Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18

Thread: Tires, not only a CMC issue

  1. #1
    Senior Member Carroll Shelby
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Arlington, TX
    Posts
    1,017

    Tires, not only a CMC issue

    Lots of this sounds familiar.....


    Driving back from Mid Ohio and thinking about tires and the amount of tires needed and i am going through to compete and it really got me thinking..
    Mid Ohio has typically been a 3-10 session tire track, not so this weekend. Most of the front runners went through at least 1 set of stickers. I used two. Heading to the Sprints, hoping to use two, but likely will be three sets. This is out of control.. It is also discouraging to those that don't want to buy tires ( none of want to buy tires btw)

    Here is what I sent in to the smac.. Feel free to comment. FWIW, we are under contract with Hoosier and while I hope the SM8 is a great tire.. Limiting the number of tires is not the same or really even related to getting a longer lasting tire. We need both! But first we start limiting the amount we are permitted to use.

    Jim


    Tire costs and management

    Tire costs and the required budgets are hurting our class and it is eventually going to contribute to its’ demise. Tires are by far the most expensive part of racing in general and that should not be the case in a spec class. Tire wars are senseless and counter spec class philosophy, yet we see it in SM at EVERY Super Tour race, most majors and even some regionals. My average tire cost at this point is $235 per each session on track.. That is insane! The current SM7 tires are raceable three sessions, maybe four. After that, they are practice tires. Even at Mid Ohio, the last of the “Old Tire” tracks.. the top guys almost all went through two sets of stickers. I did for sure.
    We have tried for years to find the magical tire that doesn’t need to be shaved and lasts 15-20 raceable sessions, it doesn’t exist. 200 treadwear tires are basically a myth and trying to reinvent the wheel with a brand-new tire likely will be expensive and not likely work, in the end we will find ways around it and to make them better and end up where we are now anyway. You need to save the class from itself! We need to limit the number of tires used per event.
    I think I have a very good plan that I am sure you guys can start with, tweak and make even better. It would likely cut my annual tire budget by 50-60% as I go through a minimum of two sets of stickers per Super Tour and Three at the Sprints. It will level the playing field as now guys can show up and know they are competing on the same level regarding tires or at worse only losing to a guy buying only one set of tires, not three.

    Here is what I am proposing…

    When you register for each race and you get your tech sheet. You will also be handed a sheet that has 6 tamper proof stickers on it. That sheet will have four individual stickers approximately 1.5x 1.5 in and two stickers approx. 4x6 in. The small stickers will go on each tire. The bigger stickers on the doors like a runoff’s stickers. Each sticker will be serialized and tamper proof. The door stickers and your tire sticker numbers will match. These can even be bar coded if you felt it would be easier, but don’t really see the need.

    You will be required to run these four tires for the entire weekend for any qualifying or race sessions. You can run unmarked tires for practice if you like.

    You will not be required to buy 4 new tires.. When you get to the track, you decide what four tires you want to run in the timed sessions. You can run four new, 4 used or any combination you like. But once you chose the tires, they are your tires for the weekend.

    The tires now become a techable part of the car.. no different than a restrictor plate. If you are teched post qualifying or race, the stickers on the tires and the doors must match. If you try and run someone else’s tires, tamper with the sticker etc. you are disqualified for the weekend, times disallowed or whatever the appropriate penalty should be. What if someone puts a new set of stickers on and they don’t get pulled in to get teched? Well, what if someone pulled their plate and didn’t get teched? It’s the same thing. I believe most will be happy to comply and want to be on a level field and save some money and only sticker up for an advantage or not to be at a disadvantage.

    Obviously wet tires can be used any time and no need for a sticker or marking program their imo.

    There are no legitimate objections to this plan, it accomplishes the main goals and will be VERY easy to implement and will take very little to no additional man power. Start in Super Tours and majors only.
    We can run the Sm7 or SM8 , no need to change tires.
    We don’t need more than one set per weekend regardless of opinions. That’s only 4 sessions at most
    It does not force you to buy new, addresses budget conscience or those thinking older tires are the right tire for a specific track.
    If you are on some management plan where want to work in old and new or two sets, well I’m sorry. Think about what is best for the class, not your personal program. We need to address the majority, not the minority at the front or at the back. This is best for most of the class.
    Man power, this is basically a zero-man power solution, zero logistic solution.
    Tech is already looking at things and always looking for one more thing to look for, now they have one.



    Addressing Flat spots, Punctures, cuts, wreck damage…
    You can replace 1 tire at any time if you have any issues with the tires at all, no questions asked. It MUST be replaced with a USED tire. No penalty applied.
    If you have to replace 2 or more tires FOR ANY REASON, you can change up to all four( again only with used tires), but you will be starting the next session from the rear of the field, no exceptions. If it is race one, you can use that time to qualify for race two. It should not be a compounding penalty IMO. But should and must discourage competitors from changing tires unless necessary.

    I realize the testing is ongoing on the SM8.. This plan while is about tires, it is completely different issue than SM7 vs SM8. If the SM8 is a success, that is great. But we still need to implement this program and limit the number of tires we are using. If the Sm8 is an improvement, then perhaps we can get back to running the same set for two or three weekends. You can simply put new stickers on the same tire for each event. This system still works and is desperately needed. This will help the class tremendously!


    Thanks
    Jim Drago
    Tyler Gardner
    CMC #13 2015-2017
    SM #013 2018
    www.dfwmustangs.net

  2. #2
    Senior Member Carroll Shelby ShadowBolt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Georgetown, TEXAS
    Posts
    4,268
    Blog Entries
    2
    Thanks for that Tyler.


    JJ

  3. #3
    Senior Member Rookie chris-CMC#35's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    240
    The idea of that coming from Drago is, well, bizarre, seeing as how Jim is one of the guys who started - and continues to fuel - the engine war, the suspension war, etc.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Carroll Shelby RichardP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Friendswood, TX
    Posts
    1,198
    Quote Originally Posted by chris-CMC#35 View Post
    The idea of that coming from Drago is, well, bizarre, seeing as how Jim is one of the guys who started - and continues to fuel - the engine war, the suspension war, etc.
    Yeah, who would have thought racers would be competitive people who do anything within the rules to win...


    Richard P.

  5. #5
    Junior Member Rookie
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Eureka, Il
    Posts
    29
    His statement here makes no sense to me......"Tires are by far the most expensive part of racing in general and that should not be the case in a spec class"
    Freshness of Tires are one of the few things you CAN control in a spec class. In my opinion it is the exact opposite of his line of thinking. A spec class only amplifies the need for the best tires to be on the car.
    Bob Denton
    CMC #67
    Great Lakes Region

  6. #6
    Senior Member Carroll Shelby
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    College Station, TX
    Posts
    4,578
    Having worked grid at Nationals in 2018 I can tell you that about 40% of the SM field came to grid with sticker tires EVERY session. It was INSANE considering they had to purchase those tires from the on site vendor as the control tire for the event. Those yahoos were looking for any and every advantage they could find to get track position prior to the green flag.
    Ah, fugg it.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Carroll Shelby RichardP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Friendswood, TX
    Posts
    1,198
    Quote Originally Posted by Den34 View Post
    His statement here makes no sense to me......"Tires are by far the most expensive part of racing in general and that should not be the case in a spec class"
    Freshness of Tires are one of the few things you CAN control in a spec class. In my opinion it is the exact opposite of his line of thinking. A spec class only amplifies the need for the best tires to be on the car.

    I'm confused with your confusion since you are basically agreeing with him? The basic premise of a spec class is that all the cars are equal and that you can't spend your way to a performance advantage. Yet the freshness of the tires has given us a situation where those who are willing to spend absurd amounts on tires do have a small performance advantage. If you don't have the best tires on the car, you are at a disadvantage in a spec class where everything is supposed to be equal.

    The rule he is proposing is trying to force everyone to be on equal tires for the whole event without buying new tires for every session.

    Richard P

  8. #8
    Senior Member Carroll Shelby
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Plano
    Posts
    1,983
    Blog Entries
    2
    Good info Tyler. Here is the link to the thread and the poll they have going on.

    https://mazdaracers.com/topic/7178-tire-management/
    Bryan Leinart
    CMC #24

  9. #9
    Senior Member Carroll Shelby Supercharged111's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Colorado Springs, CO
    Posts
    1,149
    Lou Gigliotti decided to import Nankang tires. Here's a 200TW 255/40/17 for $159.

    https://g2perf.com/products/nankang-...20037138088033

    There's a 100TW version as well.
    RM CMC Director

  10. #10
    Senior Member Carroll Shelby
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    College Station, TX
    Posts
    4,578
    Quote Originally Posted by Supercharged111 View Post
    Lou Gigliotti decided to import Nankang tires. Here's a 200TW 255/40/17 for $159.

    https://g2perf.com/products/nankang-...20037138088033

    There's a 100TW version as well.
    PHils is now a distributor too... website ready and tires in stock. Also has a semi slick.
    Ah, fugg it.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •