There's nothing more frustrating than a trackday car that won't go whereit's pointed - and nine times out of ten the tyres are the biggestinfluence.
Jerry Freeman of Service & Sport, official tyre partner of Easytrack,Europe's biggest trackday event organiser, says that there's a handfulof key rules that can turn a trackday nightmare into a driving dream.
Jerry, a former Pirelli motorsport specialist with thousands of racingsupport miles under his belt, says 99% of the problems are invisible tothe layman.
"Wheel alignment is a huge influence. Correct geometry can absolutelytransform a car. Trackdayers are, by their very definition, leisuredrivers. They can't always be expected to appreciate the subtleties ofwheel alignment, and often confuse the effects of misalignment with tyrepressure problems.
"Wheel alignment has to be the starting point, then you move on to tyrepressures. You can mess about with them to your heart's content, but,fundamentally, hot tyre pressures - measured immediately after you end atrack session - should be the same as your regular road pressuresmeasured in your drive after a normal run.
"When you come off the track and into the paddock, check your tyres forsigns of an even wear pattern. Two much evidence of tread movement orwear in the centre may mean they're too hard, too much on the shouldersmay mean they're too soft. If correcting of tyre pressures makes nodifference, then you probably have a suspension or steering geometryissue.
"If it's a wet track day, then don't be tempted to lower tyre pressuresas many do - tyres won't warm up properly in the wet, so you shouldactually put tyre pressures up to achieve the same pressure as yourregular road pressure.
"Another key factor is that many trackdayers think that theirsexy-looking road tyres will do the job on a race track. They won't. Aroad tyre designed for trackdays looks good, but will have very softsidewalls and literally wilt.
"Get a tyre that's fit for purpose: a race tyre-based road-legal tracktyre. There aren't many, but Silverstone do a belter: the Type R. Thesidewalls are massively stiffer, and I guarantee they and their ilk willmake a huge difference.
"Finally, consider legality: you'll inflict a year's worth of wear onyour car in a single trackday. Make sure that at the end of a great dayyour tyres still have tread when you leave the circuit."
Service & Sport is able to provide virtually any shape, size or make oftyre for fitting at Easytrack events, providing they are pre-ordered inadvance.
The S&S team will also take a stock of the most popular trackday tyresfrom a variety of manufacturers to each Easytrack event.
Pre-event orders should be phoned through to 01942 237468.www.serviceandsport.com
