smooth wears tires less). I would recommend driving the tires that you normally compete on.

Also I would recommend setting your car up just like you always do. Try to make it so that the setup for the school is one you are used to so you can concetrate on technique rather than worrying about setup.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Essence of Chicken &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is it safe to say that 2 phase of evolution school could waste 2 front azenis?</TD></TR></TABLE>

you have to drive _really_ poorly to waste a set of falkens. the school will be of even more value if you take it on the tires you will be actually racing on. and with falkens being so cheap, i see no reason at all not to do the event on them.

nate

 

I took phase 1 at the end of august and didn't find the tire wear too bad either. I got a puncture, but tread wear wasn't bad at all.

 

Thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by solo-x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
you have to drive _really_ poorly to waste a set of falkens. </TD></TR></TABLE>

And you can expect to drive_really_poorly at the school while you're trying to sort through a dozen foreign techniques and drive at the same time. However, I made it through phase 1 on azenis (about 2k miles old before the school) and there was minimal wear afterward. They did get overheated several times, however. Again, this was due to driving_really_poorly

 

I have this habit of watering down my tires after every run. I think it helps a bit.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Essence of Chicken &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have this habit of watering down my tires after every run. I think it helps a bit.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The problem is, you'll make 5-8 consecutive runs without getting out of the car. We went from the finish line to the starting line...over...and over...and over.

 

Interesting. I'm contemplating whether to take phase 2 or not. Since my fund has been deplated, with only 400 dollar left for the rest of the season.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Essence of Chicken &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have this habit of watering down my tires after every run. I think it helps a bit.</TD></TR></TABLE>


not good if you have race tires. watering them will increase the # of heatcycle, essentially hardening them faster

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by travis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The problem is, you'll make 5-8 consecutive runs without getting out of the car. We went from the finish line to the starting line...over...and over...and over.</TD></TR></TABLE>

5-8 consecutive? Isn't this murder on your car?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MrIllegalX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

5-8 consecutive? Isn't this murder on your car?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's not any worse than open lapping...

 

Essence, I took phase 1 and phase 2 last summer (with Andy & Ann Hollis, who I think will be your teachers too?) on my Azenis, and I didnt really do that much wear to em at all.

I've just ran out my first set of Azenis on the EP after 10K miles of daily driving, Evolution 1&2, a 20-run practice day, and about 20 autocross events. Thats a damn good lifespan from what I've heard.

One of the things you'll learn in Evolution is how to not cook your tire's shoulders down, because you learn to detect and avoid understeering situations... you know when you are exiting a turn and have the wheel all the way cranked and you get on the gas and go nowhere while the tires screech madly... Evolution shows you the right way to avoid that situation.

So. I HIGHLY recommend Phase 1 and 2, its easily worth every penny. As for the tires, I'd say stick with the stock, as they'll help point out your mistakes easier than the Azenis will. You should learn more that way.

 

I already signed up for phase 1 but not 2. I just dont have the money right now.

 

i have a full 1 hour video of phase 1 taken from inside my car during all the runs. rules for refreshers and i watch it before event weekends...

 

Is there any reason why I must take phase 1 and phase 2 on the same weekend?

 

No need to take 1 & 2 together. I took them a year apart myself. I'm thinking of doing them again next year as a refresher and to get rid of bad habits that have crept in. A lot of people did take both on the same weekend, but many did not. Separating them out over some time can help by giving you time to mentally digest what you learned.

 

Actually thats a good point. Taking phase 1 and then phase 2 later, after you've had some time to apply phase 1, would be a good thing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SlapSmak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i have a full 1 hour video of phase 1 taken from inside my car during all the runs. rules for refreshers and i watch it before event weekends...</TD></TR></TABLE>
That's an awesome idea. I may try that when I do one next year