Why do people use sports tyres?

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I'm browsing threads here and I'm wondering why most people seem to use sports tyres in their cars. "Yeah, it's not stock, fully tuned and sports soft tyres, with sports hard it is a bit too difficult to handle." There are racing tyres, too, in the game so why not use them if you've fully tuned the car anyway? AFAIK racing tyres have better grip than sport tyres. Does this have something to do with "realism"?
 
Simply because race tires are overkill.

Race tires are best suited for race cars only, that's how it works.
 
depends if I'm racing for challenge or for money/xp. If the latter obviously I use racing softs but that's only because I want my money as quick as possible.
 
With GT5, the highest level tires are unrealistically awesome, IMO.

Tires really are a huge facet of the experience you get with the car, so of course I like to knock down the tire grade for realism sometimes. Even with race cars, it can be a lot of fun to use lesser tires. You get a great feel for the handle of a sports car, or learn more about the track. Soft racing tires mask too many problems with handling.

Try this: when tuning your favorite car, use comfort softs if it's a normal car and sports mediums if it's a powerful race car. Then, when it's time to race, switch to the category above.
 
I believe it all depends on the way you play the game. I believe Sports Hard gives the most realism for street cars. And with the right tuning, actually driving on Sports Hard is very rewarding as well.
 
Depends on how you like to drive too.

Like with my Delta S4 and RS200. Sports Softs have just the right amount of grip that I prefer. If I use any other tyre I can't quite flick the arse out the way I like to with these cars.

It's about preference, really. Use whatever you're happy with.
 
Good for tuning! Good for more precise control of the car your driving. More fun because racing tires aren't really that good for letting the car slide.
 
the reality is this... The very best all-season tires (that work rain or shine) you can buy in real life qualify as comfort soft tires in GT. The very best slicks you can buy in real life are about as good as sports hard tires in GT. All the gripperyer tires are very special expensive tires that a regular enthusiast would never have access to in real life.

Look at the prices... Racing tires in GT cost more than most of the cars in the game. It's the same way for tires that are used on professional race cars.

The only cars that should have racing tires in GT are the cars that come with racing tires. If you're just using a hopped up street car, it defeats the purpose of playing a simulation for it to wear tires that cannot be had for it.
 
Racing soft tires are good for arcade mode and sports tires for just about everything else.

I think arcade is supposed to feel artificial and more like a game, while GT Life races are supposed to be more like a simulation.
 
If you can´t drive or for some reason don´t want to get a feel for the car you are driving, go for racing tyres.
 
I have racing tires on my cars for racing situations, but normally I like having Sports tires on them, just because they allow me to kick the tail out, while Racing have quite a lot of grip.
F1 cars: Definately racing tires
NASCAR: Racing
Ford Focus: Sports

Basically I choose the tires for what mood I am in, or how powerful the car is... comfort tires on a NASCAR would be pathetic and completely unrealistic, as would Soft Racing on a Ford Focus...
 
ECGadget
I have racing tires on my cars for racing situations, but normally I like having Sports tires on them, just because they allow me to kick the tail out, while Racing have quite a lot of grip.
F1 cars: Definately racing tires
NASCAR: Racing
Ford Focus: Sports

Basically I choose the tires for what mood I am in, or how powerful the car is... comfort tires on a NASCAR would be pathetic and completely unrealistic, as would Soft Racing on a Ford Focus...
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Comforts on NASCAR's? Wanna go drifting? :sly:
 
I really do not understand how using less tires shows a car ability more or whatever. Car will handle the exact same. Tires do not change the suspension. Just the amount of grip you have. Same as wearing Boots to a tennis match, Vs the right sneakers. Some like claiming I wore boots and did fine! Me? I dress for the occasion. If I am on a Track, I use Racing tires. Although I have Sport Softs on 90% of my Slightly Tune Stock ish cars for enjoyment and a challenge.

Also case in point, I've have over the years Autocrossed and been to many SCCA & HSR races. And I can say, many streets cars show up on "Sport Softs" and put on "Racing Tires" Before hitting the track. Even in a Stock car. And then switching back.

So the whole argument is like the people who don't use ASM Vs those who do. Now Skidforce, that is the real True Cheat for any car regarding handling.
 
While the overall grip level may be higher with the Rslicks, the transition from grip to slip is more gradual with SH/SS. I just prefer the feel of SS compared to RH.
 
Why do you like/play GT5? Realism. There's your answer.
Racing tires mask car's true performance and handling thus you can't feel the car's true handling and feel (every car feels more-less the same on racing softs).
I use race tires too, but only on race/track cars.
Sport tires are just way too funnier to drive on.

I still think this topic is retarded, should've made it "Why do people drive cars in GT5?".
 
Kalmiya117
I really do not understand how using less tires shows a car ability more or whatever. Car will handle the exact same. Tires do not change the suspension. Just the amount of grip you have. Same as wearing Boots to a tennis match, Vs the right sneakers. Some like claiming I wore boots and did fine! Me? I dress for the occasion. If I am on a Track, I use Racing tires. Although I have Sport Softs on 90% of my Slightly Tune Stock ish cars for enjoyment and a challenge.

Also case in point, I've have over the years Autocrossed and been to many SCCA & HSR races. And I can say, many streets cars show up on "Sport Softs" and put on "Racing Tires" Before hitting the track. Even in a Stock car. And then switching back.

So the whole argument is like the people who don't use ASM Vs those who do. Now Skidforce, that is the real True Cheat for any car regarding handling.
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Wow, how do you know so much about cars? /sarcasm

Racing tires add more grip which translates to more lateral G-force the car will take which translates to higher speed in corners and better acceleration (better lap times of course) which translates to masking the car's true feel/performance. :dunce:
 
Yev
Wow, how do you know so much about cars? /sarcasm

Racing tires add more grip which translates to more lateral G-force the car will take which translates to higher speed in corners and better acceleration (better lap times of course) which translates to masking the car's true feel/performance. :dunce:
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As I stated, the Tires change nothing of a cars ability to handle. The tires just bring the speeds and G forces to a different level of operation. As I used the Tennis statement, The person will stay the same, but will only be able to play on par with what they are equipped with. Your tying to tell me that by wearing Tennis Shoes a tennis player is masking their true performance we they should all wear boots?

Second, Please do not try to attack some one personally. That is just childish way to try and prove your point. I have done nothing of the sort to anyone, and unless it is quite clear they (persons) shouldn't even hold a drivers license would never try to down some one on the assumption of their skills.. And as far as your comment, With many years in the Professional Automotive Repair and Diag scene I believe I have a small clue on how vehicles and their components work. I also have started doing alot of SCCA autocrossing and Track days to further my abilities as a driver.


And to make it very clear. It is after all JUST a game. It's ability to properly mimic real life situations is limited. Where it gives a great idea to the world of racing/tunning, it does not compare to the real things. Even if your just starting out in a slow 4-Door family Sedan.
 
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So, basically you're claiming that tires don't change the behavior of a car.
You're saying that, for example, TVR Cerbera Speed 12 handles the same on comfort hards as on racing softs and that you won't notice any difference?
Ok, try it for yourself. Take McLaren F1/Speed 12/ZR1, drive a few laps on Eiger Nordwand on sport hards, then go on sport softs and then go on racing softs - and then go on comfort hards.
Try that.

Also, cars aren't people. You can't compare...yes you can! Try playing basketball in socks (wooden floor) and then switch back to basketball sneakers. With less grip you'll slide all over the place thus making your performance weaker.


Also:
Tires change nothing of a cars ability to handle. The tires just bring the speeds and G forces
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Do you have any idea what you're saying? Handling is speed and G force...you're contradicting yourself mate.


I hope you'll realise you're wrong.
 
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I get what he's saying, the cars mechanical ability is not increased by choosing different tyre's. A car will have a certain ability corning wise which is down to the cars settings and the cars structure etc. When you put different tyre's on you are not changing these things, you are simply giving the car different tools to get more or less out of those things. And on that point he's correct, though you can argue that a cars ideal settings are influenced by the tyre's fitted, so although the tyre's themselves don't physically change the cars settings they can be a cause for changes to be made. What I don't like about the racing soft tyre's is that they appear to provide more grip than is possible. But that's a different argument to the one Kalmiya is presenting.
 
I am not saying the tires do not make a difference in what a Car can do, I am just saying I don't see how it can "mask" it's abilites. A car will exhibt, on different levels the same attributes. I use the tennis idea because people like cars will have a act inw hatever it is they are doing as a weak point. And regardless of what they wear they will exhibt this trait the same, on every level they play unless they are able to "train" it out. A car that has a understeer issue entering the corner at say, 50mph with Sports Softs on, it will also have a understeer issue with racing softs on, but just at a higher speed. Same Problem, Different Speed.

Second when I said Speed and G Forces, I am seperating the two in different factors. Better tires raise overall speed (mph-kph) of the car as well of the G forces in the turns. Perhaps they two are the same. So what if I said same thing twice in same sentence. I didn't contidict myself when I used both towards the same conclusion.

Perhaps I am explaining myself wrong....

Regardless, to each their own. I do not see anything wrong with running whatever tire you want. I just have an issue with people who use Skidforce 24/7.

You can almost compare this whole debacle, and several others with religion. Every side is always right. And peoplel will always argue their point to the end no matter what.
 
I think Dave A explained it very well.

I am not doubting your abilities or questioning you intelligence, Kalmiya117, but racing tires can mask some suspension problems (inefficiencies, and definitely quirks).

Think of this example: A low horsepower car, tight, twisting track. The car will probably never get up enough speed to push racing tires to their limits. The car will feel "perfect". Put on some comfort softs and now the car can reach the tires limits and suddenly is understeers.

Another example: Mid-engine light weight car, coming into a tight corner from a high speed sweeper (decreasing radius). With racing tires you might have enough grip to pull this off with ease, put on sport hards and you get lift-throttle oversteer.

Both of those examples could benefit from some suspension tuning and without using the tires with less grip you would never have know them, or worse, you would finally get the low hp car on a track where it can get fast enough, or get the mid-engined car into a corner on another track and suddenly find the problems.

For the OP, I find that the sport soft tires feel a lot like the shaved Toyo Proxes RA1's I used when I raced (admittedly a long time ago). They are a street legal tire, but they are used for racing and have great grip.
 
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peterjford
I think Dave A explained it very well.

I am not doubting your abilities or questioning you intelligence, Kalmiya117, but racing tires can mask some suspension problems (inefficiencies, and definitely quirks).

Think of this example: A low horsepower car, tight, twisting track. The car will probably never get up enough speed to push racing tires to their limits. The car will feel "perfect". Put on some comfort softs and now the car can reach the tires limits and suddenly is understeers.

Another example: Mid-engine light weight car, coming into a tight corner from a high speed sweeper (decreasing radius). With racing tires you might have enough grip to pull this off with ease, put on sport hards and you get lift-throttle oversteer.

Both of those examples could benefit from some suspension tuning and without using the tires with less grip you would never have know them, or worse, you would finally get the low hp car on a track where it can get fast enough, or get the mid-engined car into a corner on another track and suddenly find the problems.

For the OP, I find that the sport soft tires feel a lot like the shaved Toyo Proxes RA1's I used when I raced (admittedly a long time ago). They are a street legal tire, but they are used for racing and have great grip.
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That is a proper and respected response. That makes alot of sense. I still don't think GT5 can exhibit handling in such fine details, but regardless I appreciate your response and your ability to not sound pompus while doing it.
 
peterjford
I think Dave A explained it very well.

I am not doubting your abilities or questioning you intelligence, Kalmiya117, but racing tires can mask some suspension problems (inefficiencies, and definitely quirks).

Think of this example: A low horsepower car, tight, twisting track. The car will probably never get up enough speed to push racing tires to their limits. The car will feel "perfect". Put on some comfort softs and now the car can reach the tires limits and suddenly is understeers.

Another example: Mid-engine light weight car, coming into a tight corner from a high speed sweeper (decreasing radius). With racing tires you might have enough grip to pull this off with ease, put on sport hards and you get lift-throttle oversteer.

Both of those examples could benefit from some suspension tuning and without using the tires with less grip you would never have know them, or worse, you would finally get the low hp car on a track where it can get fast enough, or get the mid-engined car into a corner on another track and suddenly find the problems.

For the OP, I find that the sport soft tires feel a lot like the shaved Toyo Proxes RA1's I used when I raced (admittedly a long time ago). They are a street legal tire, but they are used for racing and have great grip.
Click to expand...

You make a good point here. If someone were to take, say, a 2CV and slap racing softs on it there's absolutely no way they'd be able to tell how the car really handles because the 2CV simply can't go fast enough to reach the limits of its tires.

However, that's a bit of a hyperbolic example. On mostly stock street cars I think it mostly holds, but when you're dealing with anything that's been fully tuned then it becomes a different story. Even with your lightweight, mid-engine example, if the car has been fully tuned then usually you'll still see lift-throttle oversteer. Yes, the increased grip of RS tires will make that oversteer less catastrophic, but it's definitely still there.

That said, I do agree with you except in cases where the cars have been tuned to within an inch of their lives.

Cheers!
 

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