2005 Rallycross Tire Policy Clarification

AndersGreen · **Posted:** Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:14 pm

Here we are, on the first Monday of the new year. I think that this would be a fantastic time for our (at least partially) new Rallyx VPs to perform what may be the most controversial actions during their entire tenure: discuss what tires are legal.

The currently posted rule on street tires, (the modified version from the end of last year, not the initial, more restrictive version):

Quote:

S - Street Tire. For the purposes of this class, a "street tire" is defined as a "summer use" or "all-season" tire from any manufacturer that does not have an knobby or overly aggressive tread pattern, as determined by the Rallycross VP or his designate. Specifically excluded are snow tires, rally tires, mud-terrain or all-terrain tires, and any tire with a knobby tread pattern.
The intent of this definition is to permit any "normal" street tire to be used in competition. However some tires will obviously push this limit, and the Rallycross VP reserves the right to make (or delegate) that determination on a case-by-case basis. Note: many OEM truck and SUV tires will be deemed too aggressive to meet this classification.

Then there was the old "0.22 gap" mess related to this picture.

So, before we get started this year, how about a recap?

Thanks for your work guys!
Anders

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Mon Jan 03, 2005 2:50 pm

Dude, why are you doing this to us?

I thought the current rule was working OK. And I don't, frankly, see a way to objectify without making it a lot more complicated for everyone.

On one hand, I don't think it would be practical or desirable to create a tire exclusion list, because that burdens us with a maintenance task, and it shifts our (RXVPs) focus away from the events and the series and towards rule enforcement.

On the other, if we go to an objective measurement (like the 0.22" tread gap), then the folks at (limit + 0.01") will be bitching about it (as you well know), and saying that they're not ready to buy a special set of tires just to meet the rule. And at this point I'm still not inclined to turn away paying customers if their tires are at all reasonable. Plus, any rule like that means the tech inspectors have to be walking around with calipers, which I can't help but see as a red flag that we're taking things too seriously.

We all know there's a tradeoff between performance and course degradation with regard to tires, and so far I think we (meaning all of us rallycrossers) have been managing it pretty well, I think. But if anyone feels otherwise, let's hear about it here, and if there are other, simpler ways to clarify the rule that I've overlooked, I'm always happy to hear them.

Thanks!

AndersGreen · **Posted:** Mon Jan 03, 2005 3:07 pm

Carl Fisher wrote:

Dude, why are you doing this to us?

I thought the current rule was working OK.

No no no, you misunderstood!

I was really just hoping to get a "our official position is to continue business as usual this year, and any of you crackerjacks who want lists of tires that are legal or not should take a leap."

I was not meaning to bring the discussion up again, instead, I was trying to remind everyone of the actual rule (which I assumed wouldn't change) and give you a platform upon which to "lay down the law" so as to PREVENT the discussion!

Cheers,
Anders

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Mon Jan 03, 2005 3:25 pm

AndersGreen wrote:

this would be a fantastic time for our (at least partially) new Rallyx VPs to perform what may be the most controversial actions during their entire tenure: discuss what tires are legal.

Sorry, I certainly didn't read that as "not meaning to bring the discussion up again"- it appeared to be just the opposite.

Anway, our Official Street Tire Policy has been neatly summarized thusly:

Quote:

"our official position is to continue business as usual this year, and any of you crackerjacks who want lists of tires that are legal or not should take a leap."

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