Tires for Monticello

[6PAK72]

So, the RA-1's on the ST4 Miata are about done. I might get another weekend out, but looking at Monticello, it's clear that tires and brakes are Priority 1 here!

What's the ramifications if I mount a fresh set of RA-1's, having not ever driven on fresh ones?

Thanks, all.

[DanDarcy]

The only problem with new tires is ------they stick better than old tires

plus they cost more

[breakaway500]

^Basically what Dan said. Most tire companies reccomend you heat cycle the tire once and let is "rest" for 24hrs before using it again.Knd of seasoning it. I have tried it both ways and honestly can't tell the difference.Both sets of tires lasted about the same and both had excellent traction till they corded..so I'd say don't worry about it...and pray for

[6PAK72]

Dan, how would you know? I clicked on your web site, clicked on weather for Granby, clicked on "Rush Hour Traffic" and saw 3 cows and a duck in front of your shop...has the Governor allocated paving budget for Western Mass yet?

[CP]

I too try to adhere to the "seasoning" mantra for new tires, but it's tough to do (and still get your money's worth out of an event) unless you're at a test day or have multiple sets of wheels/tires. I usually do a few warm-up laps, then try to get 3-4 laps at 85% and then pull the tires off the car and let them rest for a day. Did this with 4 sets or RA1s last season and I still have one set that'll be used for a test day at the beginning of next season. This got me through about 10 race weekends and two COM events.

[mr2sc]

i'm sure everyone has their own take on this, but with a tire as benign and user friendly as RA1s, I've been told that just driving them on the highway for say 1/2hr on a mild day is enough to constitute a decent heat cycle. Dunno, but I've done this too and they sure lasted for a long time.

Nowadays, so as not to waste seat time at the track, I usually drive over to a nearby mall parking lot (tires no longer stone cold), then do about 5 increasingly fast laps in a large circle, in each direction. Then repeat again, say another 1/2dz circles until the tires are nice and sticky and hot to the touch. Last time, I used my probe and saw it was at 195f (on the outside anyway).
Then drive home and remove tires so they can fester...

Oh yeah...I do this at about 6AM, before the mall is open, and interestingly, there have actually been times when I've encountered other people doing the same thing, even to the point of having trailered cars over

[6PAK72]

Brilliant!

I did about that last year with the TR6 when we installed the Brembo brake and balancer set up on it, and wanted to bed the brakes and tires. Unfortunately, I ended up having a long conversation with a barely post-teenager State Trooper about exactly WHY brakes needed to be bedded...fortunately, he thought the car and the wife were pretty cool, and let us off with a promise that we would not appear there again except under parking lot speeds.

[breakaway500]

two years ago..I had just installed 4 new adjustable struts in my quite gutted track Focus and decided to take it around the block (country blocks= 5 miles) for adjusting.Second run through the center,(past the big rock that looks like a bear..), heading down the hill,I decide to go from curb to curb (ok,shoulder to shoulder)as fast as I can at 35mph to see how things feel. After about 1000 feet, I spot the town cruiser right behind me. Oh boy..they must think I am a nut case... I pull over and the driver comes up..shaking his head..and says "soon as I saw the dealer plate,I figured it must be you tryin something out". Nice to be in a small town... Ducks! Ha..More like..turkeys in the road...though..

[6PAK72]

That's exactly why I go to town meeting and donate to the Fire and Rescue fund...definitely want to be recognized as a local when I get caught.

Thanks for the tire info. Jeff W. is looking to get a tire order together, and I've been volunteered to take a pallet at our loading dock in Manch-Vegas. If you want Toyo's, get ahold of Jeff.

[granracing]

Unlike any other road race tire I'm aware of, RA1s don't need to be heat cycled in order to extend tire wear life. That was one of the nice benefits I always liked about them.

Unfortunately driving the car on the highway won't build up enough temp to heat cycle the tire. I actually tried this, deflated tire pressure a bit in hopes of generating more heat...no such luck. Just never got hot enough.

[Kai Noeske]

Also, testing sessions on the highway bear some *cough* risk... one night, driving the car at redline in 2nd (let's just say, above the limit on that Hwy stretch) to get the engine cleaner out, I accidentally passed a cop... he was really pissed but fortunately had something urgent to do so he left me off the hook *phew*.

[horizenjob]

driving the car at redline in 2nd (let's just say, above the limit on that Hwy stretch) to get the engine cleaner out,

Did someone already tell you about using your toothbrush to get out carbon from the combustion chamber? Usually we don't let on until someone's been in the club for at least a few years.

Anyway, I'm not sure that would get it out, you have to be careful and not drop it in the hole. Did you use the right toothpaste?

[Kai Noeske]

Nah, I am just running a bottle of mouthwash in the methanol injector every 3rd tankfull or so... keeps the cylinders clean and makes for a nice minty exhaust note ...