Mohudsolo

I was at our regional SCCA meeting tonight and our national rep was there. He confirmed that SCCA national obtained some 710's and ran them through the DOT tests and they failed. Even if they were not being recalled for safety reasons, they would probably have been tossed out for this. He was not specific about what tests they failed or what sizes were tested. They did not test any other brands of tires.

I do hope they fix this as I had planned on trying some this year if they came out with a size I could use.

ryan12321

any proof of this or is it just one of the rumors like the tire had already been banned from scca.

nikolai.

I think it actually was banned.

http://scca.org/news/press04_57.html

ryan12321

it is now but wasn't at the time the rumor had been started. If the tires have already gotten DOT approval can they take that away from it now?

I'm not sure how it all works but I would think that if the DOT gives it approval it would have to be legal for use.

Mohudsolo

This was the SCCA testing the tire to see if it meets DOT standards as required for tires used in SS and IT roadracing along with numerous autox classes. It has nothing to do with the DOT itself, only the standards required to get the approval.

The specific person who stated this at the meeting was Tom Cambell who is on the board of directors at the SCCA national office. This was part of his official report from national, not hearsay, not "I heard from a friend of a friend, but the real thing.

As I stated earlier, he did not say what part of the test they failed or how many they tested or what sizes. When asked about the tires, he said they were tested and failed to meet the DOT standard. I specifically asked if any other tires, brands or models, were tested and he said no. I figure he counts as the horses mouth in this case, at least for me.

GBRacing

-- FYI --

http://www.kumhousa.com/V710.asp

For the record, I'll still run on Kumhos!

Mohudsolo

I currently have Kumho's for both autox and DE's. I hope they get this whole thing fixed soon. Up until last Sunday my only complaint with them was not making the 710 in the sizes I want. Failing the test unfortunately puts them in the position of having to prove themselves all over again.

This all means the R-tire market is likely to be tight all year. Both flavors of 700 will be in short supply unless they can get a bunch more here quickly. Hoosier stopped making some sizes of the 03 before they had 04's available to replace them. At the Texas tour one of the nationally competitive s2k's ran on old tires to keep his only set of Hoosier 03's new until nationals in Sept.

I'm afraid we'll see a situation like a few years ago when BFG stopped making the old R1 and replaced it with the G-force. When people figured out it was junk, suddenly the Hoosier and Kumho tires were on backorder and everyone played catchup for the rest of the year.

I hate that this happened, but I fear the 60-90 day estimate is low, at least for getting tires available in quantity. I assume it also means hopes for additional sizes this year are really dead.

Sorry about all the venting, but instead of the tire battle I had hoped to see this year, it is looking more like of a battle to get tires.

#1anonymous

We have all heard good things about the performance of the V710's. But failing to comply with the Federal Vehicle Motor Safety Standards is a blatent and irresponible action on Kumho's part. Please understand that a tire manufacturer does not have to submit tires to any government body for actual certification. When a tire manufacturer molds his D.O.T. identification into the sidewall, that manufacturer is self-certifying that they have tested and passed all the FVMSS tests and have passed. The penalty for non-compliance is enormous fines from NHTSA.

Brian*

I'm sure their sample tires passed the DOT approval tests, but there was a defect in the manufacturing process that led to the delamination issues. Kumho is not stupid enough to knowingly put an unsafe tire on the track.

And I would only believe DOT test results performed by the DOT or whatever organization they have approved to conduct the tests for them.

Brian

MaddMatt

Considering the amount of false information being thrown around about the V710 in the last week, I hope you'll understand if I take this information with a grain of salt. I'd really like to see this information from a 1st hand reliable source, such as directly from the SCCA in a press release, instead of "this guy at a meeting said..."

No offense intended.

1stgenboy

Check out http://www.scca.org for the news release.

Solracer

The press release says nothing about failing the DOT standard test just about tread delamination issues.

phat-S

I believe Matt is saying that due to some misinformation earlier in the week about the tire's "ban" that information about the SCCA doing their own testing sounds curious. The press release on the SCCA's site reads to me like they are assisting Kumho with getting these tires out of circulation not that they are doing something without Kumho's consent nor does it seem they have done their own testing.

CamaroFS34

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Considering the amount of false information being thrown around about the V710 in the last week, I hope you'll understand if I take this information with a grain of salt. I'd really like to see this information from a 1st hand reliable source, such as directly from the SCCA in a press release, instead of "this guy at a meeting said..."

No offense intended. </TD></TR></TABLE>
I have to agree with Matt. Whether or not SCCA's testing of the tire showed it failed DOT standards, the fact is that they could not have put "DOT approved" on the side of that tire if the DOT testing of their standards had not been satisfactory.

I hope the delamination issues are taken care of quickly. The quick response from Kumho and their costly decision to not only replace the V710s on the market with Victoracers/Ecstas, but to also provide a set of the "improved" V710s when they arrive is above and beyond the call of customer service. Did BFG make any such concessions when the Groove o' Doom plagued their tires?

Karen

Catch 22

He confirmed that SCCA national obtained some 710's and ran them through the DOT tests and they failed.

Highly doubtful. Sounds like the rumours are just getting more and more bastardized as they spread.
The SCCA might put the V710 on its exclusion list until Kumho proves that issues are sorted out, but I'd guess thats about it. I don't even think SCCA does any "DOT Testing," but I could be wrong.

brian g

I would listen to what #1 anonymous says about the DOT process.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by #1anonymous &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Please understand that a tire manufacturer does not have to submit tires to any government body for actual certification. When a tire manufacturer molds his D.O.T. identification into the sidewall, that manufacturer is self-certifying that they have tested and passed all the FVMSS tests and have passed. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I believe he knows what he is talking about.

brian g

rambler

Gonna get my



and....



And see how this whole thing plays out.....

Nash

Brian*

Then maybe the tires they tested did pass the FVMSS test but were from a different batch or a pre-production batch.

Brian

emwavey

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Considering the amount of false information being thrown around about the V710 in the last week, I hope you'll understand if I take this information with a grain of salt. I'd really like to see this information from a 1st hand reliable source, such as directly from the SCCA in a press release, instead of "this guy at a meeting said..."

No offense intended. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, please send us some first hand, published somewhere, information.
... maybe this is why the SCCA is so late with sending out membership cards. They MUST be testing these tires. (that's sarcasm folks)

MaddMatt

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would listen to what #1 anonymous says about the DOT process.

I believe he knows what he is talking about.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

So you're ready to blindly believe a trial user with the word "anonymous" in his name who says he's located in Indiana (the "HOOSIER" state, in case you forgot) about Kumho failing to comply with the FVMSS. Forgive me if I don't.

And I don't see anything concerning failed DOT testing in that SCCA press release.

I just love the internet sometimes...

Targa250R

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CamaroFS34 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The quick response from Kumho and their costly decision to not only replace the V710s on the market with Victoracers/Ecstas, but to also provide a set of the "improved" V710s when they arrive is above and beyond the call of customer service.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I definitely agree here.

I'd have been even more impressed if they had actually released the size that I need so that I could have bought a set before all of this came about.

No 235/45-13

jisu009

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

So you're ready to blindly believe a trial user with the word "anonymous" in his name who says he's located in Indiana (the "HOOSIER" state, in case you forgot) about Kumho failing to comply with the FVMSS. Forgive me if I don't.

And I don't see anything concerning failed DOT testing in that SCCA press release.

I just love the internet sometimes...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe it is the President of Hoosier trying to "scare" people into buying more Hoosier's.....

MaddMatt

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But failing to comply with the Federal Vehicle Motor Safety Standards is a blatent and irresponible action on Kumho's part.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If this is in fact NOT true, you have just made a libelous statement. I highly suggest you delete that unless you have iron-clad proof that this has occured.

CamaroFS34

It seems that our "anonymous" user truly is a Hoosier Tire representative....! Interesting that he shows up here, and in a now-deleted thread on SCCAForums to bring to everyone's attention the alleged non-compliance with DOT specifications, but doesn't sign his name. Obviously, he fears a libel/slander suit.

Wow. That kind of behavior really makes me want to go out and buy some Hoosiers now. Too bad the 16" diameter Avon tyres only come in a 225.

Karen
thoroughly disgusted

Mohudsolo

I'm pretty sure I did not quote "some guy" as saying they failed the test. I specifically stated that Tom Cambell, a member of the board of directors of SCCA and a member of our region, said they failed. I have no reason to post rumor or bs. I received information from the higest person in the SCCA that I personally know and attempted to let people know that the rumor is true. I have no beef with Kumho and currently use both their street tires and race tires.

I realize there has been a lot of stuff floating around about the tires so I understand the disbelief, but I can only say this is real. They may well not ever release the info, I don't know. I would also assume a manufacturing defect. Glue issues, bad material from a supplier, who knows. I expect we'll be in the dark but it would be really good of them to say what the problem was and what the solution was too when they fix them.

As far as Hoosier, I've only owned one set and was disappointed with both their lifespan and the separation between the tread and sidewall.