Help me choose track tires Options

[dheinz]

I need new track tires for this upcoming DE season. Over the last 2years (ten events), I ran 205/55 A034Rs all around on 16x7 Fuchs. My fenders are flared and will accomadate 225/50 on sevens in the front and 245/45 on nines for the rear. The car is well sorted and my driving skill level places me in our "A " category. I occasionally drive the car on the street.
The questions are:

1. What brand and why?

2. What vendor and why?

3. Heat cycled or shaved?

You thoughts and comments welcomed.

[VegasRacer]

1.) I was always happy with the Kumho Victoracers. They are a good value for the price. Hoosier slicks are only a little quicker and a lot more expensive. The Kumhos also do well on the street.

2.) I got mine directly from Kumho. I think Tire Rack will match the price if you get a quote.

3.) Heat Cycling will make them last longer. There is no improvement on shaved ones, they only wear out quicker.

[drew365]

I run 245/45/16 on 8 inch rims in the rear. I run both 205 and 225 on 7's in the front. I like the way the car sits with 205's, the 225's are nearly an inch taller and shifts the weight back. It's tough to find a good track tire that you can run on the street. I use Hoosiers on the track but never on the street, too much money to waste them. I hear good things about Toyo but have never used them.

[microsa]

Does anyone have experience with the 'new' Kuhmo V710? I need tires for D/SP car w/15" cookie cutters. My the car has rolled fenders, pulled out as far as we can but not flared. Should I stick with the 205/50/15 or 225/50/15, car is strictly for autocross.
Thanks

[Bruce Allert]

Eddie, what kind of flares are those? I like!! Kinda looks like they're off a Rabbit.

....b (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beer.gif)

[SirAndy]

QUOTE (dheinz @ Jan 9 2005, 07:02 PM)

1. What brand and why?

i *will* be running goodyear R250 s ....

i can't tell you how they will hold up yet, but i have heard a lot of good things about them ...

QUOTE

2. What vendor and why?

got them from a fellow board member (bill p.), so no vendor info ...

QUOTE

3. Heat cycled or shaved?

heatcycled yes, shaved no ...

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/driving.gif) Andy

[nebreitling]

QUOTE (microsa @ Jan 9 2005, 07:43 PM)

Does anyone have experience with the 'new' Kuhmo V710? I need tires for D/SP car w/15" cookie cutters. My the car has rolled fenders, pulled out as far as we can but not flared. Should I stick with the 205/50/15 or 225/50/15, car is strictly for autocross. Thanks

i've *heard* good things about the V710s from people who know more than i. certainly worth a try, grip is comparable to hoosiers, apparently (a bit less $). 225's if you can fit 'em, of course...

andy, those look fing awesome.

et al, i've heard that Vracers should be shaved for track use to avoid chunking.

[DJsRepS]

Those slicks look so sticky the pavment is stuck to them.

[microsa]

Did I see the price right on those Goodyear R250's , like $400.00 EACH! My car isn't worth that much! (Well, maybe, but damn that's over my pay grade.) Kuhmo here I come!

[dheinz]

Bruce, thanks. The previous owner advertized the car as having "steel flares, tastefully done". No specific brand or donor was ever mentioned.
Lots of room under those rear flares for 245/45/16s on 9in. Fuchs.

[seanery]

using the car the way you do, I would recommend you stay with the Yoko A032Rs that are on it.
The Falken's would be similar, but not quite as sticky - but a lot less $.

IMHO, those are the best "comporomise" tires.

[campbellcj]

I've used both the Kumho Victoracer V700 and Ecsta V700 for mixed street/track duty and they are a good value for that application; however, especially if unshaved they tend to get greasy and have rubber migration issues after 10-15 minutes of lapping. (AutoX would probably be a different story as the temps are much lower.) I have not seen chunking probs and think that's more likely with heavier or less balanced cars than our 914's.

Unless you want to keep several sets of wheels/tires, I'd avoid the V710 or Hoosier if you do ANY street driving. They are not suitable at all for street use.

I keep one set of Kumhos for the rare canyon run or also for "goofing around" track events i.e., DE's, and if budget permits I run Hoosiers for competitive events. Even in my 205 size the cost difference per set is over $200; for you it could be more like $350 I'm guessing.