Ariel.Club Forum

by **Nick C** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 11:04 am

smokin wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2019 7:33 pm Tyres not stored sympathetically for a prolonged period of time can turn to plastic (well that's what it feels like). Check your tyre DOT code to see just how old they are.

https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-article/t ... anufacture

funnily and coincidentally enough, that's exactly what my mechanic on the day said.. he looked at them and said they felt like plastic, not rubber...
when side by side with the new tyres, the compound felt totally different.

I can only imagine how good this car would be on slicks... so that's on the cards soon.

by **GraemeW** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 11:04 am

thanks

by **smokin** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 11:02 am

I think they'd be fine for casual road use (check the sidewalls for any signs of cracking) but if you don't know how they've been stored then I personally wouldn't risk it on track or for 'spirited' road use.

by **GraemeW** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 10:53 am

Thanks for that Smokin.

I have bought some second hand spare wheels with AD048s with plenty of tread left. Looks like they were used for a couple of track days only with the usual bits of molten rubber track day tyres collect.

However following your link indicates the rear tyres Ive bought were manufactured in mid 2014, and the fronts mid 2010. So the rears on the limit in terms of age and the fronts way over? So I assume the advice is, despite the fact plenty of tread still there, these tyres should be changed? Especially as the are for an Atom. Or would they be ok for Road use for 6 months?

I didn't pay very much for them, so its ok. Maybe I should get your free AD08s, if I was travelling up to Telford sometime :-)

by **smokin** » Mon Mar 25, 2019 7:33 pm

Tyres not stored sympathetically for a prolonged period of time can turn to plastic (well that's what it feels like). Check your tyre DOT code to see just how old they are.

https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-article/t ... anufacture

by **Fastlane** » Mon Mar 25, 2019 7:15 pm

Thought that may be the case - they really are very sensitive to tyres.

Really glad it's sorted and you are now able to appreciate how brilliant an Atom is. I must try out a track day one day!

by **Nick C** » Mon Mar 25, 2019 7:06 pm

UPDATE....

ok, so after struggling massively again on track, I decided to change the rear tyres, (even thought the others did not appear 100% dead) and OMG !
what a difference...
it has completely transformed the car.

I cant believe how much difference in handling and grip there is.
now it is simply sensational and confidence inspiring - where as before it was borderline dangerous...

the tyres that came with the car looked brand new. - so I don't what`s happened to them, but whatever it was, they were completely buggered.

very happy - I was starting to think there was something fundamentally wrong with the car - or me !

by **Nick C** » Tue Mar 05, 2019 3:04 pm

Hi john..

thanks for the feedback on the car. its in very, very condition. been al underneath it. hardly a mark anywhere and zero rust. - always a good sign.

I actually now don't think there is much for me to be concerned about.
the main problem is, no matter where we place the car - on a ramp, level surface etc, we always get different camber reading. and soon as we touch the car or sit in it etc, it changes again -
from "eye" it looks ok. and the tyre wear is very even across the tread. that's usually a good tell sign. if anything, we have been running the pressures a bit high.

Ariel have suggested some ideas about how to set up.. but it does involve, removing wheels, detaching the shocks and fiddling with all-sorts of stuff I am not qualified to do...
So for now I going to change the tyres, run lower pressures and focus on my driving..

at the end of the year, most likely send it back to Ariel for a full alighnment and set up if there is anything I feel wrong etc.

next day out (weather permitting) cannot come soon enough !

by **John Scherrer** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 10:13 pm

Thanks for the info Nick - No, it was purely a road car for me, although it had some nice track options - all the gear and no idea some might say !

It was never set up for me, just standard factory spec when I had it. Only the factory touched it and it never had any damage or any offs nor ever hit the curb etc, so not sure why it seems to have an odd setup?

I'm only 71 Kg ..

I hope you enjoy the car as much as I did and i look forward to reading about your exploits on here ..

by **Nick C** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 2:02 pm

I can understand you missing it.. its simply an awesome machine. so visceral and physical in every way.

by **Nick C** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 2:01 pm

John Scherrer wrote: ↑Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:37 pm Hello Nick C

Looks like you bought my car !

I can confirm that it was only ever used on the road apart from a couple of 2 hour track day sessions and I never tweaked the suspension alignment. The only spanner work was to take the wheels off to clean etc and put the catalytic converter on for MOT.

Is it going to be purely for track use now?

I miss it

Hi John...
yes, I do believe it was your car.

I was told it was in fantastic condition and it is - A credit to you!

It is only ever going to be dry stored and under cover and will never go out in the rain.
it will be mainly for trackdays -yes. but again, only ever dry days. and I am planning on doing a trip or two through France, Spain and Portugal but only in the dry.
and I very mechanically sympathetic with my cars. always properly warmed up and cooled down and regular oil changes every couple of trackdays.

I am curious to the set up as it looks (seems) like it has been corner weighted - for you I guess?
the drivers seat is lower than the passenger side, but the ride height on the driver side is slightly higher and there is defo more camber on the passenger side when the car is empty - i.e when I am not sat in it. we are going to re-measure it later with me sat in it.
out of curiosity John, if has been set up for you - what do you weigh ? I am 93kgs.

by **John Scherrer** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:37 pm

Hello Nick C

Looks like you bought my car !

I can confirm that it was only ever used on the road apart from a couple of 2 hour track day sessions and I never tweaked the suspension alignment. The only spanner work was to take the wheels off to clean etc and put the catalytic converter on for MOT.

Is it going to be purely for track use now?

I miss it

by **Nick C** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 11:37 am

I love this pic...

by **Nick C** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 11:35 am

looks ok here though...

by **Nick C** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 11:30 am

thank you Henry.... much appreciated..

come across something strange again.
so the car looks like it might have a "race set up" although its never been raced. the ride height is approx. 118mm at the front and 110mm at the rear -

but here is where it appears to get strange..

the passenger side has more camber than the drivers side., both front and rear.
by 1.0deg on the front and almost 2deg at the rear - has anyone ever come across or tried this kind of set up before ?

is it set up for "clockwise" tracks I wonder ?

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