Dunlop SP Sport slicks

[Andy M]

Folks,

Anyone here ever run Dunlop SP Sport (completely slick) race tires before for open track??

I just bought a used set and will be testing them out weekend after next at Motorsport Ranch in Dallas. I bought a set which was used for Grand AM Cup qualifying and they have at least 95% of the rubber still on them. Got them real cheap. $100 each. So, I had them mounted today on my Steeda Ultralite rims and will be testing them out to see if they have the same, better, or less traction and stickiness as the Hoosiers.

Just wondering if anyone here has ever tested these particular tires before?

[thomasmoran1]

Andy how's it goin? Those Dunlop slicks have way more grip then the Hossiers. I worked with The Racer's Group and when I talked to the drivers that run in Grand-Am cup along with the Grand-Am series they always complain that the hosseirs they have to run in Grand-am cup are like being on ice compared to the Dunlops. (As it should be)

Hope that helps

Thomas

[Andy M]

Originally posted by thomasmoran1
Andy how's it goin? Those Dunlop slicks have way more grip then the Hossiers. I worked with The Racer's Group and when I talked to the drivers that run in Grand-Am cup along with the Grand-Am series they always complain that the hosseirs they have to run in Grand-am cup are like being on ice compared to the Dunlops. (As it should be)

Hope that helps

Thomas Thomas,

How are things with you man? Howz the car doing? I assume it is ready for the pending open track season by now, right?

The guy I bought the Dunlops from said the open track guys who run these swear by them. They told him these tires grip like no other? We shall see? MSR is a much shorter track than TWS and has a lot of off camber turns... it will be nice to have some confidence in the tires sticking well, if in fact they are that good?

Any idea what kind of air pressure I should start with (cold) in these tires? I suppose I will just have to experiment.

By the way, I ran my set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires again the other day for an entire weekend at TWS in College Station.. and they did much better this time around. Still not quite the level of grip of the Hoosiers, but they are lasting alot longer. I've run them hard for 3 entire track days now, and they still have at least half the rubber still on the tires. And they are sticking better and better as they get more and more scrubbed.

Anyway, hope to see you again this year somewhere?? Best of luck and stay safe!! :thumbsup:

[thomasmoran1]

Andy, I will call the team tomorrow and find out what they run. That should get you in the ballpark. I would then start them at that and use a pyrometer to find out how the tires are heating. Do a couple of laps and if the middle is way hotter then the outsides drop the pressure. If the outsides are hotter add air. I know its nothing ground braking but it?s a start. Also remember that under race conditions those tire's only last about an hour and that?s in a 2400-pound car.

The car is still getting worked on right now, I posted some pics in the lewising forum. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Talk to you soon

Thomas

[racercosmo]

Thomas, when were you at The Racer's Group?

I picked up a used set from them for my friend's car. We used 4 fronts on 2000 Cobra R wheels. The tires seemed a bit narrow for those wheels, but Gary said they use 10" wheels on the GT3.

We started at 24 psi all around. Grip was great, it felt like the door handles were going to scrape the track. 50 lbs more spring would probably work great. I didn't get a chance to get tire temps though.

[thomasmoran1]

Originally posted by racercosmo
Thomas, when were you at The Racer's Group?

I picked up a used set from them for my friend's car. We used 4 fronts on 2000 Cobra R wheels. The tires seemed a bit narrow for those wheels, but Gary said they use 10" wheels on the GT3.

We started at 24 psi all around. Grip was great, it felt like the door handles were going to scrape the track. 50 lbs more spring would probably work great. I didn't get a chance to get tire temps though.

I shot a documentary about them at this years 24 hours of Daytona. I could not have asked for a better story as a filmmaker. Right now we are putting it together. We have over 70 hours of footage and we have been working on it since the beginning of February. We hope to finish it by the end of April.

What size rims were you running those tires on?

Thomas

[Andy M]

the ones I got are a little more narrow than the Hoosier 275/35/18's I normally run - on Cobra R rims.

I have the Dunlops mounted on the Steeda 18X9" rims.

Cosmo, thanks for the tip on air pressure. I will try them at 24 pounds cold and then shoot them with the pyrometer to see how they are heating up after a few laps? I will let you guys know how it goes?

[Cobra-R]

Originally posted by racercosmo

I picked up a used set from them for my friend's car. We used 4 fronts on 2000 Cobra R wheels. The tires seemed a bit narrow for those wheels, but Gary said they use 10" wheels on the GT3.

We started at 24 psi all around. Grip was great, it felt like the door handles were going to scrape the track. 50 lbs more spring would probably work great. I didn't get a chance to get tire temps though.

Not meaning to hijack Andy's thread, but since Cosmo peaks his head in here once in a while I wanted to thank him, Bruce and Eric for thier hospitality last thursday when we toured thier shop. They gave us a great tour and showed us some of the go fast goodies that Griggs offers.
It was a great time with great people, thanks again.

Brian

[Andy M]

So, Cosmo,

you are from Griggs, huh?

pls email me when you get a minute?? I'd like to discuss coilovers and stuff with you??

rmenard71@earthlink.net

[racercosmo]

the ones I got are a little more narrow than the Hoosier 275/35/18's I normally run - on Cobra R rims.

Andy, I looked at the GT3s and they definitely run like that. You don't get any margin for error with that wheel and tire combo. One brush against the wall, or a nudge of the car next to you and you've bought a wheel.

I would rather answer questions in the open. I only answer fact based questions, and nothing about pricing.

[Andy M]

Cosmo,

cool.. I understand.

Ok, what I want to know is approximately what the weight savings will be on my Cobra R if I nuke the Eibach springs and go with a coilover setup, along with new control arms, and a tubular K member?? Also, what struts/shocks do you recommend? I do mostly open track with my car, but do drive it on the street a little. However, I am mostly concerned with setting it up for track duty first and foremost.

The car is heavy in front (as most Mustangs are) and understeers into the corners. I've changed the sway bar in front in favor of a stiffer setup and this induced more understeer, but it definitely plants well in the turns.

I just want the car to turn in better. Recommendations pls?

[racercosmo]

The entire tubular K, tubular arms, coilover swap removes about 65 lbs from the front of your car. Since this is a track use car, the severe duty arms with heim joints will be used. I will of course suggest Koni DA's on the front and the Track shocks for the rear. If you are in love with your Bilsteins, We have a coilover kit for the fronts, but not the rears.

[racercosmo]

I forgot to address the antiroll bar. We use stock bars on the cars that we set up. I am not an engineer, so I don't know how differently an IRS car works.

[racercosmo]

Thomas, I believe I met you when you were filming at the Racer's Group a few months ago. You came into the office for and spoke with Bruce and myself for a little bit before you had to leave.

[Cobra-R]

Would a Griggs (or any other brand for that matter) K-member work on the 00R's? I thought Ford had to make some changes to the stock K-member to allow the engine to sit lower in the chassis for hood clearance?

[Andy M]

Originally posted by racercosmo
The entire tubular K, tubular arms, coilover swap removes about 65 lbs from the front of your car. Since this is a track use car, the severe duty arms with heim joints will be used. I will of course suggest Koni DA's on the front and the Track shocks for the rear. If you are in love with your Bilsteins, We have a coilover kit for the fronts, but not the rears. Thanks! The Bilsteins work well, but I am not in love with them enough to keep them on the car if I go with coilovers. I would definitely go with the DA Konis in front, and the Konis on the rear too.

What do you recommend on the tension of the coilover springs? I have 800 pound springs at the moment in front and 650 pound springs on the rear. I know this does not however translate apples to apples when you go with coilovers? Please explain the difference? and what would you guys recommend?

Thanks!