What to do to make the car track ready?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 63
Likes: 1
458 spider / 991 turbo s
What to do to make the car track ready?
The title says it all, I have a 2016 c63 S arriving sometime in the fall and I plan on taking it to a few events once next summer rolls around. What do I need to do to make it ready> I am getting ceramic brakes as they are just too nice.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
C63 W205 Edition 1
Funny when you see everyone working on their car, checking it over, making adjustments. You just show up and hit the loud pedal and you'll be fine!
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 324
Likes: 9
From: Chapel Hill, NC
2015 C63S E1; 2016 C450 AMG
Remove all personal items that might fly around under hard braking and cornering.
Determine optimal tire pressures before going to the track and ensure that your tires are at those pressures when you are ready to go on track. Remember, if you drive to the track, your tires will likely not be cold when you are ready to go on track, so determine the right pressure for the tires warm or hot.
Assuming you will be doing lots of laps, fill your tank with gas of known good quality.
Set up your Individual settings as appropriate for the track. If the track is really smooth, you can go S+ on the suspension, otherwise, you should probably stick with S. You probably want Race for the engine / transmission. Set the transmission to auto or manual depending on your taste. If you are new to the track, I suspect auto will be fine as you learn the track (particularly since you can always grab a paddle even in auto mode). Finally, I suggest sport mode for the stability control. It lets you slide around a bit but will save your bacon at the limit.
Enjoy.
Determine optimal tire pressures before going to the track and ensure that your tires are at those pressures when you are ready to go on track. Remember, if you drive to the track, your tires will likely not be cold when you are ready to go on track, so determine the right pressure for the tires warm or hot.
Assuming you will be doing lots of laps, fill your tank with gas of known good quality.
Set up your Individual settings as appropriate for the track. If the track is really smooth, you can go S+ on the suspension, otherwise, you should probably stick with S. You probably want Race for the engine / transmission. Set the transmission to auto or manual depending on your taste. If you are new to the track, I suspect auto will be fine as you learn the track (particularly since you can always grab a paddle even in auto mode). Finally, I suggest sport mode for the stability control. It lets you slide around a bit but will save your bacon at the limit.
Enjoy.
Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
C63 W205 Edition 1
Remove all personal items that might fly around under hard braking and cornering.
Determine optimal tire pressures before going to the track and ensure that your tires are at those pressures when you are ready to go on track. Remember, if you drive to the track, your tires will likely not be cold when you are ready to go on track, so determine the right pressure for the tires warm or hot.
Assuming you will be doing lots of laps, fill your tank with gas of known good quality.
Set up your Individual settings as appropriate for the track. If the track is really smooth, you can go S+ on the suspension, otherwise, you should probably stick with S. You probably want Race for the engine / transmission. Set the transmission to auto or manual depending on your taste. If you are new to the track, I suspect auto will be fine as you learn the track (particularly since you can always grab a paddle even in auto mode). Finally, I suggest sport mode for the stability control. It lets you slide around a bit but will save your bacon at the limit.
Enjoy.
Determine optimal tire pressures before going to the track and ensure that your tires are at those pressures when you are ready to go on track. Remember, if you drive to the track, your tires will likely not be cold when you are ready to go on track, so determine the right pressure for the tires warm or hot.
Assuming you will be doing lots of laps, fill your tank with gas of known good quality.
Set up your Individual settings as appropriate for the track. If the track is really smooth, you can go S+ on the suspension, otherwise, you should probably stick with S. You probably want Race for the engine / transmission. Set the transmission to auto or manual depending on your taste. If you are new to the track, I suspect auto will be fine as you learn the track (particularly since you can always grab a paddle even in auto mode). Finally, I suggest sport mode for the stability control. It lets you slide around a bit but will save your bacon at the limit.
Enjoy.
Should have provided a bit more info. The pilot super sports run great at 48psi in the front and 45psi in the back... Yea, that is super high but not far off the recommendation on the inside of the door. I found that running a bit higher gave some good even wear on the tire. But you will have to adjust for the track.
Running in race mode isn't too bad. It will still catch you if the back end gets way out of line. Traction control is the same for sport and sport +
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 114
From: SoCal
2016 C63S Sedan
Make my comments look bad. Lol.
Should have provided a bit more info. The pilot super sports run great at 48psi in the front and 45psi in the back... Yea, that is super high but not far off the recommendation on the inside of the door. I found that running a bit higher gave some good even wear on the tire. But you will have to adjust for the track.
Running in race mode isn't too bad. It will still catch you if the back end gets way out of line. Traction control is the same for sport and sport +
Should have provided a bit more info. The pilot super sports run great at 48psi in the front and 45psi in the back... Yea, that is super high but not far off the recommendation on the inside of the door. I found that running a bit higher gave some good even wear on the tire. But you will have to adjust for the track.
Running in race mode isn't too bad. It will still catch you if the back end gets way out of line. Traction control is the same for sport and sport +
Maybe someone with a car can check both numbers and post as my car is not here yet.
Are the numbers you posted cold or hot? if cold they seem high.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 73
C204 C250-CDI
Out of curiosity are you running air or nitrogen in your GTR's tyres ?? AFAIK nitrogen is specified as standard OEM for this vehicle.
If nitrogen then the tyres will have much better stability and less need for adjustments.
Those pressures specified for the 205 C63 sound way too high even higher than specified for the 204 variants.
I suppose feed back from trials both on road and track should determine what's best.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
SPONSOR
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 179
Mercedes-Benz CLK 550
With K-MAC you can seize the advantage on or off the track!
....OEM there is only front and rear Toe adjustment!
We saw the need and manufacture for all W205 including C63/C63S precisely adjustable (single wrench on car). Front Camber and Caster and rear Camber (with extra Toe) kits.
CAMBER: Allows to actually change the tire contact angle, improving wear/traction/understeer/oversteer
CASTER: Resolves steering pull, increases steering response. With better turn in and high speed directional control. Along with improved anti dive/lift under brake and acceleration
Set up car for day to day commuter use with precise/ongoing adjustment capability for more even tire wear, traction. Improving cornering response, resolving steering pull. Then ability to re-adjust settings if changing vehicle height, load carrying, fitting wide profile tires, wheels or curb knock damage.
Track days –able to reduce understeer by dialling in (single wrench) extra negative Camber (and track width) to gain more grip/traction – allowing to go deeper into the corners and also hit those corner apexes every time in the pursuit of front row of the grid lap times.
These unique K-MAC patented design front bushes replace the 4 highest wearing suspension bushings and have twice the load bearing area. They eliminate the OEM air voided, oil filled bushes, yet retain 2 axis movement. Result is improved brake, traction and steering response.
Many aftermarket brands also eliminate the air voids but with today’s multi link arms 2 axis movement can be restricted! With the result of actual increasing wheel tramp, loss of traction.
For the Rear –again can adjust for more even tire wear then fine tune for maximum traction on track days.
End of August will also have front replacement top strut mounts for W205 Coil Spring models.
Both Camber and Caster adjustable – The patented design allows quick change of settings from engine bay (no mods to fit).
These kits will be available in Stage 2 – Street/Race, or Stage 3 – Full race versions.
Up to (extra) 3 degrees of Camber adjustment. Made from not soft billet alloy but ultimate 7075 grade.
Also same time will have bushing kit for the entire 12 rear suspension link bushes. Allowing noticeably improved rear end stability, handling response. Allowing to get maximum power/traction to the ground. Overcoming the problem of unforgiving short life delrin bushes that soon pound out.
W205 Front Camber and Caster bushing kit #502816K $480
Rear Camber (and extra Toe kit) #502226K $480
1st Sept front top strut adjusters (Camber and Caster)
Stage 2 (Street/Race) #502816-2L $545
Stage 3 (Full Race) #502816-3L $545
1st Sept Rear 12 link bushing kit #502826K $480
Current promotion for MB World members USA/Canada delivery - $30 one kit or $40 front and rear (normally $70 one kit, $80 front and rear). Can pay by Visa, MasterCard or PayPal.
See link for latest 2015 catalog Audi to Volvo – World’s largest range http://K-mac.com/mercedes/
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,829
Likes: 95
'20 GLC300 SUV
Some great tips thus far.
If any of the following has already been covered, my apologies. Make sure you have:
1) Proper tires (and you're running the proper tire pressure)
2) Proper, high-temperature brake fluid
3) Proper brake pads
If any of the following has already been covered, my apologies. Make sure you have:
1) Proper tires (and you're running the proper tire pressure)
2) Proper, high-temperature brake fluid
3) Proper brake pads
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 63
Likes: 1
458 spider / 991 turbo s
Will I need new brake pads for the track day?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 4
From: Irvine, CA
2016 AMG C63s
I am assuming if I have the carbon ceramic option the brake fluid should be appropriate for the track.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
CLA45 AMG
At the AMG track day at Bathurst Australia this year the AMG engineers told me they set all tyre pressures to 48 lb all round. They checked it often throughout the day to make sure it wasn't changing too much. They often had to bleed air from the tires after a few laps.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 114
From: SoCal
2016 C63S Sedan
At the AMG track day at Bathurst Australia this year the AMG engineers told me they set all tyre pressures to 48 lb all round. They checked it often throughout the day to make sure it wasn't changing too much. They often had to bleed air from the tires after a few laps.
Remember to only look at the numbers behind the fuel door in the USA as the numbers on drivers door frame are EPA only so they get better fuel ratings and not what you should run.
Last edited by RDOCA; Nov 16, 2015 at 10:28 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 457
Likes: 17
From: California
e63s edition 1
how many laps are you doing?
honestly most track days they do in stints of 4 - 6 laps flat out.
You should be set as is.
Caution to the wise here but depending on your stints and driving style you would almost blow thought a set of tires. and possibly half your brake ware.
Your next track day you will hopefully have learned to drive properly and your consumables will drastically go down.
I can do 10 track days on a single set of tires in a big heavy 4wd 720hp fatty e63s now on a set of tires versus just 3 before. so be safe and have fun and learn...
honestly most track days they do in stints of 4 - 6 laps flat out.
You should be set as is.
Caution to the wise here but depending on your stints and driving style you would almost blow thought a set of tires. and possibly half your brake ware.
Your next track day you will hopefully have learned to drive properly and your consumables will drastically go down.
I can do 10 track days on a single set of tires in a big heavy 4wd 720hp fatty e63s now on a set of tires versus just 3 before. so be safe and have fun and learn...
