1. Effective 1/1/2013, after consideration of the member input the SEB has amended the specifications for the Road Tire
supplemental classes such that the minimum treadwear rating is 180, (7918,7945, 7953, 7986, 7995, 8004, 8014, 8020,
8026, 8030, 8032, 8051, 8083, 8100, 8115, 8214, 8283). The SEB believes that a higher treadwear rating for RT than for
ST is consistent with the differences in levels of preparation.
Not a happy camper. Anyone wanna buy a brand new pair of Kook's? I honestly don't see how this can do anything but hurt a brand new, and successful (at least in these parts), class.
"Stock" cars are allowed to run the best autocross tires available (that being Hoosier A-6's) ... whereas RTR cars must not be allowed to run the best road tires available. Dumb. "It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first." President Ronald Reagan
"stock" cars are only allowed to run DOT legal tires. Period. Then the tire companies started making DOT legal tires that got better performance and were stickier and met the DOT requirements. Then the SCCA created "street tire" classes to appease the people that wanted to 'run what they brung". Then the tire companies created tires that got better performance and were stickier that met the 140 treadwear rule. Then the SCCA created "road tire" classes to appease the people who want to "run what they brung".............
Not all vehicles that compete in the RT classes have 140 treadwear tires available in their necessary sizes. I think that this is good for the class and the structure of it moving forward.
You live and you learn. Ray Jason 2011 - 2013 DRSCCA SOLO DIRECTOR 2013 Great Lakes Division SOLO STEWARD
Kind of surprised to see this, but there are still tires that are arguably as good as the 140 ringers. You still have the RE-11, Star Specs, etc.
Car and Driver's article on tires showed the Michelin PSS and Yoko AD08 to be the fastest in the dry....Faster that Toyo and Hankook. #91 GS, 2005 SRT-4 ACR
As Alex has mentioned in the past, the problem is just using an almost entirely arbitrary treadwear rating to define tire classes. There is no reason hankook couldn't, by next year, up their treadwear rating to 180 as long as it qualified (I cant imagine it didn't). Unfortunately, there really isnt anything "required" of tire manufacturers to give a detailed definition of the product they supply. It's semi-arbitrary numbers based on a weird system and a bunch of classifying descriptions based on the market they want to attract.
Maybe we should just stop playing the contingency games and invite tire manufacturers to compete over one or two "spec tire" positions for each class :-D Tim Moyer
TimMR2 wrote ... As Alex has mentioned in the past, the problem is just using an almost entirely arbitrary treadwear rating to define tire classes. There is no reason hankook couldn't, by next year, up their treadwear rating to 180 as long as it qualified (I cant imagine it didn't). Unfortunately, there really isnt anything "required" of tire manufacturers to give a detailed definition of the product they supply. It's semi-arbitrary numbers based on a weird system and a bunch of classifying descriptions based on the market they want to attract.
e.g. Hoosier A-6's and R-6's that both have the same 40 UTQG treadwear rating.
Jim "It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first." President Ronald Reagan
I will say I'm glad to see the SEB putting more effort into the RT classes. Hopefully that's a sign that they will stick around.
However, I think this was a bad move. Choice is good, in sizes, pricing, and brand. Barring the magic Toyo, neither the soon to be outlawed RS-3 or other Toyos really carried a higher price or performance advantage.
The 370z I drive on occasion came with 140 treadwear tires OEM, (Bridgestone RE050A) as did I'm sure a lot of sports cars. Won't be able to drive that anymore in RTR. Nice, thanks.
One of those 17 letters to the SEB was mine against this change. I'm thinking majority of the latters for it were from the ST and STS people who just wanted to kill the 205 Toyo - which will remain legal in street touring. 84 Carrera - strcarrera.blogspot.com 04 Mini SMF
Matt Luckow wrote ... I will say I'm glad to see the SEB putting more effort into the RT classes. Hopefully that's a sign that they will stick around. However, I think this was a bad move. Choice is good, in sizes, pricing, and brand. Barring the magic Toyo, neither the soon to be outlawed RS-3 or other Toyos really carried a higher price or performance advantage. The 370z I drive on occasion came with 140 treadwear tires OEM, (Bridgestone RE050A) as did I'm sure a lot of sports cars. Won't be able to drive that anymore in RTR. Nice, thanks. One of those 17 letters to the SEB was mine against this change. I'm thinking majority of the latters for it were from the ST and STS people who just wanted to kill the 205 Toyo - which will remain legal in street touring.
It's the 195 Toyo btw. If that was banned what would stop Toyo from using that compound/construction on another size?
IMO you ban a complete tire, not just specific sizes.
'95 Dodge Neon Sport - FSP #99 '09 Chevrolet Cobalt SS - DS #184
2011 Great Lakes Divisional Champion - DS 2011 Great Lakes Solo Series Champion - DS
