[V8] Re: Cheap tires/ F1 debacle

[Coleman, David]

I was begnning to modify my take on michelin and the F1 mess. They screwed up beyond comprehension, for sure. But their contribution to the mess ended there. Things really came off the tracks when the people who won't starve if F1 doesn't reach the status in the US that it has in other parts of the world started making decisions. While Michelin is pointing fingers along with everyone else, they face serious trouble if US support of their product drops off even a few percent.  So they at least admitted a mistake and s'far as I know are paying out big time to at least try to help compensate the fans. And this is the last year for their head of competition guy anyway. 

That said, I'm totally with you in supporting tire companies that support grass roots (real) racing. Toyo is the most recent example of a company entering the mainstream thru scca-type involvement. Hankook and Kumho both deliver a solid product on the racetrack, but I won my championship on Goodyears, so if money's no object for a street tire, that's where I go. But it is an object, and 2/10ths doesn't mean squat on my daily commute (plus Goodyear is only there offering DOT race tires for the same reason coca-cola advertises).

So I'm still torn between the Kumho and Hankook for my next street tire (though does Hankook have an ultra hi-po summer tire?). If they suck, oh well. I gotta believe they're at least good enough to not come apart around my own Turn 13, aka my favorite freeway ramp...

DaveC. 
91 V8 5 speed
- on used up Contis, ready to try something else

--------------------------
David A. Coleman
BlackRock
Sent via BlackBerry Wireless


THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE AND ANY ATTACHMENT MAY BE PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED FROM DISCLOSURE. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or use of this message and any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and permanently delete it from your computer and destroy any printout thereof.