Average life span of Michelin cups?

[maxmeerkat]

Hi there,

I know its a difficult question to answer as it depends on how the car is driven etc but i`m trying to gauge the average life span of Michelin cups to decide if i should take the plunge.
Any advice/experiences would be welcome.

[shimmy]

Hi there,

I know its a difficult question to answer as it depends on how the car is driven etc but i`m trying to gauge the average life span of Michelin cups to decide if i should take the plunge.
Any advice/experiences would be welcome.

A very hard question to answer, and if I am honest, if you are asking the question, you probably should not bother.

Firstly track or road? Big difference.

Secondly Ring or track? Big difference.

Then it depends on you driving style, tyre temps, tyre pressures, number of laps, geometry of suspensions, type of car/weight (presume CSL).

In my 6 years I'd say it ranges on track from 2-4 front and 2-6 rear for trackdays. I say 2 because if you get carried away and drive too many laps with wrong geo or no track suspension, or wrong circuit, you can goose a set in one of two day. Fact. But if you are more careful they will last 4-6 days.

With a/m suspension and good geo and with sympathetic attitude and square set up I an get them to last 7-8 trackdays plus all the driving too /from in between.

[3wheels3]

As shimmy said so much is on driving style and would add to what he said ability & confidence. 1) I pretty much know shimmy is harder corner entry than me so harder on fronts 2) Has more confidence to push harder with his better ability. But means I probably get same number of days even though no a/m suspension and being bit slower means I get to look out of the window more! For just the road I wouldn't do the cups tbh even though car does feel better because at road speeds it doesn't really matter. Having said that doing the csl thing without a set of cups and at least couple of carefull trackdays means you'll miss the point imo.

[cslsuperfan]

cup life

Just replaced a full set of cups after 3000 miles of "spirited" road use. No track time. I'm probably wasting money running cups on the road but it's the tyre it was born with!!:thumbs:

[billyboysm3]

Im running square set up in 18's, my new (were new) cups have completed 3 dry days at Snetterton and 1 wet day at Silly. Swapping the fronts and rears each time. Going by Shimmy's comments 7-8 trackdays id say is right including driving to and from track with the occasional sunday morning blast. Car geo is fine and tyres are all wearing even.

[CraigMillwardCroft]

Take the plunge very good tyres on track, you can feel every thing the car is doing. :thumbs:

[shimmy]

Just replaced a full set of cups after 3000 miles of "spirited" road use. No track time. I'm probably wasting money running cups on the road but it's the tyre it was born with!!:thumbs:

That's not many miles. 6000k road miles is more common.

If you say every track day is 200mikes plus there add back, say an average overall of 500 miles pER trAckday, ours are now doing 3500-4000 miles per set. I'm sure if it was pure road miles it would be more like 5000-6000

[83SY]

I was gunna put a used set that I have found on 19inch E46 M3 alloys for the first morning session to learn the track & then put a new set on the CSL rims on when im ready?

Would you chance a worn set (on inside edge) or are they past it ?

[shimmy]

I was gunna put a used set that I have found on 19inch E46 M3 alloys for the first morning session to learn the track & then put a new set on the CSL rims on when im ready?

Would you chance a worn set (on inside edge) or are they past it ?

Nothing wrong with used if you pay the right money for the wear and tear. I used to buy loads second hand that were road use only (from when cars were new and guys had removed them and bought ps3). These wear great. If you buy second hand track sets check they have tread where you need it (where you get wear) and check build date so they are not too old.

[83SY]

Quite heavy wear on the inside edge of the fronts but only planning on using them to learn the track early am. Maybe abit hairy in the damp tho!

£200 for a set of worn, rears 4mm even wear & fronts 2.5-3mm but much lower inside edge

Other option as I have already got four part worn rears @ 4mm even wear is buy a pair of new fronts to go with them & im guessing they will catch up with the rears wear wise?

Nothing wrong with used if you pay the right money for the wear and tear. I used to buy loads second hand that were road use only (from when cars were new and guys had removed them and bought ps3). These wear great. If you buy second hand track sets check they have tread where you need it (where you get wear) and check build date so they are not too old.

[billyboysm3]

Shimmy what difference have you found between non heat cycled and heat cycled cups?

[shimmy]

When you first start using them and first start understanding geo and looking afte them, it is IMHO a good idea to use worn ones.

Chances are then you won't goose a new set in 1-2 days and waste £1000+. Better to waste a £200 set of old ones

[shimmy]

Shimmy what difference have you found between non heat cycled and heat cycled cups?

Hard to judge. In last 2 years mine have been heat cycled. Even of not by machine, I have driven them hot on road and let them cool.

One big thing I have noticed is that heat cycled ones have never torn/feathered across the blocks very easily.

[maxmeerkat]

Apologies. I have a track prepared M3 to drive to (and hopefully back) the track.
I hear that you are a super smooth driver on the track , shimmy:-D
I fear that i`m a bit more agressive so maybe wear will be worse for me.
What are your comparisons with running 18s? Have you done this?

[shimmy]

What are your comparisons with running 18s? Have you done this?

I have run 18s for the last 2 years and 19s for the 4 years before that.

To be honest I have noticed very little difference win feel between the two. I'm sure there is one but wih adjustable suspension you tend to change this to suit the car and if the tyres have made a difference I may well have masked it by suspension changes anyway.