v710's - can they be "flipped"?

[chaos4NH]

This Side Out, so is that only for new tires? Can they be flipped to gain a little life?

[mr2sc]

V710s! Grrrrrrrrrr! guess which review was mine

http://www.tirerack.com/survey/SurveyCo ... ntStatus=P

but yeah, sure you can flip them...whats the worst that could happen compared to them already disintegrating when mounted as intended?

I know at least 3 other people who have had similar failures with them last season (STi, 944T and Mustang)

[offcamber09]

Sam, go ahead and flip them. The 710 is an asymmetrical tread not a directional tread.

[chaos4NH]

Thanks Scott, will do.
Thanks Tommy.............I think! We'll have to see how the 3300 # grocery getter manages them.
Being the cheap ass I am, I bought "lightly used" ones for practice.

[Mick]

For what it's worth. I've been using v710's for quite a while, I've easily gone through 8 or 9 sets, maybe more. In that time I've never had an issue with them. They've been fast, consistent, wore well and I've never had one disintegrate.

[mr2sc]

Hah! It was partly because I noticed you using them that I decided to try them. Pretty funny actually

First the drive ones developed splits at the tread splices (rear), then the fronts developed circumferential separation.
Then they too developed splits at the tread splices.

They were never run underinflated, or overheated...I was anal about treating them just right

A darn shame, because they were very fast, easy to drive and wore surprisingly well.
I just discarded them at the beginning of this season and my immediate reaction when comparing them to the BFG R1s that I replaced them with was that they were noticeably faster (although the jury may still be out, as I have yet to try the BFGs in temps above 55F

[Mick]

Bummer,
I have a fresh set I'm going to run at NH, I hope they don't have the same issue. I'll keep an eye on them.

[chaos4NH]

Verrrrry interesting! I bought the 710's to keep my beloved R6's for the TT. Now I may rethink that and give the 710's a shot. Maybe run them in the first practice on TT day and compare with the R6's.
Ha! there I go talking like I can the most out of ANY tire!
Heck, I just graduated from frying RT615's (which ain't hard!).

[BrakeL8r]

Tina (RACRMOM) had similar experience with V710s. One circumfrential separation, and one at the splice.

[zip4zat]

Ive experienced the same with a couple sets of v710s. What I found out is that the tread is VERY heat sensitive. If you over heat them they will start to separate and or chunk. I dialed down the pressures by a hair and they stopped chunking and separating. I dialed up the pressure by a hair and they continued to separate. It has been fairly repeatable.

Also to note, the grip difference from being on either side of the pressure fence was negligible; small enough to make the chunking stop but not lose grip. I do also drive a fairly heavy car which makes a difference in this equation, YMMV.

As another side note, as they get close to the cord, when they're done, they are DONE in a hurry!

[Dave_G]

Ive experienced the same with a couple sets of v710s. What I found out is that the tread is VERY heat sensitive. If you over heat them they will start to separate and or chunk. I dialed down the pressures by a hair and they stopped chunking and separating. I dialed up the pressure by a hair and they continued to separate. It has been fairly repeatable.

I wonder if this explains the differences that people have experienced. I don't run V710s on the track (I can't afford to go through that many tires a year), but they are my usual tire for autocross. I have a set of fat little 215/50-13s on the Miata that are fantastic for autocrossing, and have never had a problem with them.

However, what I found after some experimentation is that these tires are fastest with VERY low pressure. I set them at 24 cold. Others with the same tires have reported similar results. Of course, it varies with size (the larger tires seem to like pressures a bit higher), and track vs. autocross, but I think Joe may be on to something.