Just remember that the tire manufacturer disavows all performance claims, including a top speed rating, for any tire that's damaged. If you happen to be the litigious type, you'll likely lose...

I'd autocross on a patched tire with no problem. Track time, however, would scare me, ummm, breathless...

 

I too have autocrossed on a patched Ecsta V700. But I would never take the risk on a track. I buy my V700's heat cycled from Tire Rack, and have had much success with them. In terms of grippiness, I believe the ranking is Yoko AO32, Kumho V700 (or Victoracer), Hoosier.

 

No way, the kumho is stickier than the A032R.

 

I couldn't understand the ranking, but thought that the order must be third to first, since Hoosier was listed last; so he might be saying Kumho is stickier than A032R. Or do you mean "No way (that)... the kumho is stickier than the A032R."

 

DOH! Sorry for the confusion! Indeed I meant to say that the Hoosiers are the grippiest of the lot, with the Kumhos in the middle and the AO32s at the bottom. I wasn't clear about the ranking.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mrsideways
[B]The Kumho's have alot more grip then the A032's.

 

Get a copy of Novembers "Grassroots Motorsports", great information on tires.

 

For an all round tire, i would go with the yokohamas. in contrast to what others may view these, i consider them to be the highest performance street tires (vs. ture competition tires).

aside from handling rain better than all the other comp tires, which you probably dont care too much about being in CA, they last long and drive well on the road.

at a recent track event in my 98 e36 m3, i was only one second slower than an instructor in an 01 e46 m3 that was running kuhmos, and i have no ego issues to think i am some hot shoe or anything like that. and these lap times where an average of three laps. i was also a full 5 seconds faster than my last time out there on michelin pilot sports (the street tires).

the best part is while this guy had to switch wheels after the day was done, all i had to do was lower the pressures a couple of psi and drive 500 miles home.

on the heavier e36 m3 (vs the s2000) i got 6500 street miles and 12 track days (avg. 120 track miles/day). i had the tires slide on me numerous times when i was trying too hard to catch whoever was in front of me, but they were very predictable and easy to recover from, practically like any good street tire was.

it is very possible that the new sport cup michelins have the same lifetime, and wet weather capability, but for the price difference, my preference stays with the yokohamas.

imho, the tires you buy is money you are burning away for fun. you will not learn any more by having any more grip, unless you plan on racing for real in the near future.

bassem

 

You certainly have a lighter touch than I.. I don't get 12 track days out of any tire, and I don't even use them on the street except for the drive to and from the track. I do think the 032's last a little longer than the Victoracers (I might get eight days over six) but I really think your experience is the exception. I would not use them as a street tire just because of all the noise they make.

 

that's pretty odd, i figured on the lighter s2000 you would have had better luck. the funny thing is that i was curtly informed by my more experienced peers that i should not run a pressure higher than 32psi on the A032s, and when i did, i went through my first set in less time than what i posted above. when i ran 36psi, the edges of the tires lasted much longer, and i had no issues with them overheating, and i managed to get as many miles as i did from them. mind you the last event was a little tricky since they became quite hard by that point.

i think a critical factor is that i run 235/40-17s all arouns, and i sometimes rotate the tires front to back halfway through the track day, depending on how coarse the surface of the track is. i think this helps with the lifetime quite a bit actually (based on my experience with the staggered size michelin pilot sports i used to run).

i should have inquired how far the track trip is for the original poster...for me i travel at least 240 miles to get to any track i want to get to! perhaps if your trip is less than 100 miles the kuhmos are still a viable and affrodable option.

and yes, the noise can be annoying. i learned to ignore it just fine though. but just my two cents.

bassem