avdh
August 15th, 2003, 18:56
As we had a track day at Zwartkops Race Way, with the Audi Club, I was able to try out my S6's 3900 km (2240 miles) old Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres for the first time on a race track.
The PZero's may be 99% as good as the Bridgestone S-03's on public roads with dry tarmac, but when pushed hard, as it happens on a race track, which is much faster/harder than on public roads, it's a different story. The PZero's slide and screech a lot more and at lower speeds. The sliding was very progressive and in fact a hell of a lot of fun :), as it was pretty neutral and well balanced. The S-03's on the other hand grip better and are quieter, but when they start sliding (later than the PZero), it is much more biased towards understeering.
I estimate from the lap times, that the Pirelli's, at Zwartkops (2.5 km), are +/- 2 seconds slower than the Bridgestones, however I was not pushing as hard as the last time I was at that race track and the wear of the PZero's was actually minimal. Nonetheless, although I am not unhappy with the Pirelli's, I am a bit disappointed. After having been on the track, I have to concur with Tirerack.com's evaluation of the Pirelli's and the Bridgestone handling capacity on dry tarmac and their race track.
If only Bridgestone could make their S-03 tyres just a bit more comfortable...
The PZero's may be 99% as good as the Bridgestone S-03's on public roads with dry tarmac, but when pushed hard, as it happens on a race track, which is much faster/harder than on public roads, it's a different story. The PZero's slide and screech a lot more and at lower speeds. The sliding was very progressive and in fact a hell of a lot of fun :), as it was pretty neutral and well balanced. The S-03's on the other hand grip better and are quieter, but when they start sliding (later than the PZero), it is much more biased towards understeering.
I estimate from the lap times, that the Pirelli's, at Zwartkops (2.5 km), are +/- 2 seconds slower than the Bridgestones, however I was not pushing as hard as the last time I was at that race track and the wear of the PZero's was actually minimal. Nonetheless, although I am not unhappy with the Pirelli's, I am a bit disappointed. After having been on the track, I have to concur with Tirerack.com's evaluation of the Pirelli's and the Bridgestone handling capacity on dry tarmac and their race track.
If only Bridgestone could make their S-03 tyres just a bit more comfortable...