Are hard tires ever better than soft ones?

The differences in a harder or softer tire compound include not only the maximum amount of grip available, and a theoretical maximum distance on each set that was identified by both you and Wonea, but most importantly compound affects how quickly the tire will heat up.

The speed in which the tire heats along with the track temperatures will make most of the decision regarding which tire compound to use. Typically for higher temperature tracks, if one chooses a soft compound tire, it will start to overheat too soon causing a reduction in traction and an increase in the number of pit stops required. In the opposite case, a hard compound tire on a cold track will have trouble reaching its optimal operating temperature range reducing the maximum grip available. As a general rule the driver's, or his crew's, goal is to use the softest compound the track conditions, the drivers driving style, and the length of the race will permit.

It will take some experimentation with varying track temperatures to see which compounds work best for you. As a good starting point, since you are playing GT5 and not killing your actual tires(man have I blown money on those), on the same track, with same temperatures, using each compound, monitor your tire temperature after 1-10 laps. Try to make some qualitative notes on handling characteristics, and if you can, speeds at corners. After that, try a different track temperature. Notice which tires are in the good operating temperature zones and on which laps.

After some experimentation, here is a site where we discuss tire dynamics at track events. Happy Racing!

Tyre wear depends on many things, such as;

• How you drive, passive or aggressive?
• How hard do you drive?
• What car are you driving?
• The race length

Depending on those points determines whether to pick hard tyres. I would agree hard tyres should last longer, although patch 2.02 adjusted the tyre wear. Might be more fair, I'll need to test myself.

OF COURSE HARD TIRES ARE USEFUL TOO. Soft tires hold the road so strong that you cant drift and it makes it hard to pass oppenets at bends. I personally choose hard tires because they are cheaper and more proffesional in my opinion (also more aggresive)

NOTE: You wont be able to drive with hard tires as you can drive with soft ones. Because single mistake in a bend or a crush will make you spin, before you use a hard tire, ı suggest to go to (quick,or fast game ı think) and practice. So you can understand how the vehicle reacts to your maneuvers at the bends with hard tires)