What Is Your Real Racing Tire Strategy?

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eDirtyTati

eDirtyTati

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eDirtyTati
I'm new to enduro racing on GT5 and I'm looking for some answers on individual driving styles, specifically as it pertains to tire strategy.

There are plenty of threads and guides online about which tires last the longest or give you the most speed advantage over time, but most of them are guys running hot laps in practice mode over and over again. In real racing there's a question of drafting, tires changes due to fuel or damage stops, length of course etc etc.

I'm not here to ask what types of tires you run in what situation. I'm here to ask when, in a real endurance race (at least 1 hour or more), do YOU pit for tires? And why that strategy works (or doesn't work, if you're honest) for you.

A) when lap times increase by a certain amount
B) when the wear indicator shows a certain amount
C) when "seat of the pants" grip drops and you no longer feel confident in the driveability of the car
D) when wear indicator shows 0% of tire regardless of how bad it's been to drive :sly:

I'm curious. Personally, when running races against AI I pit once lap times have increased a bit too much. That's usually at around 50% tire wear for me. I know that online racing is a whole different beast.
 
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It's all track/lap specific. If your doing 22 laps at Suzuka. My first idea would be to stop at 11, if you are hurting at the ends of the runs then do 7,8,7. Keep better tires for first and last stint and stay smooth for middle stint.

Also has a lot to do with how long pit road is. If your racing eiger, that pit takes a minute to get around. It's worth it to lose a few more seconds a lap and stay out then go down that pit road.

Basically split it up evenly, don't let the laps fall more than 3-4 seconds off your hot times.
 
NjLowrider
It's all track/lap specific. If your doing 22 laps at Suzuka. My first idea would be to stop at 11, if you are hurting at the ends of the runs then do 7,8,7. Keep better tires for first and last stint and stay smooth for middle stint.

Also has a lot to do with how long pit road is. If your racing eiger, that pit takes a minute to get around. It's worth it to lose a few more seconds a lap and stay out then go down that pit road.

Basically split it up evenly, don't let the laps fall more than 3-4 seconds off your hot times.
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Great advice! But to fit it tidily into one of my categories, you change tires based on a lap time threshold, generally at 3-4 seconds off pace. Nice.
 
Connoissuer
The only time I really pit for tires is when I need fuel because this game does not allow stinting.
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Oh wow! I guess depending on the tire and car that can get pretty sketchy. I can run racing mediums to the ground in my amuse s2k turbo and not need to fuel up when I pit. And that's with weight added!
 
I tend to aim at a number of laps. For example on te Suzuka 1000km, which im currently two hours into, on softs i pitted after 15 laps and hards after 25
 
It's also worth considering the time needed to refuel. So, let's say I can go 15 laps on RH tires. If I have to wait for the gas guy to finish his job, I'd be better off coming in before 15 laps, which will keep my tires fresher and I won't need so much gas. I realize it's not necessary to keep the tank topped off at all times but there is a balance to be found between replacing tires and quantity of fuel needed to make it to the next pit stop.

I also agree about pitting at times that split the race into portions that contain more or less equal numbers of laps, as much as possible.
 
DGXR
It's also worth considering the time needed to refuel. So, let's say I can go 15 laps on RH tires. If I have to wait for the gas guy to finish his job, I'd be better off coming in before 15 laps, which will keep my tires fresher and I won't need so much gas. I realize it's not necessary to keep the tank topped off at all times but there is a balance to be found between replacing tires and quantity of fuel needed to make it to the next pit stop.

I also agree about pitting at times that split the race into portions that contain more or less equal numbers of laps, as much as possible.
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I totally agree on managing the fuel needs of the car. I almost never fill up unless I'm on a long track like the Nordschleife where I'm only getting about 3 laps to a tank anyway. Definitely don't want to be caught out of gas 3 miles into that course.

Also: what's up, fellow Sacramentan?
 
Well if it wasn't a thing before, it is now. You just made it so. I'm actually in Rancho Cordova.

You got dirty tati's?
 
DGXR
Well if it wasn't a thing before, it is now. You just made it so. I'm actually in Rancho Cordova.

You got dirty tati's?
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Cool! I lived out in Rancho for about 4 months. I'm in midtown now. I have a dirty E30 and my first name is Tatiana. hence, eDirtyTati. Somebody please make me wash my car.
 
I go by a combination of all of the above. Traction feel of the car grabbing the road, tire wear indicators, and lap times. If I'm losing more than 2 seconds per lap compared to my avarage fast lap, I usually dump the tires for a fresh set... this usually equates to about 50% on the wear indicator, but it varies by the car you are driving. in my F1 league that I used to run in, I could get consistant laps for the entire first 50% of the tires. after that, I would only lose up to a full 1 second until 75% was gone. I pitted in at this point. hope this helps.
 
RoadRocket77
I go by a combination of all of the above. Traction feel of the car grabbing the road, tire wear indicators, and lap times. If I'm losing more than 2 seconds per lap compared to my avarage fast lap, I usually dump the tires for a fresh set... this usually equates to about 50% on the wear indicator, but it varies by the car you are driving. in my F1 league that I used to run in, I could get consistant laps for the entire first 50% of the tires. after that, I would only lose up to a full 1 second until 75% was gone. I pitted in at this point. hope this helps.
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That helps a bunch. I think I'm ready. Sort of.
 
eDirtyTati
Cool! I lived out in Rancho for about 4 months. I'm in midtown now. I have a dirty E30 and my first name is Tatiana. hence, eDirtyTati. Somebody please make me wash my car.
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Somebody please make Tatiana wash her car. :sly:
 

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