ACB10 durability

[moosetestbestanden]

I've run some ACB10s for a couple of NASA weekends - 3 istr. In my 2nd to last session at Willowsprings the car felt like it was sliding around more than it had been earlier in the weekend. I don't really know whether it was me over-driving on a track that had become greener due to light rain or that the tyres (English english:D) were past optimum. I put on a 2nd newer set and the car felt better. Of course, this was later and the track had picked up more rubber in the interim.

Fronts are getting close to the wear bars, rears have decent tread depth. They look a little grainy but I think most of that is clag picked up during a cool down. I'll post a pic this evening.

So, the question going out to the more experienced amongst us (Woody, MM, et. al.) is...

How long are they good for?

[slomove]

Not too much experience but I am running ACB10 for 3 years now on the track. I replaced the fronts only last fall after running them on maybe 10 or 12 track weekends almost bald (which does not mean much with only a few mm tread).

I kept the rear tires which did not wear that much and was afraid first that they had hardened and would not stick as good as the new front tires. But no discernible difference at the last Buttonwillow event.

Gert

[slomove]

Some interesting opinions here .

Looks like some folks run them down to the canvas....

[moosetestbestanden]

Yeah, I caught that thread. I almost contributed too, except that I had nothing new to add. My experience is similar to others there - a little rough on the street but great on the track. I find there's a noticable difference in grip between the 10's and the CR500s.

I just don't really know whether they've gone round the bend or not. Fontana should enlighten as I'll be using the worn (?) set and a new(ish - 2nd hand) set.

Still soliciting opinions from the more experienced please.

[Woody Harris]

Acb 10

Chris,

A careful break-in procedure (I believe Sasco has Avon's recommendations on their website) on new tires will enable you to get the most life out of the tires ('merican english). That said, as the tires experience more and more heat cycles and as they just age with the passing of time, they will take somewhat longer and longer to heat up to optimum. You will increasingly need to play them in a bit and be careful for a couple of laps. In other words, typical race tire behavior.

Woody

[Roll a 7]

I have used ACB 10s, CR500s, Kumho Ecsta 700s and the new Kumho 710s. The 710s are by far the best, in my opinion. They are noticeably heavier through the steering, 8-10 pounds per corner. The extra stick that you gain is well worth the weight penalty.

[moosetestbestanden]

Thanks Woody. I'll do my best to measure as I can at Fontana. :)

[Michael Murphy]

I'll show you my new Avon bias ply slicks at Buttonwillow. They look good enough to eat.

As for the longevity of the ACB10s, I don't have a whole lot of experience having only had one set, but I can tell you that I posted a personal best lap time at Thunderhill on a set that were a full season old. Like their owner, I think my tires improved significantly with age.

[moosetestbestanden]

The fronts are getting down to the bone. Fontana did indeed enlighten and as always The Sage (Woody) is correct. They actually felt pretty good after a couple of laps, particularly when I stopped trying too hard. I took a lb. out of the fronts and *could actually tell the difference*. Holy smokes!

Michael, why doncha say something when you're going out to buy new slicks. We could'a bulk bought or something. W/ an order of 8 we get free eggroll:D

[Michael Murphy]

Yeah, sorry about the group buy thing. Since you are in the market for titanium parts, why don't you have your butler drive "The Roals" over to Sasco and pick up a set?

Actually the slicks are my secret weapon. With those, I will be faster than all the other sevens in my race group. Doh.

Seriously, these are an experiment on my part and if they work I'll be happy to suggest a group purchase next time round.

I am amazed that you could tell the performance difference resulting from the one lb adjustment to your ACB10s. I estimate my own (driver) accuracy at +/- 20%, with my judgment affected by fatigue, inexperience and cute female corner workers. Consequently subtle differences in tire pressures are beyond my cognitive powers.

As for Buttonwillow, I plan to show up in the middle of the day on Friday for some testing and good ol' heat cycling action. Want to come play?

[moosetestbestanden]

I am amazed that you could tell the performance difference resulting from the one lb adjustment to your ACB10s

Well, I *thought*, or at least I think I thought, that I could tell. It's one of those placebo things maybe. You know, you get the medicine that's actually no medicine at all but by taking it you feel better. Which is exactly why I go to the track.:D

I was trying to see if I could get a little more bite from the fronts and it did feel that way. Now, as to whether that was actually the case or not I think it would take an actually competent driver to really tell. My biggest problem is a tendency to overdrive the car (nuttin thata couple of Valium and a big glub of whiskey before a session wouldn't cure:D) which means sliding of course, particularly at the front, for me anyway. There was one particularly difficult section I refer to as 'testa di cazzo' (babelfish it) corner because of both the way it looks on the map and because it was a real dick to get right (I managed once all weekend). Anyway, that's where I wanted to see what happened w/ less pressure. Like I said, fwiw, it did feel better by and large.

Friday's tempting. I have a deadline the following Monday but who t f cares 8-). Lemme stew on it.