Is this tire OK?
 

I'm new to R-Compound tires. This set of Kumho Ecsta V700s came with my new-to-me car. I believe they have only been used on the track once or twice. 3/4 tires look perfect but the left rear has a lot of wear on the inner portion of the tread. It is on an entirely different layer for the inch and a half or so of inner most tread. Is this normal? Is it something i should be concerned about? I'm planning on mounting them up today for willow this weekend. Here is a picture...

http://imageshack.us/files/kumho%20rear.jpg

Normal? No. How big is the step down in the rubber? The Ecsta V700's can delaminate if they weren't heat cyclced prior to track use; I had this happen on one of mine. However, mine was very severe, and yours is much less so. I would drive on those tires, but keep an eye on them. My unprofessional opinion is that they're ok, but you'll want to watch to make sure they don't delam further.

You have a ton of tread left on those tires by the way - Looks like 1 or 2 track days are on them to me. They don't come with much more tread that that.

Good luck with the new car, btw!

the step down isn't that big, it is just a noticably different surface. Because there is so much tread left i figure it's fine, just wanted another opinion.

Oh yeah i'm not worried about wearing them out cuz i really want a set of 710s, but i was hoping to drive on them to the track and back and really don't want to get stuck out in the desert.

-Steve

What step down? It looks like gum stuck to the surface to me. That tire looks practically brand new. If you can't see cording they are ready to go.

cool that's what i thought. THANKS!

That's exactly what I thought. I'd drive the tire around town, spinning/sliding them some to help break the accumulated gunk off and THEN look at them carefully.

world's biggest tire turd

:rofl: