Just came back from Sepang and was advised to run hot pressures of 29psi?!

Track temps were blindingly hot and with a 34 hot pressure I was sliding pretty much all over the shop. My car is fairly stock with RT615's and I'm quite a noob at the track. 29 psi was much more controlled but when i pitted it became 31 psi again due to the crazy heat.

The RT615's didn't just look chewed up but had strips of melted rubber dangling down the middle of the tread groove like bits of squashed leftover chewing gum. After a high speed 400km dash back home, they looked much smoother.

RE-01R's fared much better in the looks department and apparently held up the heat very well but still had a bit of slight melting. Mind you, I barely did 3 hot laps at a go. I couldn't imagine how 5-10 hot laps would make the tyres.

I was most impressed by MH compound A048 which were sticky throughout and did not show any of the tread destruction the 615 and 01R did. I have used up my rear 615's in about 3 months including this track day and am now riding on my tread wear bars, fronts look like they will go another 3-4 months. I have a fresh set of rears at home and I will wear the current ones out before I fit the new ones.

 

A 3 deg range is not all the broad. There is a reason for track tires (and minimal grooves like the 48) and you have found it.

 

Sam is this you? If so Give me a ring when you are in LA.