Track tire for very cold track days

[Jstyle]

I know this is a very odd question so we have a trackcross series called the refrigerator bowl where we run it in freezing on near freezing conditions here in the mid-Atlantic. Since running RT660’s or RS4s or the like seems like you would get cold tears or other nasty things… I wanted to get everyone’s thoughts on what tires you guys would run in a trackcross under these conditions.

[RenegadeWRX]

I too am interested in this question as I might do some of those refrigerator bowl events myself.

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[racingfool]

DWS?

[Jstyle]

Originally Posted by racingfool

DWS?

Those were the tires that caught my attention too. Especially at that price point for 245/40/17.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

There are also performance winter tires like Pirelli Sotozero and Vredestein Wintrac Pro. These are optimized more for dry/wet grip in cold temperatures over outright snow/ice traction.
Not sure how they would compete against ultra high performance all seasons like the aforementioned Conti DWS or the Michelin Pilot A/S for your particular needs.

[cjd]

PSS at 38F was sketchy. It was also raining though. Older tire of course, but that's my experience. I think I'd rather skip now... Though my car was lost in similar conditions, it wasn't the tire failing to grip... But that probably sticks with me too.
Nokian WRG3 would be floppy but might survive as temps approach freezing. Again, its an older tire but the one I've driven. Designed to take the heat of racing in the winter.

I would run narrower tires in the hopes of improving grip via heat through increased weight per SQ/in of contact patch. Not sure if it would help or not.

[Jdmjunkie]

I have a set of Michelin Pilot Alpine tires that grip up well in sub 40° temps.

[strat61caster]

Dry: Hoosier A7
Wet: Continental ECS

[racingfool]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Dry: Hoosier A7
Wet: Continental ECS

.

Originally Posted by Jstyle

we run it in freezing on near freezing conditions

[strat61caster]

I don't see a problem, warm them up gradually.

[cmiovino]

Here's a track test with Conti's DWS vs their winter tires... with a twin... on track:

With that said, I've owned the DWS on two cars now and do like them. They're on my WRX, which I use when it's cold during winter, but not much in the snow and not if it's there's more than a trace (hence the all season over winter tires). They're good, I like them, and they have a long track record. Just released the new 'plus' version.

I actually tried running winter tires at an SCCA match tour once. I did horribly. Winter tires don't work for dry track conditions even when it's <32 degrees. The compound is too soft. They're really meant for snow, slush, wet, etc. Yes, they'll get you around in the dry cold, but not on a track while lapping.

An all season is your best bet for the Refrigerator Bowl events. The problem with summers is the weather can change. Could be 20 degrees, could be 50 degrees. At 50 the summers will work and be better, but at 20, they'll be damn near dangerous even getting there and the rubber could be harmed in the extreme cold. Plus, not sure about you, but I don't want to be swapping tires when it's below freezing (I did this once to preserve my Yoks at our first event here in PA). The 'all season' will at least cover you for commuting to the track too in case there is snow, vs a summer tire and praying it's 100% dry and babying it there.

My choice is an all season like the DWS.

[BlueWhelan]

+1 for the Conti DWS.

I'll also add the Vredestein Hypertrak All-Seasons. Anecdotally, I've been hearing really good things about them.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by cmiovino

Here's a track test with Conti's DWS vs their winter tires... with a twin... on track

There are two similar tests done by Engineering Explained and Tyre Reviews that reached a similar (or even more extreme) conclusion that for low temperature dry surface summer or all season tires perform better.

However, non of these tests used performance winter tires. Tirerack's performance winter tire test showed about on par dry and wet stopping and skid pad numbers as good all seasons, and they would probably outperform them in lower temperatures.

OP's use case probably won't be too low temps, so all seasons might be the best bet. They would certainly be better if temps aren't that low during the event (i.e. above 45 F).

[CSG Mike]

How long are the sessions?