Tires for track?

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:56 pm

OK, next issue on getting ready for VIR. This will be my second event, Ron Spencer recommended in the novice class last year just to use "worn out" street tires until you know what you are doing. I need some new street tires right now, should I use the old Kumho Ecsta's with about 21k miles on them, My Azenis I have 3 autocrosses on, or some knew Ecsta's I have ready to mount.

AS an aside, my electrical problem that caused me to blow power steering fuses all last year has been fixed so I should be able to drive better than a one armed man in a paperhanging contest this time!

Diane Hall · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:11 pm

Your 21K mile tires should be perfect as long as you aren't past the rubber. Around the wear-bars is ideal. You definitely don't want to use new stuff.

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:18 pm

definitleyat th wear bars!!

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:33 pm

call Mark @ Hubcap Heaven.

my michelins (street tires) failed @ rockingham last year. no street time, 1 HPDE & a season of autoX on them. tread wear was not even close to half. Mark, is an invaluable source for tire advice/sales.

i ran VIR in december on new rubber (falken gbr415's) most enjoyable. i was skeered, as i spun @ rockingham, but the falkens were spot on.

while you seem to have a diverse selection to choose from Cline, i would were it me, call Mark for his opinion. steve.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:05 pm

Diane Hall wrote:

Your 21K mile tires should be perfect as long as you aren't past the rubber. Around the wear-bars is ideal. You definitely don't want to use new stuff.

Since you brought up this point I have a question. I am going to Road Atlanta in March. I have old Azenis that are probably OK if it is dry for the event, however, if it rains I will be parking it w/o new tires. I am looking at the new Azenis. What is the bad thing about using them new? I have some guesses, but I'll let you answer.

Also, what would be the best way to prep, just heat cycle them before I go down?

Thanks

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:44 pm

RobLupella wrote:

Since you brought up this point I have a question. I am going to Road Atlanta in March. I have old Azenis that are probably OK if it is dry for the event, however, if it rains I will be parking it w/o new tires. I am looking at the new Azenis. What is the bad thing about using them new? I have some guesses, but I'll let you answer.

Also, what would be the best way to prep, just heat cycle them before I go down?

Thanks

The tires will probably chunk, killing a lot of the usable life when new. If you're going to trailer to the event, I'd see if someone is can lend you a set of wheels and mount the new one's up in case it rains, but in the dry run the old ones.

Yes, it will cost $40 to get them mounted, but to have piece of mind regardless of the conditions is nice when you're spending a lot to get there, hotels, event cost, etc.; it's really inexpensive insurance. - AB

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:01 pm

Not sure which Falkens you are planning on purchasing..615 or 451. But I ran a fairly new set of 451's at Rockingham with no issues. They had about 500 street miles and two AX on them prior to Rockingham. Given there is a T&T and plenty of time to scuff them in on the highway before March, you should be set.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:15 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Yes, it will cost $40 to get them mounted, but to have piece of mind regardless of the conditions is nice when you're spending a lot to get there, hotels, event cost, etc.; it's really inexpensive insurance. - AB

Ditto. There's no way I'll go to an HPDE without a "backup plan" with extra tires and wheels. It would be no fun watching Graham run because you don't have a backup plan now would it?

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

Vincent Keene wrote:

Ditto. There's no way I'll go to an HPDE without a "backup plan" with extra tires and wheels. It would be no fun watching Graham run because you don't have a backup plan now would it?

But there is the rub. Folks say use your old street tires while you're learning. 2/32 or so should be fine and get you through a weekend. But if it rains then you probably want 4/32 or more tread and on a tire that really is a rain tire.

Since I'm not pulling a trailer or trailering the car. I run what I got there on. So to go that far from home on worn out tires just won't work. I'd take closer to new tires. Heck just the trip down is a good 350+ miles.

And we most definetely do not want Rob or me sitting on the sidelines after spending that much to get there. He's got a trailer so he can play the what-if game and bring both sets. Would be easier to just run on your new cheater tires Rob and save the old cheater tires for your autox events.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2006 1:59 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

RobLupella wrote:

Since you brought up this point I have a question. I am going to Road Atlanta in March. I have old Azenis that are probably OK if it is dry for the event, however, if it rains I will be parking it w/o new tires. I am looking at the new Azenis. What is the bad thing about using them new? I have some guesses, but I'll let you answer.

Also, what would be the best way to prep, just heat cycle them before I go down?

Thanks

The tires will probably chunk, killing a lot of the usable life when new. If you're going to trailer to the event, I'd see if someone is can lend you a set of wheels and mount the new one's up in case it rains, but in the dry run the old ones.

Yes, it will cost $40 to get them mounted, but to have piece of mind regardless of the conditions is nice when you're spending a lot to get there, hotels, event cost, etc.; it's really inexpensive insurance. - AB

RT615s. I plan on trailering them I have 3 sets of wheels so that is no problem. This leads to my next question, how to break them in so that i can use them on track? drive them on the street for a month? Heat cycle them ?

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:05 pm

Graham Jagger wrote:

Since I'm not pulling a trailer or trailering the car. I run what I got there on. So to go that far from home on worn out tires just won't work.

Sounds like a big risk to drive that far w/o any backup plan for your car Graham. PM me and I can tell you how to make one.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:08 pm

RobLupella wrote:

RT615s. I plan on trailering them I have 3 sets of wheels so that is no problem. This leads to my next question, how to break them in so that i can use them on track? drive them on the street for a month? Heat cycle them ?

Conventional wisdom says the tires will "chunk" if run at full tread depth. However I have autoxed full tread depth tires (including Azenis and Victoracers) on a car with no camber and have never chunked one. I haven't run full tread tires on track (yet) but I will when I get the new 615s later this season.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:34 pm

Graham Jagger wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

Ditto. There's no way I'll go to an HPDE without a "backup plan" with extra tires and wheels. It would be no fun watching Graham run because you don't have a backup plan now would it?

But there is the rub. Folks say use your old street tires while you're learning. 2/32 or so should be fine and get you through a weekend. But if it rains then you probably want 4/32 or more tread and on a tire that really is a rain tire.

Since I'm not pulling a trailer or trailering the car. I run what I got there on. So to go that far from home on worn out tires just won't work. I'd take closer to new tires. Heck just the trip down is a good 350+ miles.

And we most definetely do not want Rob or me sitting on the sidelines after spending that much to get there. He's got a trailer so he can play the what-if game and bring both sets. Would be easier to just run on your new cheater tires Rob and save the old cheater tires for your autox events.

My backup plan is if my tires fail I would borrow Graham's car. That way i would not have to worry about hitting walls with my car :lol:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:38 pm

RobLupella wrote:

My backup plan is if my tires fail I would borrow Graham's car. That way i would not have to worry about hitting walls with my car :lol:

Now * that * is what I call a backup plan!

Frank Catena · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:08 pm **Posts:** 418

I had new full thread 615s at VIR F last November. No drama. Now it was sort of nippy outside (30-60F) and the tires had maybe 200 street miles on them.So YCMV especially on cars that are harder on tires in hotter temps.

I would second some sort of backup plan. I managed to puncture a tire at VIR N once. Thankfully it was during the last run session of the weekend. My brave little track car went home with the inflatable spare mounted on the right front ... If it happened at Roebling or CMP that would have been a miserable trip.

Frank

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