Auto/SA2010 helmet for riding?

Hi guys, longtime lurker here. I do occasional HPDEs with my car and have been hoping to get back into that after not being able to get out for a few years now. My helmet is an SA2000 so I'm looking at new helmets. Currently leaning towards the HJC AR-10 ii. I'm also interested in learning to ride a motorcycle over the next few years. Would the AR-10 or another automotive helmet be okay for street motorcycle use? I've found conflicting information while googling this. It seems that field of view is an issue with some of the SA rated helmets. I know motorcycle helmets are pretty cheap, but I'd still rather just buy one nicer helmet than a pair if that's reasonable. I'd hit the thing with some bright yellow paint for visibility....don't really care what it looks like for car use on track.

Thanks for your time and thoughts.

I could use my Pyrotect SA2010 helmet for motorcycle use as it's DOT rated. So far I haven't, but that's mainly because I already have a couple of motorcycle helmets. The visor on the Pyrotect does seem to be a little smaller than the ones on the two bike helmets but I don't think it would make a massive difference to my field of vision. Mind you, I have to observe the world through coke bottle bottoms.

I have actually ridden with an auto racing helmet for about six months. Tim is right about the first thing, some but not all SA helmets are DOT-legal, which means they would technically be illegal, so make sure you get the DOT sticker.

My car helmet is an SA2010-rated RCI, it has a good field of vision, but compared to a later motorcycle-specific helmet I bought the SA helmet was heavier and louder (less wind). Not a bad stop-gap, especially if you think you might not take to the motorcycle thing. Another point, good bike helmets are cheaper than good racing helmets, so you may buy that nice HJC and decide you don't want to put daily wear & tear on it.

Good point about the noise - I haven't tried the Pyrotect in an open car or on the bike so I have no idea how noisy it is. Not to mention that I don't ride without ear plugs anyway, but even then it makes a noticeable difference if you've got a noisy helmet or a quiet one.

In reply to BoxheadTim: Interesting, thanks guys. I will probably start out with the auto helmet and if I really take a liking to riding, get a dedicated helmet. I really won't be able to ride a ton given the climate where I live, so I'm trying to give it a try with a relatively minimal investment.

I've been using my G Force full coverage for a while, I have had no issues with visibility or excessive noise. I may get a dedicated bike helmet at some point because cool paint jobs.

Yeah, its a relative thing. My SA helmet wasn't heavy and loud (even with my cheapie disposable earplugs) until I got a bike helmet. So, really, the SA helmet made a perfectly good bike helmet and I could have used it forever if I wasn't afraid of damaging/losing it.

My understanding is that helmet construction varies greatly between motorcycle and auto helmets, based on their rather different sets of circumstances in possible crash scenarios.

With as cheap as good motorcycle helmets are nowadays (check out Sparx), I personally wouldn't risk it.

Lots of SA helmets (like mine) come with DOT stickers. Those are DOT stickers for highway use on motorcycles. Not that DOT is infallible, but then neither is Snell.