Real "race" tires vrs. "DOT" race/auto-x tires?? Options

[Mueller]

as copied from the GGR rules book:

Tires:

i. Street tires: Any street tire/wheel combination may be used. Tires   must be DOT approved.

ii. Race Tires: Race tires may be used, but may not be mounted on wheels wider than seven (7) inches or one inch wider than stock, whichever is greater. This leaves open the possibility of cars being competitive on very large street tires.

given the choice, what would be better and more cost effective??

wide street tire/wheel
or
7" wide rim with race tire

are there DOT tires "close" to being a race tire???

[Demick]

It's really not any safer (a well run autox is a very safe environment regardless). But I do think you will learn faster. With street tires you will reach the limits of the car sooner. They will also provide better feedback in many ways. They 'let go' fairly gently (competition tires tend to let go pretty abruptly) so it is easier to drive a car at it's limits with street tires than it is with competition tires (I disagree with JP on this point). This allows you to learn how the car behaves at it's limits. In my opinion, it's also helpful in setting up the car. Oversteer and understeer are likely to be more pronounced with the street tires.

Besides, it's really fun (although not fast) to go slipping and sliding around the course. Carrying a controlled power-on 4 wheel drift for 100 feet or more is REALLY fun - and something you are only likely to do on street tires.

Demick