I've seen rental cars on M+Ss at HPDEs, so it certainly isn't unheard of.
In light of recent concerns on running a plugged tire on track, I'm thinking about just using my brand new daily driving tires.
My choices are:
225/50-15 Yoko AVS Intermediates, one of which is plugged, or
205/55-15 Dunlop SP Sport 5000s
All are Z-speed rated. The Dunlops are squirmy as hell but offer decent performance for an all-season tire.
Smart answers I anticipate are "don't show up" or "buy new summer treads" or variations thereof. Anyone have any other opinions? Thanks.

 

I'd have to go with the Dunlops. Might not be able to go *quite* as fast in the turns, but you won't have to worry about losing a tire plug. Street tires are a hoot, and the all-seasons will keep the workers awake...

Definitely don't stay home.

ps - No slight intended for the VIR workers... they are top-notch.

 

Dunlops.

The Yok's are a better tire but I'd be nervous with a plug on the track. Better squirmy tread than a blowout on track

hmmmm... if you want a little more oversteer/neutral feel to the car you could run yok's up front and the dunlops in the rear


[Modified by Xian, 3:15 PM 2/12/2002]

 

keep in mind too, that once tires are warmed up, they will perform a little (maybe alot) better. so if you think they suck on the street, they will suck less on the track..

Besides, there is nothing wrong with less grip for learning (and having fun) purposes. Predictablilty in a tire is probably more important than absolute grip. Unless of course you doing competitive events.

 

Reminds me of Alistair in the copcar at my first event at Jefferson Circuit...I'll never forget sitting in the driver's meeting and hearing him come around that last turn on those copcar tires. Talk about "what did I get myself into?"

 

Just remember - this is to teach you how to drive on and OFF track. So if you are on tires you'd be using on the street, you'll learn some things to take home with you (so to speak).

Driving in the rain is also a thrill - that's where everyone needs some extra track practice.

Besides which - the flaggers need something to keep them awake.

 

My Caprice runs on Firestone Firehawks that are M+S rated. No problems using them at the track, they just overheat quickly. When that happens, the car just pushes REALLY bad, so corner entry has to be SLOW.

 

You ain't kidding!! Nothing like "listening" the four rental Mustangs around VIR-full

 

yes, but is there a risk of him chunking the Dunlops, and in turn, ruining a brand new set of street tires?

I'm trying to think back to what street tires I was using before I went to slicks. I think it was SP4000s, which was the predecessor to the 5000. I had no problem with those at all, if that is any indication...

Matt

 

hmmm...if that was on the CRX, keep in mind, Dave's driving a substantially heavier Accord.

 

For my first/only event, I ran M+S (the Vizzolas) at Jefferson last Sept. My biggest complaint was that feeling of riding on Jello after about 15 minutes in the later sessions (I think Al is an extreme case ). I made decent time (if Dave recalls) and wasn't ever a moving road block. It was just that the last 5-10 minutes required a bit of care in rolling onto the throttle.

I hesitate to ask at the risk of bathing in flames, but... how bad would it be to run different f/r?

 

No, that was my Prelude. Same engine, only a little less weight.


Matt

 

Ah...that's good to hear, for Dave's sake

 

Thanks y'all. My only concern is really chewing up these new tires which I want to last more than a few winters.

 

Have you considered replacing just that one Yokohama, and running those?

Jon

 

Yeah, I was going to get 2 or 4 new Yokos, but since they're discontinued it's a 4-6 week backorder from Tirerack with no guarantee that they'll get them.
Now I'm actually considering some new S03s... if only to save these all-seasons from getting shredded. These Dunlops have mind-boggling snow traction. Yeah, crazy to spend $134 per tire to save an $87 tire, but I sure wouldn't mind some S03s (which I'll eventually mount on K1s when I get them).

 

What's wrong with your tires again? A plug? Is that really a problem? I've never had one fail on the road, never tried at the track.

 

I would submit that a tire is exposed to much different /greater forces on the track than on the road.

 

I ran almost an entire weekend at Roebling on Kumho 712's, and they held up reeeaaally well. I actually was only about 1 second slower than when I was on R compounds at the end...

 

THIS IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION (for the lawyers)

I have run my Camaro with three plugged tires one of which has two plugs with no ill effects. Goodyear F1 that are still on the car.

That reminds me, the LR needs another plug. My driveway is full of crap.

Grumpy

 

Yeah. I figured if it failed on track it'd be a gentle slow loss of pressure. But even that's not good at 10/10ths I guess. I don't have a problem with it, but I don't want to endanger my instructor or other traffic.
I don't mind using the Dunlops, actually kinda appealing to try a greasy tire, but the colored chalk hasn't even worn off them yet.

 

You have a fwd car. Put the plugged tire in the back where all it does is keep the gas tank from dragging

Or AVSs front, 5000s in back?


[Modified by MaddMatt, 1:00 PM 2/12/2002]

 

I ran all laps last weekend on Goodyear Eagle GT II's, a fully M+S rated tire. I'd like to blame the poor lap times on the tires, but I have to blame them on the driver.

They actually did very well, and there was little wear from the weekend (conversely, there was also little stick). They also weren't THAT noisy.

I HATE buying new tires, and the ones I ran on at VIR were in good shape, but three years old. The next ones will be dunlop 5000 asymmetricals.

Shawn

 

I ran most of last year on the stock RE92s on my prelude which is a M+S rated tire. It was fun listening to them. I did chunk the heck out of them at my last day of the year at Limerock. I am going to run S03s or Pzero Assimetrico this year. I know that I could go R compound but I like the feedback that I get with the street rubber. I'm not running for time yet, plus I like passing the less skilled guys on Rs.

 

I've run the SP5000 and found it had pretty respectable stick. Rears were quite worn after the event. They are squirmy especially when overheated. Very predictable breakaway.

I'd say why not use the M+S? You'll have a blast.

PS - the right rear was plugged.