Quote:
Originally Posted by 7thgear
do any of you use the "rain line"
long ago i was told that when it rains, you change it up a few feet to the left or right of the main line for better grip.
while others just stay on the same dry line, but i think this is tire compound dependent?
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Yep, the rain line is off of the dry line because the dry line tends to be much smoother, with lots of rubbering in. That same "rubbered" in area of the track becomes slippery in the rain, which is why people will stay off the dry line in the rain/wet conditions. The rough surface texture on either side of the dry line is what provides more grip in the wet.
That being said, it is also very track dependent. Sometimes the dry line is where the track will dry first or quickest, or have the least number of puddles in the rain, so some people will stick to the dry line. No sense in running off the dry line if you are going to be encountering huge pools and puddles causing you to hydroplane.
Also watch out for painted surfaces! They become super slick in the wet, especially the tracks that have a wide, painted area at start/finish - lift over that area. I've seen the lowest HP cars go into the wall across some start finishes at Sebring in the rain, simply because they have their foot in it across the painted surface.