GRM Learn Me: Road Race Tires

I know that the learn me is a bit vague, but I can hopefully offer some details to narrow down choices:

-unlimited tire choice (price isn't really an issue either, but lets not be crazy) -1000kms of endurance racing -car weighs ~1800lbs with driver -has a quaife front LSD (car is a suzuki swift) -no power -tire has to be 23" or shorter

I don't think that a DOT road race tire, or at least the fastest ones, are the way to go here. Those tires like Toyo Proxes R888, RA1's, Kumho Ecsta V700, Yodohama ADVAN A048 seem more like what you want to use. Also the tires like the BFG Rival's or similar extreme performance tires would be a good choice.

What, only one answer? Okay, I'll bite. First, do your racing rules have any kind of tire restriction? DOT legal? Treadwear racing? Or are we talking totally wide open?

No tire swap over the distance?

There's a Swift I'm always trying to catch which is hellaciously fast on both A048s in (I think) 195/50/15, and V700s in 225/45/15 (and they were squeezed onto 15x7s!).

David S. Wallens wrote: What, only one answer? Okay, I'll bite. First, do your racing rules have any kind of tire restriction? DOT legal? Treadwear racing? Or are we talking totally wide open?

Wide open, but lets stay away from bias ply tires. Also, tire changes are possible, but there is a minimum fueling time of 5 minutes, so we would ideally like to fuel/tire/driver change in 5 minutes. Tires would have to last a driving stint ideally (2.5 hours). Of course, longer/more consistent would probably be better?

Car is not camber challenged either.

What series is this?

Chump is maximum 2 hour stints. Lemons has no 5 minute minimum pit. They both have a DOT tire above 180 or 190 treadware rating.

Anything going 2.5 hours per stint is low horsepower.

This is a mystery to me.

To answer your question, Rivals held up well for our 2nd gen RX7 at the VIR 24 race last year. We did need to rotate in an "x" about 12 hours in.

1000 km = 600 miles. Assume average 80 mph. Then that means the tires need to last 7.5 hours.

The rivals, or ZII, or RS3 should all hold up just fine for that amount of time.

Rob R.

HiTempguy wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote: What, only one answer? Okay, I'll bite. First, do your racing rules have any kind of tire restriction? DOT legal? Treadwear racing? Or are we talking totally wide open?

Wide open, but lets stay away from bias ply tires. Also, tire changes are possible, but there is a minimum fueling time of 5 minutes, so we would ideally like to fuel/tire/driver change in 5 minutes. Tires would have to last a driving stint ideally (2.5 hours). Of course, longer/more consistent would probably be better? Car is not camber challenged either.

We ran a Toyo RR in our last 4hr endurance race at the Glen. I had the last leg... my co-driver did and 1hr 55mi at flat out and I was able to drive them as hard as I could for another 2hrs straight. 2500lb car.

They were predictable, consistent and long lived but they do give up quite a bit of grip to a Hankook 214 or Hoosier R6. I have driven that same car 3 secs a lap quicker on the R6 but it would never live thru 4hrs of that. So... a little more info... how long is the race?

• Can you afford a couple sets of Michelin radial slicks at $400 a tire, can you get all the camber out of the car and test enough to make them work for you? I've never run them but I have had my ass handed to me by guys who do.
• Do you prefer the < $200 all day tire and no tire changes (or fewest possible)?
• What are your competitors using?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: We ran a Toyo RR in our last 4hr endurance race at the Glen. I had the last leg... my co-driver did and 1hr 55mi at flat out and I was able to drive them as hard as I could for another 2hrs straight. 2500lb car. They were predictable, consistent and long lived but they do give up quite a bit of grip to a Hankook 214 or Hoosier R6. I have driven that same car 3 secs a lap quicker on the R6 but it would never live thru 4hrs of that. So... a little more info... how long is the race? - Can you afford a couple sets of Michelin radial slicks at $400 a tire, can you get all the camber out of the car and test enough to make them work for you? I've never run them but I have had my ass handed to me by guys who do. - Do you prefer the < $200 all day tire and no tire changes (or fewest possible)? - What are your competitors using?

Testing would be very minimal if the tires were temperamental to setup. We can basically afford anything, but of course, we don't want to spend money if it doesn't make sense. At the end of the day, it's a 100hp 1800lb car.

Race is 1000km's (probably each driver would get the 2.5hours = 7.5 hours). Its to showcase the new racetrack in Edmonton, AB. Essentially an exhibition, but who doesn't like bragging rights? Its open to all classes but will be broken down into speed groups of some sort.

The swift should definitely be able to run the 2.5hours straight before refuel. And I guess I'd like to hear of options that will do the whole thing straight, or options that will last at minimum 2.5 hours. I don't know how much grip is truly necessary with such low HP and weight... not that I think there is every such a thing as too much tire, and I'll carry as much momentum as is physically possible through corners :)

Competitors... don't know. I've only ever done chumpcar, will (for the most part) only ever do chumpcar with this car.

In reply to HiTempguy:

Check these out - http://www.philsracetires.com/pricesheets/Toyo%20Proxes%20RR.htm

We did 4hrs of balls out on them in a 2500lb car and they took it fine and had a lot of material left on them. I didn't want more grip as much as I wanted more power (150 ponies at the Glen is like pedaling a bike). We were on pace with others in the class who were on more aggressive rubber because we didn't have extra stops for tires & one-stopped it on fuel.

So... you got 1800lbs, can go 2.5hrs on a tank... the diameters look like they can be ordered to keep you under 23" - these are cheap and might work for you right out of the box.

The Toyo RRs are very good slicks and long lasting and consistent and easy to drive. So are the Hankooks if you can find them in your size.

Thanks GPS! We are seriously considering the 205/60R13 toyo RR's. 6 of them would be perfect :)