[s-cars] what tires to get ?

[MLP-S580]

Oh yes, with a bit of sleep now, some additional clarity, I hope, of
thought.
  
The other part of the question, at least, and maybe even more important as
"What brand, and in what size?" is "should we consider having the set
shaved?"

By rules (see www.onelapofAmerica.com )the tires will be new, off TireRack's
shelves, streetable, UTQG minimum Tread Wear 140 rating, tires wearing
(depending on the tire) something between 10 to 11/32nds new rubber.  That's
a lot of rubber.

Bearing in mind the potential wet weather concerns, but vis-à-vis the
somewhat limited vs. extensive highway miles to be driven~ should we
consider asking for TireRack to shave the tires? If so, how much?  Down to @
5-6/32nds?

Thoughtful replies will be appreciated.    ..... I'm afraid that "technical"
questions dealing with shaving have been remarked upon as sending Baloney
and Krasusky in to tizzies and off on tangents, usually chasing Senor Pizzo,
but then I figure they'll pitch in any way  :-)

Cheers
mike     

-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list On Behalf Of MLP-S580

 Ok, so it was decided over a margarita at lunch, we'll be doing the One Lap
of America deal in May.  Tire rules provide:  1.  must be something sold by
TireRack (so they can mark them); 2.  Tires must have a minimum UTQG wear
rating of not less than 140; 3.  A team must get by on no more than six (6)
total tires.   The "track" events will take place at @ 8 venues, connected
by something like approximately 5,600 miles of driving

1.  	Wet skid pad "race" at TireRack's testing facility in ?? Indiana;
2   	1st track event at Autobahn Sports car track out side Chicago;
3	2nd event is, I believe a Mid-America Motorplex, @ 2.4-5 mile road
course, in Pacific Junction, Iowa just outside of the Council Bluffs/Omaha
area;
4	3rd Miller Motorsports track in Tooele, near Salt Lake City
5	Pueblo Motorsports track Pueblo, Colorado
6	Hallet Speedway in Oklahoma ~ a 2+ mile road course track
7	?? Reilly something ~ this stage I believe will include drags
8	Mid-Ohio Track, finally finishing at 
9	TireRack test facility, with, I think a final "dry" skid pad run.

Car:  will be a fairly light (by Audi Standards) 3,000# rear wheel drive
platform.  Not overpoweringly powerful either ~ maybe @ 170-180 SAE adjusted
bhp at the rear wheels.  OTOH, while not very impressive in the engine
compartment, the car can slow down & stop with the best of them.  In fact
better than most.   

The OEM tire as fitted by the factory were 225/45 x 18's on 8" rims.  

We have several sets of 18 x 8.5" rims available.  We'll run same size tires
front and rear.  In the past, the car has run:
Michelin Pilot Sport Cups in 265/40 x 18 Dunlop SSR in 255/40 and 265/35 x18

The car is said to be capable of running tires as big as 285/35x18's.  I
haven't run anything that big.  Frankly, I've never felt the car really has
enough power to make use of the bigger x-section tires.  

Anyways' before calling up TireRack to order our allotted 10 tires, I
thought I'd poll the list to see what, if anything you gurus think would be
a good choice of tire.  Remember, there's a lot of driving that has to be
done BETWEEN the scheduled track events; and in the past at least, we've
been told there's been a lot of events that are subject to rain etc.

Cheers
Mike 


-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list On Behalf Of LL - NY
Subject: Re: [s-cars] what tires to get ?

Same in NY (okay, lie, 58!)

On 3/22/07, Bill Noland <wenoland at pacbell.net> wrote:
>
>  I think temperatures in the mid-30's are scary in their own right. 
> That is one of the reasons I live here on the Left Coast.