This is my second year doing autox. I am being very indecisive on tires. My big debate is do I stick with some street tires like kumho xs or go with a slick like a v710.

my long term goal is simply to be a better driver. Will the street tires make me a better driver or say screw it and get some slicks. I'm running in SM with 17x11 all the way around. This is a spare set. No street driving will be done. Race only. . What's best?

Your thoughts?

 

why not go with the slicks ecspecially if you will just be using slicks in the future

 

Without a doubt, learning car control on street tires will make you a better driver in the long run. R-comps can cover up bad driving skills. With street tires, you have to learn brake control, apex location, max tire grip and opening the wheel control. All those are necessary with R-comps as well, but they cover up some of those if you make mistakes. As a bonus, street tires offer more life, and are typicaly cheaper. I've done both, and honestly, changing out wheels and tires for a tital of 5 minutes on a Sunday sucks. Even for track days now, I use street tires - the same ones I drove to the event on.

 

Smooth is fast - and learning smooth car control is better on street tires, in my opinion.

I guess the question to ask yourself - do you want to continue to learn (street tires) or be fast (R-comps)? FYI, I jumped to R-comps my 2nd year in SCCA and placed 1st in the novice class that year. The guy who placed 2nd is a better driver than me now.

The more you learn, the faster you will get. If you feel your skills are already good (a good indication is consistant placing with the cars you run against, and your lap times are consistant), perhaps you are ready for the jump to R-comps. If you are shaving 2-3 seconds on your last lap compared to your first, then I would say you are still learning.

 

That's kind of the argument I tell myself. In the long run I will be a better driver with street tires but the short term gain in an r comp is so hard to turn down.

My last event 5/6 runs were within .3 seconds of each other. With that being said, the times were consistent but where I was gaining/losing times were not. Where one lap I would do great in the slolemn I would push too hard on another.

I've even considered going with like a nt01. Good longevity, better than a street tire, but not as sticky as a hoosier/v710 because they probably won't get quite warm enough for max grip.

 

Something like a nt01, or something with a 140-200 treadwear might be a good compromise. Starspecs might be a good option as well (not sure if they are offered in your size, though) - we use these in the 24 hours of LeMons.

I guess a few questions to help you decide what to do include:
1.) Do you already have a 2nd set of wheels?
2.) Do you really want to buy R-comps? (FYI, I always got mine used, and never balanced them to keep it cheap).
3.) Do you want to spend the time swaping wheels/tires at the event? I quickly fell in love with just showing up, taking the floor mats out, and walking the course as many times as possbile as opposed to 'working' and missing out on walking time.
4.) Do you want to buy expensive street tires?

As for the V710s, they get plenty of heat in them even after just one pass. In fact, I would hose them off with a water sprayer after the 2nd run. Keep in mind, autocross tires (A6s/V710s) heat up quicker than road racing tires, such as the R6.

 

Yes I have 2 sets of wheels. I don't mind swapping tires at event and I figure its all expensive. $1200 for v710 and roughly $1000 for nt01 or kumho xs.

Star specs don't come in my size. I keep going back to the nt01 but no one has any feedback on how it handles in autox. If it helps I'm from Louisiana and most of our season is in 90-100 degree and on concrete.

Thanks for the help

 

I don't do ax, only rr so not sure how an nt01 would do in that venue. However it is what I use on the rr course and I'm very pleased with the grip and predictability. They are shorter then most other tires in the same given size so you gain some usable tq which may or may not be helpful.

And I would say if you have several sessions under your belt it's time to make the jump to R compounds. I can think of very few negatives if you have mastered the basics.

What 17x11 wheels are you running? Wieght?

 

The zr1s. Heavy as hell. Lol

 

That's what I run - you are correct - super heavy.

 

Not really...about 19lb apeice.

 

More like 21 lbs for the 9.5", 23-24 lbs for the 11". Add on tires and thats almost 45-50 pounds of rotating mass per corner. 180+lbs total. That's pretty significant if you ask me.

 

Lots of good info:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/wheels-ti...l-weights.html

For example:
52 lbs - AFS chrome 17x9.5 ZR1 wheel with new Dunlop SP8000 275/40/17 tire

 

Any other opinions on street tire vs slick?

 

Mine is painted...could be the difference. I just weighed them not long ago.

 

I run the nitto 05. It's a 200 treadwear. They can be run on the street, although I wouldn't recommend for a DD if you drive a lot.

I have them in 18", but they come in 17" sizes that fit.

Are you running 315/35/17?

BFG rivals are new...not sure if there is a 17" option.

I run against a guy in similarly modded camaro, but runs slicks on 17x11. He is typically 3-4 seconds faster than me in auto-x.

How many auto-x's have you competed in? Slicks probably wouldn't be a good idea for developing skills if you are still a novice/rookie (i still classify myself as rookie).

 

Yes 315/35/17. I've run 1 year, probably 10 events

 

Stay on street tires one more year, the XS's will be a good choice. Focus on consistantly putting all the elements together run after run, once you can do that event after event then make the jump. R comps hide a lot of bad habits, and bad habits eat up expensive tires quickly!

 

this is another good point.

 

My GM 17x9.5 Zr1 with a NT05 was 49lbs. Speedline Z06 was 47 lbs.

Street tire that's 200 and above tread wear will give you warning before it cuts loose an "R Comp" or slicks will not.

My tires for the first 4-5 events were $99 each Maxxis MA-V1's and they did very well. I also did the last years Hot Rod Power Tour autocross in Muskegon Mich and finished 11th out of 68 cars on the same tires.