Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

997 Gen. 2 GTS - 2011

I'm planning a few more track days this year and therefore a spare set of wheels & tyres.

Any advice/experience on pros/cons of track day tyres much appreciated.

I'm thinking Michelin PS 2s at the moment.

This is a difficult one because a bit of damp going or on the way home and a track day tyre is the last thing you are going to want on your GTS.

PS2's are good tyres but a waste of cash if your going to kill them only on track IMHO.

If you are going to do a couple of track days a year, I would buy the PS2's and not run 2 sets of wheels.

Pilot Sports aren't dedicated track tyres, they're sporty road tyres that work well in all-round use. What are you using at the moment? How hard do you use them on the road? Do they inspire confidence during wet roundabout practice sessions?

A spare set of wheels and tyres would be a nice luxury, especially if you're ok to swap them quickly yourself. But dedicated dry track tyres could spoil your day if it starts raining and you've driven to a circuit on said tyres. If you're getting into trailering the car and taking spare wheels etc that's a whole different thing.

My own 997 runs re050a's at the moment and did two track days last year: a dry Blyton and a wet/damp Oulton. Performed great on both days with only mild front slides at Oulton. I am, however, pretty short on talent and big on pressing the brake pedal!

Thanks for the comments guys.
I'm also running Re050s which I have to admit have been a great compromise.
Just looking for something with a little more bite in the dry.
Have done about 6 or 7 track days in previous years.
Looking to do a few more this year hence the post.

Maybe spare wheels a bit over the top??

If you're happy to store and swap spare wheels, why not shop around for some spare wheels (Jasmine or Porsh Apart are good places to start), fit alternative tyres (PS2 or PSS) and have a play with 'em. At least you'll be able to fall back on the other set if you cook one set. I have a pair of re050 rears going cheap if you fancy that have a couple of td's left in them.

toyo 888s will tranform your car but give a lot of road noise,i am on michelins at the mo and they are great all round,but will be investing in some 888s soon as summer comes for some trackwork

What would 888's be like inthe wet Darron? Slightly amusing or downright scary?

in damp conditions they are fine with a little respect but in standing water,well,thats not really what they are for so pretty scary! unless you are are regular track driver they would be a waste

Michelin Pilot Supersport is the best tyre if you want one tyre to do it all; I've used them at Spa & they cost me about 3-5 seconds a lap compared to Cups. On the plus side they are very good in the wet & seem to last ages - much better than PS2s in similar conditions. If you are going for dedicated road-legal trackday rubber you can't beat Michelin Pilot Sport Cup+, which will work in the wet too. They don't like cold or standing water though. Some people are having good results with Pirelli Trofeo R but supply is a problem - try Demon Tweeks.

I used to use 888s when they were cheap but they no longer are so MPSC actually work out better value as they wear at a slower rate than 888s.

When you really get the bug you wind up with 4 sets of wheels: the 2 sets for the above road-legal tyres (MPSS & MPSC) and a set each for slicks & wets. With that lot you can tackle anything other than snow!

Thanks Nick, good advice.

Have done Spa the last couple of years but always blown away by GT3s and similar with track rubber (nothing to do with the person in the helmet, honest).

Not sure I'm ready for 3 sets of tyres but who knows what the future may bring.

Spa in the snow?? mmm

I did 2 weekends on the trot in the snow at Spa last March and a day on the 'ring in early April with snow lying on the side of the track and blowing across in little eddies. Lovely (not!). It was -2 & felt like -12

'Ring scares me in the wet. Snow would have me cowering in the cafe! Top marks.

The track was dry apart from the ice just after Aremberg. It took half a lap to get the tyres even remotely grippy though.

Back again same time this year; it's a terrible affliction

Crikey, I was joking you know, brave boy.
Circuit Days are doing Nurburgring followed by Spa the next day in April.
I plan to book these as I've have only done the Ring on Touristenfarhten days before.
I'm hoping gain a bit of experience from Ring regulars such as yourself.
Chris

Cool - I'll be on both days with a couple of mates in 997.2 GT3RSs

Come & say hello.