Rookie Tires

[Ggerg1186]

I have been around motorsports a long time, mostly off road dirtbikes and dune buggies. Well, I finally found a way to get into the SCCA scene and I am curious as to what tires I should run for drivers school and my rookie season.

First off, I will be racing almost exclusively at Waterford Hills. I plan to take drivers school in April, and hope to compete in all the races. I bought an IT7 (ITA) Mazda RX-7 from Rich Miller. I personally saw the car win races during the 2005 season, and I am pretty confident the car is ready to go. With one exception:

I have three well used but useable Hoosier 225/50-13 tires and three well used but useable Kumho 215/50-13 tires. FWIW I have a set of panasports, steels, and stock rims. I know I will need another set of tires before the second or third race weekend.

So what should I do? Should I buy a set of brand new 215/50-13 Sumitomo HTR 200 and run them for drivers school? Should I run the old hoosiers and kumhos out of tread first? Should I buy a set of 205/60-13 Hoosiers (which are significantly cheaper than 215/50's) and run those for my first season? I guess the question I am asking is, should a rookie run full on race tires like the 215/50 hoosiers?

What do you recommend?

[Ggerg1186]

Another option: buy these used Yokohama Advans: $200 shipped to my door.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/205x60x13YokoTires001.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/205x60x13YokoTires002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/205x60x13YokoTires003.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/205x60x13YokoTires004.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/205x60x13YokoTires006.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/205x60x13YokoTires007.jpg

[dave parker]

The Hoosier is a great tire. Very sticky and fast but not a long life tire. For a rookie driver I would recommend the toyo proxy RA1. Predictable, durable and a great tire to learn the basics of piloting a racecar on.

I use the 205/60R13 Toyo on my own racecars.

cheers
"dangerous" dave parker

[gran racing]

Buy another Kumho tire and get through the school. (I used very old spec racer ford tires at my school.) Just make sure you have enough tire to make it through the entire school! It will be easier for you to transition from these tires to the more sticky tires.

[racer_tim]

Talk to any Spec Racer Ford driver. The rear's are the Advan 205-60-13 and I get them for free as take-offs and run them on my Street Rabbit

[64oeg]

Greg, drop me a line at eprodgeo-at-yahoo-com. We can talk tires-WHRRI-IT7-Drivers school, etc.

Were you aware that Wentzel's IT7 used to be mine?

George

[jake7140]

Talk to any Spec Racer Ford driver. The rear's are the Advan 205-60-13 and I get them for free as take-offs and run them on my Street Rabbit
[/b]

So how do you find these guys in MY area? Is there a Spec Racer board?

[gran racing]

At the next National or Regional event, see if people have any used tire piles while walking around.

Another great source is to visit the tire vendors after the practice and qualifying sessions. You might be surprised at what you might find. And you're doing the tire vendor a favor by them now not having to lug the tires back to their shop, then pay to get rid of them.

[CDS]

Talk to any Spec Racer Ford driver. The rear's are the Advan 205-60-13 and I get them for free as take-offs and run them on my Street Rabbit
[/b]
I bought 2 sets of these dirt cheap from a SRF guy and I plan to run them at the St. Louis double school in March. The previous owner of my car (ITC CRX) ran 225/50-13 Hooisers, but I think I am going to go with Kumhos for my next couple of sets.