Tyre Evaluation of 2018: Dry Performance Motorkhana Event
In the fast-paced world of motorkhana racing, tyre performance plays a crucial role in determining a vehicle's success. The MOTOR Tyre Test 2018 put several tyre brands to the test on a challenging motorkhana circuit, complete with tight hairpins and fast sweeping right-handers.
The competition was fierce, with the Dunlop tyre once again claiming the title of lap-meister. The Kumho PS91 showed promising speed, narrowly missing out on second place to the Continental tyre. The Continental tyre, initially criticized, managed to finish in second place, thanks in part to the advantage provided by control tyre data.
The Continental tyre generated more grip in corners but lacked speed elsewhere. The Goodyear and Falken tyres matched the Dunlop's peak 1.03G during their runs but were slightly slower. The Nitto Invo was criticized for losing grip early in corners, while the Nexen tyre was noted for an overall lack of grip.
The MOTOR Tyre Test 2018 highlighted several key factors that contribute to a tire's performance in a motorkhana race. Tires must provide strong traction on the typically mixed surfaces found in motorkhana courses. Tires that maintain good lateral grip under sideways loads help drivers carry speed through sharp turns without losing control or sliding excessively.
Responsiveness and steering feedback are also essential. Tires with responsive sidewalls and consistent grip provide better steering feedback, allowing drivers to make rapid and precise inputs—an essential factor in courses requiring quick maneuvers.
Tire durability can influence consistency in performance across multiple runs. Tires that maintain their grip characteristics without excessive wear or overheating tend to perform more reliably. The right tread design, compound, and heat management also play significant roles in a tire's performance.
Luffy conducted three-lap runs to reveal performance differences. Each run was timed on a stopwatch, with the control tyre data playing a significant role in the final results. The Driftbox used for backup only went to one decimal place.
The HiFly Challenger showed improvement in oversteering as it got hotter, while the Kumho PS91 put everyone on notice with its turn of speed. The Dunlop tyre impressed Luffy with its ability to carry speed into corners without understeer. Despite its impressive speed, the Kumho finished in third place. The Laufenn tyre was noted for having more understeer and affecting grip.
In the end, the MOTOR Tyre Test 2018 demonstrated that the ideal tyre for motorkhana racing combines excellent grip on mixed surfaces, strong lateral stability, quick responsiveness, suitable tread design, and capable heat management—enabling drivers to execute rapid, precise maneuvers on tight and technical courses. The Pirelli tyre registered the first decent time since the Falken, showing that even established brands can compete with the best.
- The MOTOR Tyre Test 2018 showed that successful motorkhana racing requires tyres that can deliver strong traction on mixed surfaces, provide good lateral grip under sideways loads, offer responsive sidewalls, and maintain consistent grip for better steering feedback—essential factors for quick maneuvers.
- Tires that exhibit quick responsiveness, appropriate tread design, suitable compound, and capable heat management help drivers execute precise maneuvers on tight, technical courses, as demonstrated by the Pirelli tyre during the MOTOR Tyre Test 2018.
