NSR 'zero graining' WRE tyres...testing -
Kevan - 3rd-May-25
It was race night and I'm now in the fortunate position to be able to go to the club early as I'm officially an old age pensioner (66 UK) as of last week which means I have more free time.
Thanks to Nolakers tyre cleaning on a figure of 8 track for 10 hours, I put the wheels back on the truer to clean up for about an hour, then fit them to the car destined for a UK proxy (Targa Florio).
At the club track an hour early, tried the car I'd used for testing last week (NSR Porsche 917) with a set of known good Ultragrips and was unimpressed by the cars handling...time for a rethink.
Get another proxy car out, a Fly WSC 95 Joest Porsche with my 3D chassis/pod and tried the 'zero graining' tyres...that's more like it. Did a few laps then decided to try another proxy car which is a lovely runner, a Fly Porsche 908/3 with my 3D chassis and SlotIt SW pod...an immediate improvement, these tyres aren't as bad as I thought, lets keep going and I must have done about 100 laps with them and they were starting to polish with little tyre dust so decided on a proper test.
First photo is after about 100 laps on our polyurethane painted wood track.
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Those are looking much better than they did after running the NSR Porsche 917.
I then did another 100 laps in 33 lap segments, cleaning with tape. This next photo is after 200 laps, fastest lap was 6.038 which is quick for a proxy car on our track.
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Then I ran another 100 laps in 33 lap segments, fastest laps was 5.906 which is as good as this car has gone on treated original Ultragrips. The rubber cleaned off the tyres on the tape is 300 laps worth.
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Then I ran 100 laps non stop...fastest lap didn't improve but regular 5.9's is excellent. Rubber cleaned off the tyres is shown on the tape.
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Finally, I swapped the tyres round and ran another 100 laps. Initially lap times were down but gradually started dropping again and will be in the 5.9's
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So I take it all back...thanks to Nolakers, I decided to revisit these and confident they will easily last a round of a proxy series without performance dropping off.
One other thing, the NSR Porsche 917 I had intended entering in the proxy is being replaced by this Fly 908/3 with Predator 22k.
...I've since rounded the outside corners which has made cornering a little smoother.
N.B. these tyres have not had any tyre treatment, only track time to polish them smooth.
Hotlap -
Hotlap - 4th-May-25
Hi Kevan,
Thanks for the info.
I will be using these tyres in the WRE at the end of the month.
They are using Policar tracks for the first time.
Phil.
RE: NSR 'zero graining' WRE tyres...testing -
Kevan - 4th-May-25
For those who aren't aware, Nolakers is a forum member on HRW where this tyre was discussed a few weeks ago as a possible proxy spec tyre.
I bought a pack and glued/trued them (make sure you do it slowly as the rubber tends to roll off like G25 rubber) and tested them on an NSR Porsche 917 and I thought they were rubbish.
A few days later, Nolakers put a photo of a pair he'd put on his tyre running-in figure of 8 track for 10 hours and they were polished to a shine...so I went back to the drawing board as in the beginning of my post above.
In short, these are brilliant tyres and don't need oiling like pre-evo NSR Supergrips/Ultragrips. Of course the blindingly obvious advantage of that is grip will be the same all night just by cleaning on tape.
RE: NSR 'zero graining' WRE tyres...testing -
Kevan - 7th-Aug-25
I've since bought a pack of the Rally versions, narrower and smaller diameter and used them on one of my Minis... superb grip on the big track and brilliant even on a tight twisty Rally stage where this little hooligan car looks at home punching well above it's weight.
I also have another Mini with one of Andy's chassis which has the other pair of these tyres on to try tonight on the big track.
These tyres are now also available 12mm wide that will no doubt find their way onto Moslers etc.