Da Groj

Couldn't you just do it by tire manufacture date? They must be 2013 or older...or whatever we go with. At that point, they probably ARE 200 treadwear equivalent.

What I'm hearing from enough people (experienced people who have been around long enough to know) to make it a viable consideration is:

200 TW doesn't matter. 140 TW doesn't matter. Just go with a simple exclusion list of the known "Race Tires" or any true "ringer" tire that comes up.

It is certainly the simplest and novice-friendliest solution.

Loren wrote:What I'm hearing from enough people (experienced people who have been around long enough to know) to make it a viable consideration is:

200 TW doesn't matter. 140 TW doesn't matter. Just go with a simple exclusion list of the known "Race Tires" or any true "ringer" tire that comes up.

It is certainly the simplest and novice-friendliest solution.

Agreed!

Loren wrote: 200 TW doesn't matter. 140 TW doesn't matter. Just go with a simple exclusion list of the known "Race Tires" or any true "ringer" tire that comes up.[/i]

Just curious what a DOT "ringer tire" would be ?

You just never know what the tire companies are going to come up with.

Most of what we consider "race tires" are actually DOT approved "competition tires". The line between those and "maximum performance summer tires" gets blurrier every year.

But, I would consider a "ringer" to be that one tire that's not technically a "competition tire", but is far and away better than anything else, AND is very expensive, AND is only available in limited sizes.

Loren wrote:You just never know what the tire companies are going to come up with.

Most of what we consider "race tires" are actually DOT approved "competition tires".

And back in the dinosaur days of R-compound tires -- the early '80s -- most of them weren't marketed as competition tires. They were just stickier street tires, and those early ones weren't any better than "summer ultra high performance" tires are now...people routinely drove around on them. And then came the tire wars, and ringer tires.... Sort of unbelievable now, but pretty fierce then, and influenced the sport for the next 25 years.

Jamie wrote: And back in the dinosaur days of R-compound tires -- the early '80s -- most of them weren't marketed as competition tires. They were just stickier street tires, and those early ones weren't any better than "summer ultra high performance" tires are now...people routinely drove around on them. And then came the tire wars, and ringer tires.... Sort of unbelievable now, but pretty fierce then, and influenced the sport for the next 25 years.

Were the early 80's R-compound DOT approved or did the DOT rating on them even exist ? Not a smart ass question because I was driving in the 80's, I'm just wondering.

I remember in 1984 the BF Goodrich Radial TA's were coming out and I believe they were rated something like 220 AA. On a heavy muscle car they didn't do to well, but were still miles ahead of the G70 bias ply that were available back then. Even at 17 years old I could tell a huge difference between a radial tire and a bias ply tire.

The infamous "tire wars" were a bit before my time, but this is an interesting read:
http://farnorthracing.com/street_tire_faq/

Steve and I have discussed and made an executive decision.

Everyone (including us) seems to be in favor of just doing an exclusion list to keep all the DOT "competition" tires out, but allow any other street tire. And we'd be willing to do that if we had to, but it requires maintenance. We'd have to create and maintain that exclusion list.

Given our group concensus... it seems to make just as much sense to simply NOT change our existing rule. Leave the Treadwear Limit at 140 and we should be good unless someone comes out with a DOT competition tire with a 140 rating. So, that's what we're doing. This change has been revoked! The FAST Street Tire Treadwear Limit will remain at 140.

YAY

So does that mean the toyo r1r is gonna stay Street tire friendly?

Yup.
Unless Toyo lowers treadwear rating. And how likely is that?!?

It's not they already have like 3 competition tires with lower tread wear.

Loren wrote:After some discussion, it was decided to NOT do this! The FAST Treadwear limit will stay at 140.

Yippie !

Loren wrote:The infamous "tire wars" were a bit before my time, but this is an interesting read:
http://farnorthracing.com/street_tire_faq/

Excellent read.

Loren wrote:Steve and I have discussed and made an executive decision.
The FAST Street Tire Treadwear Limit will remain at 140.

Some performance cars really do need grippier tires to handle well at the limit. If and when I get a set of wider Z06 wheels (or matched dia. aftermarkets) I'm seriously thinking of getting -100 rated tires and running in R since I live so close to the Airport and have other cars to drive on the street back and forth to WinDixie.

twistedwankel wrote:

Loren wrote:Steve and I have discussed and made an executive decision.
The FAST Street Tire Treadwear Limit will remain at 140.

Some performance cars really do need grippier tires to handle well at the limit. If and when I get a set of wider Z06 wheels (or matched dia. aftermarkets) I'm seriously thinking of getting -100 rated tires and running in R since I live so close to the Airport and have other cars to drive on the street back and forth to WinDixie.

I've been on the hunt for the wider Z06 setup too...let me know what you find out/end up doing. Now I need to either find a street tire that works or switch to a dedicated track setup...