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Tracking / Autocross / HPDE / Drifting What these cars were built for! |
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01-29-2013, 06:16 PM | #1 |
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Autox competetive street tire vs. RA-1 (or similar) for track use
I'm trying to decide on whether to get "R-Compound" track tires should I decide to track either/both my 2002 Boxster S and/or my FR-S. I will definately be autocrossing both, and plan to stick to "street" (>140 wear for PCA) tires for both of them.
It's been years since I've used anything other than RA-1's on track. I'd rather not go to super agressive negative camber to prevent chunking, and (I need to double check the rules) I probably am limited to stock range adjustment for PCA stock rules on the Boxster anyway. So, I'm wondering if RA-1's are significantly better (primarily in terms of life/consistency, but lap times as well) than the current crop of competitive street tires for track use. Thanks for your thoughts. |
01-29-2013, 08:35 PM | #2 |
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Honestly, the new crop of ultra-performance streeties that are coming out (new Star Spec, BFG Rival along w/ Bridgestone & Kuhmo following suit) are more than likely going to give you 95% of the RA-1 performance.
They should also allow more heat cycles before they give up. Best of both worlds & no tire-changing before/after events!
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01-30-2013, 03:00 PM | #3 | |
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01-30-2013, 03:10 PM | #4 |
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RS3 and the Dunlop ZII are the defacto street/track tire. What are your temperature/climate requirements?
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01-30-2013, 03:26 PM | #5 |
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The current crop of street tires and those being released in coming weeks are amazing dual purpose tires. The gap between r-comps and extreme performance summer tires is closing at a very quick rate.
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01-30-2013, 03:26 PM | #6 |
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unless you're in a spec series or have a specific-setup suspension (not for street) there is no reason to buy dedicated r-comps anymore
especially if you're gonna autocross because in autocross you're either on a street tire or you're on an r-comp, and if you're on an r-comp it better be a hoosier A6, and hoosier A6s are not for the track. so stick with the street tire, they have plenty of classes for them now.
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02-04-2013, 06:05 PM | #7 |
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So, do you guys run these "street" tires down until they have basically zero tread depth like you would with an RA-1? If so, I'm guessing you must still use multiple tires - one for rain, one for dry?
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02-04-2013, 06:18 PM | #8 | |
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If it rains, oh well. Go out and have fun. You aren't going to be setting any new track records in the wet anyways, but you'll learn a lot about your cars handling dynamics and car control. At an HPDE event, you shouldn't focus on times much anyways, sure the tires may heat cycle and not be *as* fast as they were before, but if they are still gripping, it really doesn't matter in that setting. |
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02-04-2013, 09:32 PM | #9 |
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And that leads to my concern about the useful life of a street tire. My RA-1's are hitting their sweet spot (in the dry) when they get to the wear bars. Plenty of good days are left between hitting the wear bars and hitting cords.
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02-06-2013, 12:55 AM | #10 |
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RA1s are good to the cords. Street tires will heat cycle out. RS3s would be a great dual purpose tire. Just need a codriver for Autox.
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02-06-2013, 02:49 AM | #11 |
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We buy the RA1's shaved down to 4/32's, only because TireRack refuses to shave them to 2/32's. :P
Buy yeah, get those damn tread blocks OFF OF THERE!... well, that is, if you want to go fast... on a dry surface. And yes the RA1's are good till the cord and sometimes after that! In the vein of things overheard at the race track: "RA1's are just like other things in life we like a lot... they're better when shaved." And to think, my car only has 4 wheels! Edit: I just realized I didn't contribute any value so I wanted to add this. Get one of the new agressive street tires hitting the market like the new Star Spec. They are supposed to be a very good tire and provide grip without needing to be 180+ degrees F to stick. The RA1 is like any other R-comp RR tire... it's garbage till it's hot.
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