I am currently runny R888's at the track, and, in case of rain, I try to get someone to bring me a set of street tires (I do not have a trailer and do not wish to get one). Not such luck at Road Atlanta last Sunday where Storm started in the middle of my session. Since I had no street tires anyhow, I thought I might as well stay on the R888's as long as I could drive with reasonable confidence.

The fact is, I almost run out of luck as you can see on this video:


When I got back on the gas after turn 7, trying to look for a trajectory ouside of the dry line, the car started to hydroplane, sliding slowly towards the concrete wall. I really thought "Now that's it, my first crash on the track ). With 2 wheels on the grass, I did not brake or give gas but slowly corrected my trajectory as the car seemed to regain (a tiny bit of) grip.

In brief, and now that I have experienced the limits myself, if the track is more than slightly wet, I will certainly not trust my R888's anymore.

So here's my question: is there another R-compound tire that would have the same grip as 888's on the track, but do not become almost useless under the rain. I know it will always be some kind of compomise but any feedback or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Serge

 

Good old RA1s were not bad with full depth, not sure about the NT01s.

No R rated tire will be great in the rain from what I have seen, especially if its got some miles on it.

That wall just kept getting closer!!!!!!

 

From an engineering standpoint, you have to trade some grip for water channeling. I doubt any racing tire can handle the water in that video though. Might have to shell out the money for PSC's and use them only when weather is in the forecast.

 

That was good steady and nice recovery. A lot of people would have slammed the brake in such incidence causing the situation to get worse.

 

Yep, great driving Serge!!! Your heart must have been in your throat though- I know mine would have been!

ChuckJ

 

Impressive driving! If its wet, or chance of rain I stick with the Michelin Super Sports... amazing in the rain, and pretty decent in the dry.

 

Nice drivin Serge!
Last month I drove up to Watkins Glen in a torrential downpour on my 888's. They were fine in the rain (on the streets, doing about 45mph) but they had close to full tread. So I think the amount of tread makes a big difference.
I agree with the others that if it's forecast to rain hard, go out with MPSS or even the stock P-Zeros.

 

Great driving Serge. When we went with the PCA to Daytona this year it rained and we watched many drivers not be as lucky as you. Saw a 997 Turbo S back in to the wall in the tri oval and the get hit by another P car. The rain and the track days don't mix very well.

 

Thanks a lot to you all for the nice words about my 'recovery' guys, but most of all, thanks for not pointing out that I should really have been wise enough to pit in sooner (and this is a nice way to say I was a complete idiot ).

Your feedback about grip vs. handling on the wet, or the difference between a new and used R888 make complete sense and are perfectly correct.
I was wondering if based on member's personal experience, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup+ (as suggested by flyanddive) or Dunlop Sport Maxx Race would be a bit more versatile. They are also a lot more expensive.

For now, I have a set of track wheels with PSS that I use in case of rain (but did not have with me last week end ). I'll probably stick to that as suggested by KonaKai.

Serge

PS: Yes, Chuck, my heart was in my throat, but after a second I moved on to resignation and was already mourning my 991 before the potential impact. Maybe that's how I stayed calm through this

 

whew!! Great video capture..we are right in there with you

 

I dunno, my T4S with MPSS was very capable in the rain (see below filmed as Hurricane Irene was just coming to town). Not to state the obvious, but these are the days when the 4WD guys really have the major edge

 

We learn from our errors, great recovery and glad you are safe.

We would have missed you this weekend at TOD Meet-up

 

It is one of the first thing I thought about!... unless the car would have been totaled and I could find a new ride at the dealership

 

Pilot Sport Cups would have been no better in that rain...even new they just don't have enough grooves...

 

I've run r888 in the rain on my 997.1S at least a dozen times. In my experience is that they are excellent in the rain, even when the thread is 1/2 way worn. They may not match a street tire in hydroplaning resistance, but they come close. And in most cases, they are faster in the rain than a street tire. I've had no hydroplaning issues 140MPH on R888s at Pocono raceway in the rain (thanks to banking and no standing water), and I've had some manageable/gradual hydroplaning issues at 100MPH at NJMP during heavy rain and puddles forming in the main straight. I think that if it rains hard and the track is known to drain poorly, no tire is immune to hydroplaning. And that's why in heavy rain, they stop races even though they run rain tires.