Are hard or soft tires better for drifting?
If your car only puts out a modest amount of power, you might opt for a set of inexpensive, hard compound tires for drifting. Hard compounds provide lower rolling resistance and are easier to break loose. Conversely, the more powerful the engine, the softer and more sticky the tire, the better. In theory, the soft compound will offer the most amount of grip but only for a short period of time before they degrade, making them ideal for qualifying runs, while the hard compound is the opposite – lasting much longer but offering less grip (and slower lap times as a result).Whereas hard compounds are more robust and so can generate grip at tracks with high surface temperatures and roughness, without overheating or damaging the surface of the tyre. Pirelli nominate one of the five compounds to be the Hard, Medium or Soft for each race. Graphic courtesy of Pirelli.
Can drifting ruin tires?
The act of sliding the car puts substantial stress on the tyres, causing increased wear and tear. Drifting involves intentional loss of traction, leading to accelerated tyre wear. To minimize the damage, it’s crucial to use high-quality performance tyres and rotate them regularly to distribute the wear evenly. Drifting puts a lot of strain on your engine, especially during extended drift sessions. High RPMs, heat buildup, and rapid throttle changes can lead to engine wear over time. If the engine isn’t properly maintained, this can result in overheating, oil starvation, or even engine failure.The act of sliding the car puts substantial stress on the tyres, causing increased wear and tear. Drifting involves intentional loss of traction, leading to accelerated tyre wear. To minimize the damage, it’s crucial to use high-quality performance tyres and rotate them regularly to distribute the wear evenly.Drifting puts a lot of strain on your engine, especially during extended drift sessions. High RPMs, heat buildup, and rapid throttle changes can lead to engine wear over time. If the engine isn’t properly maintained, this can result in overheating, oil starvation, or even engine failure.
Is drifting risky?
While drifting is thrilling, it comes with inherent risks. These include the possibility of losing control, damaging the vehicle, or even causing accidents. It’s important to understand these risks and always take appropriate precautions. To quote Keiichi Tsuchiya, the ‘Drift King’ himself: “I drift not because it is a quicker way around a corner, but because it is the most exciting way. And we couldn’t agree more! While not the most practical or economical way to steer a car around corners, drifting is certainly the most fun!Further up in the drifting world you have people easily pushing 60/70mph around faster corners and then complete loonies doing 90mph+ handbrake entries. Pro cars are like you say more horsepower, lighter and more grip. More grip means you can put down more power and get you going faster around the corners sideways.