I'll be running the RE71-Rs for HPDE/Autocross/DD, but I'm budgeting to swap on new tires before the end of the year, if that gives you an idea of the life expectancy I'm predicting :)

Absolutely. I should have clarified. I'm running 71Rs:thumbsup:

Good to know. Thanks!

Thanks for the response. Frankly, I didn't notice the title said "Autocross" when I posted. Oops.

Your point is a good one. Will probably stick with RS3 this year. Also, if someone is driving HPDE competitively (a) I probably don't want to be on track with you and (b) why?

There's a few groups that rent out transponders log times and have a casual classing system where it's basically a time trial. Things like 86cup mean that a guy running it will easily be at a one or more second disadvantage if he's not on 71r and the competition is. Cheap thrills relative to a real race series.

There's no reason why you can't be on track with everyone going 10/10ths safely, I've seen children do it, it just takes training and swift justice to minimize mistakes and bad decisions.

If they are renting out transponders and classing cars so "it's basically a time trial" then it is not HPDE. Which is fine. Everyone knows what they are getting into. What I don't want, is someone that is going to treat HPDE as a time trial. One of the safety aspects of HPDE is predictability. That changes when competition is involved.

I'd argue that competitive events are more predictable and thus safer as participants usually go through a licensing process and the organizers have no problem bringing down the hammer on idiots. You're not going to see a guy jerk his car over to the right hand side to let you pass because half the drivers missed the morning meeting and the organizers don't care.

There's at least one HPDE group I won't go with because I felt more unsafe on their track than when I was racing with 5 year olds.

I agree with this. I feel more safe when I am out road racing than I do when I'm at a HPDE. Like strat61caster said, there usually are a few inexperienced drivers in a HPDE session that are unpredictable and are more dangerous than racing wheel to wheel with someone who consistently takes the same predictable line every corner.

I think what we can both agree on is that the quality of the group you run with--whether HPDE or wheel to wheel--is a good indicator of how safe the event will be.

There are many groups--some I enjoy running with--that do not do competitive events that are also not HPDE. These are open track days. A very different animal.

Basically in the same boat as this guy (except I'll be running 245's). But, I'll be much less competitive. I can get Bridgestones (Either the RE-11A or RE71R for significantly cheaper than anything else). Would also like a tire that could last me a similar amount of time.

Don't want a tire that's going to give me that extra second, if it's only going to last me one summer.

But you drive less than me bruh

Put almost 20k on this past year (well, 13 months)

Anyone seen the Maxxis VR-1's in stock yet?

Are you on RRAX? There is a member there, JTilus, who works for Maxxis and has been involved with the VR-1. He mentioned on 2/15 the first shipment was due into port within a few days so they should be in retailers very soon, I haven't seen any in stock anywhere yet though.

I believe some well known autocrossers already have some for testing.

I know there are some physically in the US, I have seen some pics from a friend who is a Sale Rep for Maxxis.





**Looks like my friend is the same person mentioned in the above post.