[SlamForce]

I would be down for a ride along if I make it up on Friday. I think I’m doing Sunday August 23 with Hooked on Driving.

[wakespeak]

Interesting re-reading this sounds like you are doing well. Honestly the biggest difference to go faster is the tires. We're talking big changes in times. I would go Goodyear SC3Rs next. Or you can max out with the 200TW tires and have fun doing it as much often times.

Driving wise to use the tires to their fullest I find its mostly about thinking of the car as a platform and keep it balanced. If you get into understeer (front tires doing all the work) you need to change something. Driving line (maybe later apex), amount of trail braking, throttle, confidence even.

The PTM will hold you back at some point and you will push when you shouldn't, overdriving the car to try to go faster. I have been in Race mode for long time and just floor it almost everywhere off the brakes because I know the line, car, tires now. Race turns off the stability control but leaves some traction management including pulling power. I need to turn it all off, slow down, then speed up as I relearn the balance.

[TransamGTA350]

Originally Posted by wakespeak

Interesting re-reading this sounds like you are doing well. Honestly the biggest difference to go faster is the tires. We're talking big changes in times. I would go Goodyear SC3Rs next. Or you can max out with the 200TW tires and have fun doing it as much often times.

Driving wise to use the tires to their fullest I find its mostly about thinking of the car as a platform and keep it balanced. If you get into understeer (front tires doing all the work) you need to change something. Driving line (maybe later apex), amount of trail braking, throttle, confidence even.

The PTM will hold you back at some point and you will push when you shouldn't, overdriving the car to try to go faster. I have been in Race mode for long time and just floor it almost everywhere off the brakes because I know the line, car, tires now. Race turns off the stability control but leaves some traction management including pulling power. I need to turn it all off, slow down, then speed up as I relearn the balance.

While I agree that tires make a big difference in lap times, I would recommend the OP stay on 200tw tires for quite a while before moving to a 100tw or R-comp. The biggest difference in lowering lap time is developing skills through seat time and instruction/coaching.

All too often I have seen track day guys move to a stickier tire or slick way too early. Sure, their lap times go down, but in reality, they could have gotten those same lap times or even better on 200TW tires with more driver development. 200TW tires are going to be easier and more forgiving to drive at the limit so you learn what that feels like and what you and the car can really do. Plus 200TW last twice as long as 100TW.

This forum has a great database for member laptimes at most tracks around the country (it's a sticky in this forum). That's a great place to go look at what other people in these cars are doing for laptimes with their particular car setup. You can get an idea there about where you are compared to others.

For example, if you're 4 seconds slower than another member with a similar setup and both on 200TW tires, it's not the tires holding you back.

[djctoto]

Congratulations on jumping on the slippery slope!

I didn't it see it in this thread so here is the link to a track time spread sheet posted in this forum:
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=512725

If you scroll sheets at the bottom you can find just about lap times posted by members for just about any track in the US including Sonoma as shown below.

Lap Time Username Year Trim Transmission Date Tires Video Post # Details
1:42.01 991.1le 2018 SS 1LE M6 11/27/2022 335/315 Hoosier A7 Video Heads, cam, headers, MSD, MCS 2-ways, RS Future wing & splitter
1:45.1x seanblurr 2018 ZL1 1LE M6 4/1/2018 OE SC3Rs Video track alignment
1:45.30 Baddawg53 2017 SS M6 9/3/2024 Hoosier R7 313/30/18 sq Video 416 c.i., APR GTC300 wing, splitter, Silvers 2-way coilovers, Hoosier R7, Hotchkis bars
1:46.14 Dabjbr 2020 SS 1LE M6 5/18/2025 GY SC3R 305/30/19 Video 2454 Apex 19x11, GY SC3R 305/30/19, DTC60, Track Alignment, NLR 71" Wing
1:46.41 SCCAForums 2020 Hertz HMS Callaway SC750 ZL1 5/1/2022 Yokohama A052s 2159 18" Forgeline Wheels, Track Alignment, G-Loc Brake Pads, Girodisc Rotors, ProParts USA Custom Suspension, NineLives Racing Wing, MFR Engineering Aero
1:46.54 bensf 2018 ZL1 1LE M6 9/14/2019 OE SC3Rs Video Track alignment, RF650
1:48.93 omark2398 2018 SS 1LE M6 11/26/2020 OE Supercar 3 Video DTC-60, RBF600
1:49.20 seanblurr 2017 1SS 1LE M6 Video
1:52.2x daniel.drives 2023 SS 1LE A10 5/10/2025 OE SC3 Video 2459 Vorschlag camber plates (3.5° up front, 1.7° rear), AFE swaybars front and rear, BCD
2:01.38 Homeless Junkie 2018 ZL1 1LE M6 OE SC3 525

[djctoto]

Originally Posted by TransamGTA350

While I agree that tires make a big difference in lap times, I would recommend the OP stay on 200tw tires for quite a while before moving to a 100tw or R-comp. The biggest difference in lowering lap time is developing skills through seat time and instruction/coaching.

All too often I have seen track day guys move to a stickier tire or slick way too early. Sure, their lap times go down, but in reality, they could have gotten those same lap times or even better on 200TW tires with more driver development. 200TW tires are going to be easier and more forgiving to drive at the limit so you learn what that feels like and what you and the car can really do. Plus 200TW last twice as long as 100TW.

Great recommendation here.
Also the Goodyear Supercar 3r tires are very capable, wear well and they are a lot cheaper than Hoosiers for example.

[wakespeak]

I have tried and you just can't beat the SC3Rs on performance or price. I find them safer because they are more responsive to fine inputs that can adjust you back on the line. If the input is softened or delayed it amplifies and cascades the problem into the correction, creating confusion on what needs to change. An analogy is a damp vs a dry track or even a cold day vs a hot day. Are the inputs the same? No.

[SlamForce]

Great feedback. For now, I will stick to the 200TW tires I’m on and just focus on getting more track time and developing my skills with current setup. I’m leaving a lot of time on the table as it is. I’m sure better tires would speed me up, but also hide my weaknesses.
Once I improve and get into low 1:50s on a consistent basis, I will consider 100TW tires.
Looking forward to next track session with a Coach.

[Patriot Motorsports USA]

Originally Posted by SlamForce

Great feedback. For now, I will stick to the 200TW tires I’m on and just focus on getting more track time and developing my skills with current setup. I’m leaving a lot of time on the table as it is. I’m sure better tires would speed me up, but also hide my weaknesses.
Once I improve and get into low 1:50s on a consistent basis, I will consider 100TW tires.
Looking forward to next track session with a Coach.

I just wanted to share how amazing it has been to follow your journey with learning your car, taking the steps you have and all of the incredible support this forum has provided your journey to reach success at YOUR PACE!

As this journey continues and as others are recommending tires... my suggestion would be to use the Vitour P1 tires as they are a TW200 tire that comes at a deeper 7/32" tread and from my actual track testing/racing on these tires, they last longer than anything I have ever used. They have been consistent without heat cycling out like any other tire in this category that I have ever had on a car... for me, that's money well spent. Also be aware the alignment of those tires will also feed you with better lap times and tire longevity.

Your alignment does not need to be symmetrical on a track with a majority of right hand turns. Over here on the East Coast, our tracks like Sonoma have considerable elevation changes where being able to put down the torque coming out of the corners into and out of an elevation change can burn up the inside of the right rear at an exponential rate if you are using a symmetrical alignment. For this, I tend to reduce the camber on my right rear tire, keeping mind of the temps from inside to out (this might require having a friend take hot lap temps in the pit lane in the middle of a session) which will further your understanding of what your inputs do towards your results. Writing this info down and the time it takes will save you a lot of MONEY in the future so you can fine tune your alignment for the tracks you are honing your craft.

The front right at Sonoma also will benefit from not dragging the inside of the tire over the elevation changes... once again, get temps and look at the wear. Try lowering your out-lap pressures on the left side to gain more grip so the right side is not having more tire rubber loss until you can make these changes to your alignment.