Anybody else planning on running their cars on Street tires?

[savage217]

I am planning on running my car at the top of T80 on Street tires. I feel as though the point system should probabaly make certain tires such as Hoosiers worth more but I am going to see how this goes. If I run race rubber I would be in the middle of the points of T90. It would be nice to be able to run competitively on street tires but I still feel a properly setup and maxed out T80 car on fresh hoosiers will have an edge. What are other people's opinions?

[Jimmy Pet]

I know this has been discussed ad-infinitum but I have to ask,,, I gotta...

Why would anyone develop a points system that takes experienced track people,,, and sends them backward to street tires.
After all the years of driving some people in this club have amassed,,, and doing it on proper track tires (aka the right tool for the job),,,, why would anyone consider decontenting the quality of their track experience to "hit points" of a points system that rewards decontenting ones track car.

Does anyone else think that this system is a little nutty?
I ,,, is ,,, con-fuse-ed
Isnt the point of this hobby to go fast and enjoy doing it?
None of those things come to mind when thinking of tracking on street tires.
Maybe its the reason I am in Prepared,,, different mindset.

Like I said,,, I had to ask... I am honestly not asking to start a $hitstorm. I just cant wrap my head around the concepts of undoing what has been done.

[boltonite]

I agree, it is weird when swapping DOT tires changes your racing class or you'd opt to run $300 performance michelins over $180 R-comps.

[breakaway500]

Well said, Jimmy Pet. Why go to the track and run street tires?? it seems to be a contradiction into why you are at the track in the first place. I don't understand it either...

Kinda like playing basketball in slippers...

[Chrispy]

It's a choice. There were a lot of people that were running in COM on street tires already, under the old rules they finished pretty much last, no question. Under the new rules they have the chance to be competitive.

Myself I will continue to run race tires no matter what class it lands me in, I have a trailer and a way to transport them. Others like Nick have no trailer and/or drive their car to the track so tire transport is not easy. Street tires aren't great on track, but with the modern summer street tires invented for auto-x they aren't bad either.

We are giving people options that is all, there is no incentive for them to run street tires other than the ease of transportation. Let it play out for a season then feel free to comment.

[dradernh]

I think Nick looked down the list of cars in the Showroom Assessment Car List, saw some of the potent hardware in both T80 & T90, and said "Whoa, I'd much rather run against GT3s than GT2s!"

Seriously, this is two different conversations. Nick brings his DD to the track, as do a lot of drivers, and street tires have to be taken into account. Nick will just find a way to go fast on street tires anyway.

[Brendan]

I could have forced myself into the top of T80 on street tires, but said screw it. I'm not into getting rid of my race tires and starting to remove modifications from my car. I could run T90, but I am SPC for now, Super classes if/when they change.

[Jimmy Pet]

I want to be clear my post was not directed at Nick,,, it was more the overall mindset.

I realize people do what they have to to participate in this hobby and not everyone has the luxury of a trailer. That is a long time ago for me (i'm old) so I do apologize that sometimes I forget what had to be done whene we drove our cars to the track,,, and that many are still street driven.

That said, it was the combination of Nick's post and references in the numerous past threads on the new rules I also read posts from members who also were decontenting their already track prepared cars to "hit the points" that made me post my question.
It just seems bassackwards.
Almost seems set to reward going backwards

[dradernh]

It just seems bassackwards.

Well, that's because it is, which is why we like the Prepared/Super classes so much.

[Jimmy Pet]

Well, that's because it is, which is why we like the Prepared/Super classes so much.

LOL true,,, I can't ever imagine a world where I take a part off my car unless it (a) makes it lighter, (b) is being replaced by a better one.
Context is everything
Long live Prepared haha.

[StephanAlfa]

I posted a link with similar issues (more on weight) but the tire points makes me borderline between classes. As one attempts to maximize points in a particular T class and ensure not going over, the tires in my case are making the difference.
I don't like it, not because potentially the car may slide more with street tires (I don't mind that, those who saw me push the old Alfa , body roll and all will confirm) but street tires under track conditions will chunck up and shred causing potential safety issues.
I am now searching for the perfect highest performance street tire that will give me 0 points in the scorecard. AN potentially soon putting a almost brand new set of Kumho V710 225x17 in the market.
Pros: it will save me from swapping tires on track
Cons: safety

[Chrispy]

Stephan, look to the top street tires the auto-x people use, they don't chunk, they barely have tread.

Bridgestone RE-11, Khumho XS, Hankook RS-3.

[joncowen]

Tons of people all around the country are driving on the track on street tires, even with highly prepared cars. Its a big thing now. There are so many benefits for people like Nick and I. Yes, race tires are more fun. Both Nick and I drive our cars to the track (most of the time) and also participate in Autocross, where classes are available to use street tires. Therefore, with the new rule set, we could potentially have one single set of wheels with a single set of tires, and potentially make them last all season. It's a major cost savings.

The time difference between street and race tires is getting smaller and smaller every year. Very few of the track oriented street tires chunk anymore with a properly set up car. Perhaps the most important aspect is that the street tires are much less susceptible to getting slower with heat cycles.

The great thing about the new points system is that you can decide for yourself which tire you want to run. Don't think street tires are any fun, don't run them.

I think most of you will be very impressed by the times Nick can manage on street tires. Maybe it will change your mind.

[savage217]

Wow I did not think this thread would generate so much attention! For the record, I always run race tires on day 2 and time trials but they are usually v710 caliber. I almost always run street tires day 1. I was able to get into the 13's at WGI on my street tires to give people an idea of how fast they can be. Granted the street tires I use are Hankook RS3's, which were the best street tire out there this year. They held up unbelieveably well.

I think a lot of you guys haven't run street tires in years. As Jon mentioned, they have come very far from what they once were. I have little to no wear issues as far as chunking/cupping, and they seem to last quite long considering I drive them on street as well in comparison to wear characteristics of race rubber. Compared to a Hoosier R6, they don't even come close in grip, braking, etc, but street tires continue to get faster each time a newer compound/technology street tire becomes available. I think I can do a low 1:18, maybe a high 1:17 on my RS3's chicane/chicane on a very ideal day at NHMS. They are that quick.

But again, I didn't mean to stir the pot and cause controversy, I was just curious who had plans to run street tires this year with the new class system. It looks like I am one of the few.

If there was a Series, other than Lemons/chump that I could race my M3 on street tires in, I would do it ASAP. Not because I prefer street tires, it just saves me quite a bit of money overall with being able to drive on street and track, etc.

I think we can all agree, there is nothing better than running a brand new hoosier on the track. It's like cheating lol.

[Resolution78]

i was the noobie running the 2012 boss 302 at the last NHMS chicane /chicane and i managed a 2:22 on BFG sport-comp 2s with a tread wear rating of 340 .... i have been driving on those tires all over and have no issues with them at all as far as i'm concerned..... the g-meter in my car hit 1.1 lateral during that day and i am still very new to a full on road coarse... im sure a better driver could have run 2:15 with my car on these tires .... i was still very nervous coming across the top of the hill after turn 6 .... still feels alittle weird coming across the top of a hill not seeing ahead i was just starting to get alittle more comfortable with it at the end of the day and still had alot to pick up coming off turn 10 as well.

these new tires have multi-compounds and are crossing over from motorcycles actually the centers have a harder compound verse the sides so when the bikes started hitting corners harder they could plant the tires and when they cruised on the highways they don't wear out in 500 miles...


http://www.motortrend.com/features/cons ... rt_comp_2/

I original bought these tires after going to a 2 day school in utah at miller motorsports park.... there school cars used these tires. when i was driving there school car i kept up with the drivers on R-1s with a 300lb lighter car ... otherwise almost identical cars granted they were not driving the others to there potential but i loved the feedback from the tires