Track tire wear... decision to make, separate autoX and track tires. Options

[yarin]

I've got a fresh set of v710s that I got onsale waiting for a full autox season, usually 2 drivers per event, 7-8 runs each. However I do want to get a few DE days in as well. I've got a second set of wheels with really old BFG R1s that are the perfect candidate for fresh rubber. I plan on attending a 2 day event at pocono raceway in April, 2 drivers, 4 x 20 minutes sessions each driver. Do you guys think this DE will take significant life off my new 710s? I'm thinking about buying a 2nd set of R compounds, Avon Tech R-As. Still available on closeout for $119/ea from tirerack. Realistically I dont see myself doing more than 4 or 5 DE days this season.

WWYD? (what would you do?)

[Racer]

I vote for the Keep it Simple Silly approach. 1 dual purpose tire. I have shied away from the real sticky stuff and live with the compromise of having 1 type of tire that can be used on the street, in the rain and on the track or AX venue.

Last year I ran a Boxster. Ran RA-1s. Beat guys at AX who were on the "better" tires.

This year, I have the 914. Will run either RA1 or R888 because, well, they are the best compromise performance tire out there. Who wants to lug extra sets of wheels around.. spend 1hr in the heat/cold swapping stuff around. Set it and forget it.

Also, you don't mention the AX environment you run in.. PCA? SCCA? Some other club that pax's you? I say that only because, sadly, the days of a stock 914 getting FTD are long gone. Maybe a top 10.. maybe even a top 5 depending on the group, but even that is rare.

While V710s are great tires, imho, they are "thin" tires and I would be worried about tire failure, flats etc using them on the street or driving 1-2hours to a DE over crappy NJ/PA roads/expansion joints/construction zones.

The actual "highway" use of a tire is not hard at all compared to the abuses AX or DE put on the tire, fwiw.