[sddynamix]

Hoping I could get some insight as to what's going on here.

I'm running Michelin PSS's, before this set I was running PS2's and had the same problem. I'm destroying the outside edge of my front tires after 3-4 events.

Has anyone else run into issues w/tire chunking w/PS2's/PSS's? I'm not understeering horrendously, watering down tires between runs, etc.

Possibly relevant information about car setup:
-2.25 camber on fronts
-500lbs springs on AST 4100's, running 8 clicks (of 12) in rebound stiffness
-38 psi cold front, picked up temperature ranges of about 135-140f, 105-110ish after being watered down between runs - total of 6 runs per session (one morning, one afternoon)




Is this a problem common to the Pilot Sport line? Should I try a tire with larger outer treadblocks, like the RE-11's? Am I just plowing more than I think I am?
I have a friend w/a G35 Coupe with massive understeer issues running RE-11's, and he experiences no tire chunking - stock suspension.

Just to be clear - after about 3 events I get one, maybe 2 dime sized chunks, that just get absolutely destroyed at the next event.

[///MFM3]

Try running something like 34 psi cold, I find I get better grip (but, on my A/S which are on the way out). Right now inflated at 38 cold (so, higher warm) even with camber, your car is rolling up on the outside edge and beating it to death.

The only time i can recall seeing wear like that is on a friend's STI at a track day and he was absolutely driving 10/10 around the track, keeping up with a good driver in a '12 Porsche Turbo S. It is obviously an AWD car, so he was making power from those wheels too.

I really think its a combination of severe understeer and elevated tire pressures, just my .02.

Max

[ThunderMoose]

I had similar wear doing DE's. I added camber plates and haven't seen any issues at -3.5.

[Zoomz]

I think it is the tire. I have seen guys at the track with this problem, on ps2.
IMO the tire is heating the outer layer fast, with the tire inner is still ice cold this creates bonding issuer where the is joined.
Ps2 are great street tire, but don't hold up to sever /track use.
Maybe try looking for a softer /extream street tire.
I really like federal 595 rsr. Cheep and very solid proformance.

[sddynamix]

Thanks for the replies folks!

Originally Posted by ///MFM3

Try running something like 34 psi cold, I find I get better grip (but, on my A/S which are on the way out). Right now inflated at 38 cold (so, higher warm) even with camber, your car is rolling up on the outside edge and beating it to death.

The only time i can recall seeing wear like that is on a friend's STI at a track day and he was absolutely driving 10/10 around the track, keeping up with a good driver in a '12 Porsche Turbo S. It is obviously an AWD car, so he was making power from those wheels too.

I really think its a combination of severe understeer and elevated tire pressures, just my .02.

Max

My understanding is that elevated tire pressure decreases the amount of rollover onto the outer edges of the tires? Yes, you would increase the contact patch if you ran less, but wouldn't you potentially rollover a lot more?

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

I had similar wear doing DE's. I added camber plates and haven't seen any issues at -3.5.

Sadly, it is a dual duty car - I'm not sure how well -3.5 will hold up in the front for daily driving. I have vorshlag camber plates, but the alignment shop can't seem to be able to "mark off" points for me to just readjust the camber myself - something about the plate shifting when he loosens it.

Originally Posted by Zoomz

I think it is the tire. I have seen guys at the track with this problem, on ps2.
IMO the tire is heating the outer layer fast, with the tire inner is still ice cold this creates bonding issuer where the is joined.
Ps2 are great street tire, but don't hold up to sever /track use.
Maybe try looking for a softer /extream street tire.
I really like federal 595 rsr. Cheep and very solid proformance.

I've never seen the federals on any list while looking up tire options. I'll check those out, thanks. I had my sights on the RE-11's, but their price point is slightly higher than the PSS's, and I'm destroying these every four months or so.

[Zoomz]

That is why I like the federals. Price point is seriously
Lower then almost anything I have seen.
Check online tires.com but call them as they website isn't updated fast enough.
What sizes do you run?

[modernbeat]

Originally Posted by sddynamix

...I have vorshlag camber plates, but the alignment shop can't seem to be able to "mark off" points for me to just readjust the camber myself - something about the plate shifting when he loosens it...

If the weight of the car is on the strut when loosened, it might move, but I'd be very skeptical of what that shop is telling you.

I'd also run a lot more camber on the track. The PSS are great tires and can mask some of the issues of a bad suspension setup. You are overcooking the outside edge of that tire in an extreme way. Run more camber and use the whole tire in the corners and your tire lift (and on track performance) will improve.

[lagunasecablue]

E46 needs a ton of static negative camber, -3.0 or more like another poster said if you're running sticky rubber like a PSS

[king-rb]

I had similar results with PS2's when I was autocrossing with them a few years ago, with stock suspension. As mentioned earlier, I try to run around 3.5 deg camber for autox events, and around 3 for track days. I'm assuming you're running at Qualcomm, which has very abrasive asphalt. You're best bet is to switch to a different street/track tire, such as the Direzza or RS-3 or even NT-05. Also, if you're not running a square setup then I'm sure you're dealing with understeer in the E46. Get another set of track wheels and you can run 265's or 275's on all corners and save your PSS's for the highway

Who are you running with here in SD, SCCA or BMWCCA?

[sddynamix]

Originally Posted by king-rb

I had similar results with PS2's when I was autocrossing with them a few years ago, with stock suspension. As mentioned earlier, I try to run around 3.5 deg camber for autox events, and around 3 for track days. I'm assuming you're running at Qualcomm, which has very abrasive asphalt. You're best bet is to switch to a different street/track tire, such as the Direzza or RS-3 or even NT-05. Also, if you're not running a square setup then I'm sure you're dealing with understeer in the E46. Get another set of track wheels and you can run 265's or 275's on all corners and save your PSS's for the highway

Who are you running with here in SD, SCCA or BMWCCA?

I was hoping you'd chime in! Yes, I am running at Qualcomm with the SCCA. What were you doing to change your camber? Alignment shop, or did you have markings on your plates/tie rods? And what wheels were you running?