HPDE on PS4

[br33z]

Hi, I'm thinking about participating in my first HPDE with my 2022 BRZ Limited. The event is 7x20 minute sessions with 1 hour open lapping at the end. I have the stock Michelin PS4s on the car, and from what I understand the PS4 is a performance oriented tire but not a track tire.

I plan on pushing the car (participated in a few non-HPDE driving events before) but I'm not worried about lap times - more about destroying a $1000 set of street tires on one day at the track. I'm not ready to drop a few k on a set of track wheels and tires given this is my first event and I might not like it (unlikely ), but putting 7-8 heat cycles and 2+ hours of very hard driving on them seems like it could be a bad idea for their longevity.

TLDR - will 1-2 track days do in the PS4s? If I plan to make it a more regular thing I'll spring for a dedicated track set, but I want to just try it for now if possible without so much initial cost.

[NickSpaghetti]

My PS4s are fine after 1 track day on the stock setup stock pads / upgraded fluid with plenty of tire squeal to prove I was consistently using them :P

I am doing another track day on CSG Spec CP pads this weekend so cna report back in.

My STI’s PS4S were fine for 2 track days as well.

Plenty of tread on both sets


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[ZDan]

Try to get some front camber (camber bolts and/or offset top mounts), that will help them a bit. Might also rotate front/back halfway through the event.

PS4 should be up to it though.

[strat61caster]

Don’t drift every corner at 10/10ths and you’ll be fine. Check ‘em after every session to keep an eye on the wear. Doing a few laps at 10/10ths should be totally fine, but pounding on them all day long like that might kill them.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Don’t drift every corner at 10/10ths and you’ll be fine.

[strat61caster]

That's why my first set of tires for this car were Z2 Star Specs lol.

[evanescent03]

Mind your pressures, check your tires after each session and rotate as needed especially if a certain corner is taking the brunt. having a square setup is nice for rotation. I was worried about the Primacy tires lasting so I ordered some sport cup 2s but if I had the PS4s I would’ve just used those although I would’ve considered them expendable.

Have fun and let us know how it goes!

[MrSkubi]

My experience with tracking PS4 is that after a few heat cycles those tires will start to loose grip despite still having a lot of thread left. As mentioned before adding front camber is recommended. I guess that after 1-2 mild track days they should still feel ok. The last set lasted a long time but grip reduction after first few track days was very noticeable to me both in track and street conditions.

[nextcar]

Originally Posted by MrSkubi

Me experience with tracking PS4 is that after a few heat cycles those tires will start to loose grip despite still having a lot of thread left. As mentioned before adding front camber is recommended. I guess that after 1-2 mild track days they should still feel ok. The last set lasted a long time but grip reduction after first few track days was very noticeable to me both in track and street conditions.

Agree 100%. They start pretty good, but after a couple track days they felt greasy to me... That said, I don't take my times all that seriously and actually enjoy sliding a bit, so I got 8 track days out of them. They were really toasted at the end though and I was down about 2-3 seconds from my nominal 1:33 lap time.

Be sure to check your pressures after each session...

[racer01]

Tracking any car hard eats tires, and I really don't like the tread squirm feel and chunking I have got on brand new street tires in the past. I decided to just go ahead and put track oriented tires on mine and save the PS4 for the off season or when I sell/trade it. Figured I was buying a set of tires either way, so rather have good tires on it for the track.

I did add camber bolts for a few bucks and moved the lower bolts to the upper hole to get some decent neg camber.
Newer drivers (even faster ones) are much, much easier on tires. Old (experienced?) guys like me with 20 years track experience are sometimes able to manage tires really well, but I just don't find much fun in that so I am kinda hard on tires and brakes.

[br33z]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I can't thank replies yet due to account age I believe but I appreciate your input.

Originally Posted by racer01

Tracking any car hard eats tires, and I really don't like the tread squirm feel and chunking I have got on brand new street tires in the past. I decided to just go ahead and put track oriented tires on mine and save the PS4 for the off season or when I sell/trade it. Figured I was buying a set of tires either way, so rather have good tires on it for the track.

I did add camber bolts for a few bucks and moved the lower bolts to the upper hole to get some decent neg camber.
Newer drivers (even faster ones) are much, much easier on tires. Old (experienced?) guys like me with 20 years track experience are sometimes able to manage tires really well, but I just don't find much fun in that so I am kinda hard on tires and brakes.

Do you daily the car, use it as a track toy, or somewhere in between? I don't drive much because I live in a city and don't commute, but I would still like a tire that's tolerable for short-medium drives. Ideally if I end up taking track days more seriously, I would get a tire that's built with track use in mind but not as the only purpose. On that note, specifically what tires did you buy and how are they to live with?

[CSG Mike]

You'll be totally fine for a first event.

Some front camber is nice to have, and if you like cornering, you should get some camber bolts, as it'll get you more front grip AND preserve the outer shoulders.

be mindful of your brake pedal if you go stock.

Take lots of water, and hire yourself an instructor.

https://www.counterspacegarage.com/w...r-bolt-frs-brz

[nextcar]

There is quite a bit of subjectivity on what is acceptable for a dual use tire...

In general, the first thing you give up on a more track oriented tire (other than longevity) is performance in wet/cold conditions... not much of a problem for me in Southern California, perhaps a big problem in New England.

Around here I see people using RS4s and SX2s for dual purpose track/daily. I just switched my PS4s for SX2s and I daily the car (but it does not get driven far/often). Lots of choices; all are compromises... I chose the SX2s for price/availability (RS4s are on backorder until April). Never used them before; next track day is in 2 weeks!

[racer01]

Originally Posted by br33z

Thanks everyone for the responses. I can't thank replies yet due to account age I believe but I appreciate your input.



Do you daily the car, use it as a track toy, or somewhere in between? I don't drive much because I live in a city and don't commute, but I would still like a tire that's tolerable for short-medium drives. Ideally if I end up taking track days more seriously, I would get a tire that's built with track use in mind but not as the only purpose. On that note, specifically what tires did you buy and how are they to live with?

I went with Falken Azenis rt660. I do live in mild South Carolina climate and have other vehicles to drive it is really cold or raining. Basically a nice weather commute and track day car for me. I am in a rural area and this type of 200 TW tire is really quite fine for street driving if you are mindful of really cold and/or really wet conditions and take it easy if you find yourself in those conditions. For those who need the car to be a "normal" street car I'd suggest two sets of wheels and tires or just go with something more street capable like a PS4S Michelin (much grippier than the PS4 but also still very good on the street).