anyone heard of "Winter SRX" tires? For rallycross!: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 6, 2011 6:47 p.m. irish44j Dork

As I'm browsing around looking for cheap small (14") tires to use for rallycross on the e30, I run across a guy selling a set of "Winter SRX" in just the size I need.

Google search brings up very little, except that these seem to be a Canada-market tire, only seem to be on craigslists throughout Canada, and only rumor on the brand is that they "may" be made by Uniroyal or Cooper.

Also found a bunch of stuff about denied patent/trademarks for them in Canada and Australia, oddly enough.

More interestingly, though, they have a tread pattern that reminds me alot of an all-terrain tire (BFG A/T KO, in particular). And they're S-rated, which is higher speed than alot of winter tires popular for rallycross.

And they're dirt cheap, and local. I may go pick them up and give them a go...this tread design could be good for rallycross! If not, the set of four will cost me less than ONE of the cheapest winter tire I can find, lol

thoughts?

some pics:
Nov. 6, 2011 7:28 p.m. petegossett SuperDork

I can't add anything on those tires, but FWIW I'm going to have a 1-year old set of Michelin X-Ice available in about a month. Though I don't think I'm close to you.
Nov. 6, 2011 7:48 p.m. irish44j Dork

what size are yours?

my research turns these tires up here and there in Canada between 1999 and 2011, but can't seem to find them NEW anyplace. I've asked the seller to look for the DOT code (so I can tell the manufacture date), because I don't really want to roll in 10-year-old tires, lol.
Nov. 6, 2011 7:52 p.m. NGTD Dork

I haven't seen those up here in a while.
Nov. 7, 2011 4:57 a.m. petegossett SuperDork

In reply to irish44j:

I'll double check, but they're stock size for my Accent, 165/75/14 IIRC. They're on E30 bottlecaps, but I'm keeping those.
Nov. 7, 2011 7:06 a.m. cghstang HalfDork

Is this the tread pattern on those?

If they're really old, I'd pass on them. We found really gnarly set of really old snow tires last year for our club rental car but the first time we ran on them they ballooned up and looked like motocross tires: the belts all broke inside the tires.

That tread pattern does look more like an A/T tire than a modern snow design, which could be good or bad depending on the surfaces you'll be running on.

My general suggestion for rallycross tires is this: If you want the most traction right now get a good set of snow or rally tires (snows being the better choice over a wider range of conditions). If you want to develop your loose-surface driving skills over a period of time, start out with whatever all season tires are already on the car. They will better serve to help you learn to to conserve momentum and drive where there is grip.
Nov. 7, 2011 7:13 a.m. DeadSkunk Dork

My son just bought some new snow tires for his Kia. They're Firestone Winterforces (185/65/14) and I was surprised at how open the tread pattern is compared to the usual Blizzacks,Graspics, etc. As soon as I saw them I commented that we'll have to try them out is some loose gravel or dirt.
Nov. 7, 2011 7:47 a.m. cghstang HalfDork

Winterforces are very popular rallycross tires. Newer Blizzaks and other ice-biased tires are generally not as good over a wide range of conditions as more snow oriented tires like Hankook I-Pikes and General Altimax Arctics.
Nov. 7, 2011 5:10 p.m. irish44j Dork

cghstang wrote:

Is this the tread pattern on those?

If they're really old, I'd pass on them. We found really gnarly set of really old snow tires last year for our club rental car but the first time we ran on them they ballooned up and looked like motocross tires: the belts all broke inside the tires.

That tread pattern does look more like an A/T tire than a modern snow design, which could be good or bad depending on the surfaces you'll be running on.

My general suggestion for rallycross tires is this: If you want the most traction right now get a good set of snow or rally tires (snows being the better choice over a wider range of conditions). If you want to develop your loose-surface driving skills over a period of time, start out with whatever all season tires are already on the car. They will better serve to help you learn to to conserve momentum and drive where there is grip.

yep, just came across these out of the blue and figured I'd look into them because of the A/T tread pattern. My plan is probably to use Firestone WInterforce. I can't use "what's on the car" since that would be two completely smooth/corded BFG touring tires, and two other lousy mismatched tires, lol.

The current owner of those tires said he used to use them for ice racing (clearly not in this area), so they're definitely pretty old and I'll likely pass. I'm having him check the DOT numbering on the sides so I can find out the year they were produced.

Plan is to find cheap A/S tires to put on the 15" euroweaves that came with the car (as street tires) and slap some winters on the bottlecaps that I have.

Of course I have 3 sets of tires for the WRX in the garage as well, grr.......

I run Dunlop Wintersport 3D on the rex for winter, and they're outstanding!