Need a little advice on Tires: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Aug. 10, 2010 10:55 a.m. BobOfTheFuture HalfDork

I was wondering on what those who know sticky rubber have to say on this-

I am looking for a summer tire for my SVTF, it will see at least one HPDE before the summer is over. I have a good all season on a different set of rims, so that is not an issue.

Going by one of GRM's online articles, I was looking at the Kumho Ecsta XS, and was going to use it at the HPDE and as a (rest of) summer tire. But the tire rack shows that for basically the same price on closeout i can get the Kumho Ecsta V700

Is it worth losing streetability for the comp tire or should I just run the shaved V700?

I have autorossed alot, but this is my second HPDE, is it too early to switch to something that serious?

My "all season"; is the Falken 912, should I just run that? These are at full tread, I am worried about chunking.

Sorry for so many questions.. I'm new to being able to afford tires!.
Aug. 10, 2010 11:05 a.m. iceracer Dork

I would go with the XS.
Aug. 10, 2010 12:10 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

I don't think you really have a wrong answer. I'd say you're probably best going with the XS though.

Either the XS or V700 will do you just fine. The V700 will be less compliant and harsher to drive around. The XS will last longer in normal driving conditions. I think a street tire is usually better to just start on at the track, but if you've done "a lot" of auto-x and genuinely understand what the car is doing and what your tires are telling you (be honest with yourself), having the V700 won't hurt, and will probably be really nice.

However, the only benefit of the V700 will be for open track. If you're only planning on doing a couple HPDEs, you'll end up costing yourself more in tire wear.

I doubt you're likely to see chunking on your Falkens at your second track day. Only time I've suffered chunking on a street tire was doing drift.
Aug. 10, 2010 3:10 p.m. Capt Slow HalfDork

I agree with salanis, You have a number of "good" options ahead of you: I don't think the 912's will chunk.

I have autocrossed on the Xs quite a bit and really really like them. That being said they don't like cold and wet conditions at all.

I didn't realize the v700s were so cheap. That could be a really interesting option...

Are these tires going to be mounted on a separate set of wheels? I don't know that I would want to drive on either the XS or the v700 in the cold /wet/rainy/ icy season...
Aug. 10, 2010 5:56 p.m. BobOfTheFuture HalfDork

Yes, these will be a summer-only tire.

Salanis- I am in the middle. If it was an Autocross in my old car Id go for the V700's with out a second thought. But I've never autocrossed this car, and only hit one HPDE with it. Its a '02 SVTF if anyone is wondering.

Capt. Slow- V700

I worry about the chunking because at Autocross in the crap car I was running at the time I chunked up a fairly new set of tires, Sumitumo HTR H4 if i remember right. Performance all-season, which is what the Falken is.
Aug. 10, 2010 6:16 p.m. MCarp22 Reader

BobOfTheFuture wrote: My "all season"; is the Falken 912, should I just run that? These are at full tread, I am worried about chunking.

Totally going to chunk.
Aug. 10, 2010 6:21 p.m. BobOfTheFuture HalfDork

Okay. Would the XS chunk at full tread?
Aug. 10, 2010 6:34 p.m. JtspellS New Reader

I've never had an issue with the 912's BUT i have only auto-x on them track days i had RE 050a bridgestone stockers..
Aug. 10, 2010 6:51 p.m. Strizzo SuperDork

BobOfTheFuture wrote:

Okay. Would the XS chunk at full tread?

i had a set of the MXs that didn't chunk, but kinda dimpled during the first autocross at full tread. it was, however, about 117 degrees on the lot that day though. it was gone after a couple thousand miles and only stuck around on the shoulders of the tread blocks.
Aug. 10, 2010 7:07 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

BobOfTheFuture wrote:

Okay. Would the XS chunk at full tread?

I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure that will depend on if they are broken in before hitting the track. Get some good mileage on them and maybe a bit of moderate performance driving, and they aught to be sufficiently scrubbed in. Even if not scrubbed in, it's unlikely.

I don't know how you drive, but if this is only your second open track, I doubt you'll be hard enough on tires to make them chunk. You should probably still be working on smoothness, line, looking around, and managing flags and traffic.

If you're really concerned, you might try rotating your tires at some point to give the fronts a bit of rest.

I actually find auto-x is harder on tires than open track is. Track is harder on brakes.
Aug. 11, 2010 8:37 a.m. BobOfTheFuture HalfDork

okay, guess that is the way to go.

I'll have to get to ordering em
Aug. 11, 2010 4:36 p.m. MCarp22 Reader

BobOfTheFuture wrote:

Okay. Would the XS chunk at full tread?

Probably not, the tread blocks are bigger, more solid, and the tire compound is made to handle track use. I've run RT615s at full tread and they've come home just fine.