R compound users...read this

[ctenche]

This impacts all tire manufacturer's not just Hoosier. I filled it out even though I'm not a U.S. citizen. Not sure if it matters.

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=192516

[ADAM]

i filled it out too hoosiers are expensive as it is..

if it does go thru...we SHOULD consider allowing full race slicks on all the cars regardless of class... OR restrict the tires to STREET tires only....with some sort of maxiumum tread rating

[RacerRobb]

Adam;

Isn't that like going from one far extreme to the other.

Stock class vehicles are already becoming a little dangerous when not driven well on DOT "race" tires. Advocating slcks would just exaberate the problems a novice might have in a stock vehicle on race tires.

My feeling is that a couple of the tires being offered are just too expensive for the average guy. It's a sure way to gain a little time back from the track but at a relatively high cost per mile of competition.

I sure would like to see a set of rules that could limit choices. Yes I know that in a free democratic system limiting choices would not be received favourably by many - BUT.

It sure would help some budgets if we elected to go with a spec tire or even if we only allowed competitors to run on a tire from a series sponsor.

Imagine if we all ran on a Toyo RA1 or the Yok 032. Yes many would be a bit slower but at least this variable would be thrown out of the equation.

Is it possible to make racing more affordable? Doubtful - as we would find other ways to spent our disposable income. But some can buy a victory or a good showing just by throwing money at the problem. How is this different than any other situation in life - it isn't but deep pockets can mask the drivers real abilities.

Street tires. Hopefully not in my future. I really like my Toyo RA1's. Could I be faster on other tires? Most certainly. I ran my solo 2 car last year on Hoosiers and they performed great.

I also found 1 1/2 seconds on the DDT (CW) by just using Hoosier's on the front of my Integra 2 years ago. Can I afford Hoosier's? No, not really. Not if I were to do lots of events. I would need a few sets a year, probably 3. Not very likely in my budget when they are over 1400.00 (a set) x 3 = 4200.00 compared to 1100.00 (a set) x 1.5 = 1650.00 for the Toyo's.

Now the Khumo Ecsta have a lot of potential but after reading a few threads and then seeing a front right tire from a stock (well relatively) class vehicle that had tread seperation where the tread met the sidewall I am starting to get the picture that the new Khumo is somewhat like the old BFG Geeeeforce. Lots of potential in the right hands but somewhat unforgiving (durability) if driven too hard. OR used on a vehicle without sufficient negative camber.

robb

[Shaman]

I like racing on street tires. They last a whole season. I'd have to rethink my whole suspension, but WTH. I've been a long time advocate of a Street Modified class, where you can do whatever you want to your car, but you have to race on street tires and compete with the other wacky SM cars that show up.

[Bad Karma]

That's a hell of an interesting idea. I wonder how hard it would be to specify a *spec tire* for Solo 1 (such as the RA1)?

Or, to classify tires as a point mod for various classes, and the inclusion of a street modified class which requires street tires (and minimum tread depth...), but open mods to the car itself.

It would be interesting to charge people a point or two for R-compounds, and maybe bump those from stock classes into Super stock classes, and so on....

Of course, the most classes we have, the thinner each class may potentially get.....


Pat

[ADAM]

maybe a spec tire is needed then? so far the toyos have been the best bang for the buck?

or max tread rating?

[RacerRobb]

I understand where you are coming from but a good street tire is more money then a RA1 and I find the "lesser" race tires to be more sticky and more forgiving then a street tire. But maybe that's just me!

Robb

[Rob McAuley]

So Hoosier is concerned that DOT-R tires will not pass the proposed new safety standards. This could mean the end of any and all DOT-R tires.

For Solo this means that most of us will be running on non-R compound street tires. If you want R compound tires, they'll have to be non-DOT, which moves you to the MOD classes.

It seems to me that our rules have this covered - if R compound street legal tires are not available, then we'll all be running street tires. Costs will be higher, times will be higher, but there won't be much we can do about it.

Post a comment on the DOT web site and let's hope that Hoosier's ammendment gets accepted.

[Taylor]

Well I'd be against a spec tire. And even if we had one.. why Toyo's? They're not even a series sponsor.

Anyhow if this goes through, we'll loose our R's too, highly unlikely that any manufacturer will still produce them for our (comparitavely) smaller market.

[ADAM]

we could go full slicks then..they are cheap as well..and just forget about the DOT R tires altogether....

or have the slicks as points...
or have stock classes on street tires..and all other classes with slicks for points..

?

[Taylor]

I would much rather see a Street Tire Class or Bonus (preferrably Bonus with all things considered (class population being the most important). As it is I find myself driving to the events with my tires ON the car as I have no real means in which to transport them (though I suspect I can actually fit them with the passenger seat removed, but this was not really an option last year when I had a passenger coming with me). Anyhow if there was a street tire bonus, it would keep everyone's costs down, and I'd finally have a reason to have "rain" tires for the car (which I don't have and can't really afford to buy on the off chance it rains).

I wonder though how long a street tire would last under the punishment...(in comparison to an R)

[alexb]

A good street tire is more money than a R compound.Hey we could loose both ways.

[Dave Barker]

The only way to keep a street tire in shape is to start off by shaving it . Even then is won't handle the heat as well as a race tire . Lets hope this initiative dies a quick and timely death.

BTW I don't think putting all competitors on slicks is a good idea due to the incremental increase in speeds . Also stock cars have no where near enough neg camber to make them work well anyway .

Also , just to dig up the dirt from last Oct /Nov under the linear classification system proposed by Rob McAuley , race tires would be counted as points and might or might not move you up a class depending on where you started. It has always seemed strange to me that the single biggest performance improvement in our cars ( race tires) is free .

[Bad Karma]

One of the big issues with this whole DOT approval scene is that many sanctioning organizations require it.

If the sanctioning bodies would forget about DOT approval for R-compound tires (it's not like they make great street tires anyway...), it would accomplish two things for us. One, make the tires a heck of a lot cheaper for all the drivers, and bury the issue of the DOT complaining about tire safety.

This would require a big leap of faith on the part of amateur racing sanctioners, and I'm skeptical of this happening.

However, if the DOT does actually go through and enact this, then it's a scenario many racing bodies will be forced to look at.

Instead of being gov't regulated, the industry itself will have to regulate r-compounds, slicks etc, etc.

Pat

[Jay]

Guys... come on! R compounds are so much FUN to drive on a race track with!

Heck why don't we outlaw cars and compete with ride on lawn mowers!

If anything move to slicks not street tires! Racing a car is not cheap! Even Solo I.

[RICK3059]

I sent my response in as well.