After a certain SDI driver rang me the other day and mentioned cut slicks, I figured, I WANT A SET!

So, how the hell does it work? Do you literally buy an illegal tyre, and cut the slick bit? :confused: If I can get my four unmatching mille miglia 1000s vaguely "straight" - I may try and go down the cut slick route with them. Two of the are 8.0J wide so may try and get something bigger than 205 wide on them.

So, how does this cut slick malarky work then?

1st thing to be aware of is that they give massive extra grip, which can put much more strain on other components (bushes, joints, suspension etc).

2nd point is that although they give higher levels of grip, when they do breakaway they do so big style, with minimal warning. Trouble is that when they do "snap" you are doing much higher speeds.

You have 8" rims? You'll need at least 215 tyres on them. They are not like road tyres, much stiffer sidewalls which means you can't force them to fit like you can road tyres, specific rims need specific tyre widths.

Right, what to get. You'll be on a budget, which pretty much rules out road legal "track day" tyres (the cut / molded slicks you are on about) These start at about

After a certain SDI driver rang me the other day and mentioned cut slicks' date=' I figured, I WANT A SET!

So, how the hell does it work? Do you literally buy an illegal tyre, and cut the slick bit? :confused: If I can get my four unmatching mille miglia 1000s vaguely "straight" - I may try and go down the cut slick route with them. Two of the are 8.0J wide so may try and get something bigger than 205 wide on them.

So, how does this cut slick malarky work then? [/quote']

Aren't these road going track tyres?

I guess these would be like the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup that the M3 CSL uses.

These a perfectly legal although I gather they're not too good in the wet.

Cups are expensive though....

1st thing to be aware of is that they give massive extra grip, which can put much more strain on other components (bushes, joints, suspension etc).

2nd point is that although they give higher levels of grip, when they do breakaway they do so big style, with minimal warning. Trouble is that when they do "snap" you are doing much higher speeds.

You have 8" rims? You'll need at least 215 tyres on them. They are not like road tyres, much stiffer sidewalls which means you can't force them to fit like you can road tyres, specific rims need specific tyre widths.

Right, what to get. You'll be on a budget, which pretty much rules out road legal "track day" tyres (the cut / molded slicks you are on about) These start at about

Do you literally buy an illegal tyre, and cut the slick bit? :confused:

They are slicks which have a shallow tread pattern cut into them (by the manufacturer!)...you then buy them like this.

Wouldn't run them day-to-day - like John says, they give better grip but they break away much sharper, and with winter coming it could lead to another..."incident"...

Rob.

I SHOULD probably point out these wheels/slicks setup will NEVER grace a public road. The alloys are in a right state anyway , and may go for a cheap refurb (i.e spray them black I expect ) I may start a thread for DIY alloy wheel refurb soon.

These wheels/tyres will ONLY be ever used on a track.

In that case, get some part worn slicks, I'll PM you a number later when I find it

They are better on a wet/damp track than normal road tyres, however hit standing water and you are a passenger as they can't disperse it. :eek: Good fun though

In that case' date=' get some part worn slicks, I'll PM you a number later when I find it

They are better on a wet/damp track than normal road tyres, [b']however[/b] hit standing water and you are a passenger as they can't disperse it. :eek: Good fun though

I was never planning on using slicks on the open road. As much as a lot of you think I have a death wish, I don't think I've lived long enough yet. (plus, only the good die young! )

:rubchin: Jon, are you hoping for rain at Anglesey? :naughty:

Perversely, I actually prefer a wet track

But, then again, I hope it is dry for the speccies and ace photographer Geoff

Perversely' date=' I actually prefer a wet track

But, then again, I hope it is dry for the speccies and ace photographer Geoff [/quote']

A bit of moisture could produce some interesting pics

:rubchin: Jon, are you hoping for rain at Anglesey? :naughty:

Whenever I visited RAF Valley in my RAF days I used to hope that it would be dry - rain was the norm for Anglesey. :(

Whenever I visited RAF Valley in my RAF days I used to hope that it would be dry - rain was the norm for Anglesey. :(

Our visit there in January was quite pleasant.

Damn cold though.

Was a tad brisk

1st thing to be aware of is that they give massive extra grip' date=' which can put much more strain on other components (bushes, joints, suspension etc).

2nd point is that although they give higher levels of grip, when they do breakaway they do so big style, with minimal warning. Trouble is that when they do "snap" you are doing much higher speeds.

[/quote']

Long time ago a friend of mine fitted Dunlop A2 tyres to his Fiat 124 Special T. They were basically treaded crossply racing slicks used for rallying.

The grip was tremendous but this coupled with stiff Spax dampers meant that the welding on the bodyshell split after about 3 months :eek: