Remaining Tire Wear on Kuhmo Victoracers
12-12-2002, 04:08 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Remaining Tire Wear on Kuhmo Victoracers
Anyone know how much rubber is left on the Victoracers after you wear through the tread? I use mine for autocrossing and have about 6 autocrosses and a practice day on them. The tread grooves are completely worn off on the outside half, which makes for excellent grip, but I was wondering how much is left before I hit the cord.
I'm going to flip them soon since the inner side still has some tread, but I want to avoid wearing them down to the cord.
Thanks,
Drew 92 C2
I'm going to flip them soon since the inner side still has some tread, but I want to avoid wearing them down to the cord.
Thanks,
Drew 92 C2
12-12-2002, 10:49 PM
#2
Instructor
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Drew:
That is a hard question to answer especially when you cannot see the tires.
A few things to consider. R compound tires are often worn out before they have no tread. What I mean by this is there are only so many heat cycles before the grip goes away. This is critical if you want to be as competitive as possible.
Do you properly heat cycle the tires before your first use?
Are your tires shaved or full tread (5/32)?
Do you use the tires on the street all of the time; do you swap the tires with your street tires and drive to your event (and how far?) or do you change your tires at the event?
How is your car setup, do you have an aggresive wheel alignment?
All of these factors will impact tire wear.
If you are strictly talking about 'cording' your tires that is another story. The tires can be remounted inside out to extend wear. Unless you have flat spoted your tires, 6 autocrosses should not wear out the tires.
You should also take careful notice of the tread wear indicators (the 'holes or dents') into the rubber. This will give you another indication of how much rubber is left before the carcass.
As the tires wear and you accumulate more heat cycles, the grip will go away.
I typically get at least a full season (12 events) plus 6 or more DE days on a set.
I have more than above on my current set with swapping the tires in to out. Have my times been affected...sure, but I am still leading my class.
I never drive the tires on the street except to a local event and I am very careful about my tire pressures and always heat cycle before my first use.
However, next year it might be time for some new rubber or can I squeeze out a few more events? Hmmm, something to think about over the winter.
marc <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
That is a hard question to answer especially when you cannot see the tires.
A few things to consider. R compound tires are often worn out before they have no tread. What I mean by this is there are only so many heat cycles before the grip goes away. This is critical if you want to be as competitive as possible.
Do you properly heat cycle the tires before your first use?
Are your tires shaved or full tread (5/32)?
Do you use the tires on the street all of the time; do you swap the tires with your street tires and drive to your event (and how far?) or do you change your tires at the event?
How is your car setup, do you have an aggresive wheel alignment?
All of these factors will impact tire wear.
If you are strictly talking about 'cording' your tires that is another story. The tires can be remounted inside out to extend wear. Unless you have flat spoted your tires, 6 autocrosses should not wear out the tires.
You should also take careful notice of the tread wear indicators (the 'holes or dents') into the rubber. This will give you another indication of how much rubber is left before the carcass.
As the tires wear and you accumulate more heat cycles, the grip will go away.
I typically get at least a full season (12 events) plus 6 or more DE days on a set.
I have more than above on my current set with swapping the tires in to out. Have my times been affected...sure, but I am still leading my class.
I never drive the tires on the street except to a local event and I am very careful about my tire pressures and always heat cycle before my first use.
However, next year it might be time for some new rubber or can I squeeze out a few more events? Hmmm, something to think about over the winter.
marc <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
12-12-2002, 11:08 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Hey Marc,
Thanks for the response. Overall tire life is obviously dependent on many factors, but I'm really just wondering about how much is left between wearing off the tread and cording. You mentioned "tread wear indicators (the 'holes or dents')." This sounds like something different than the tread bars that indicate the minimum street legal tread depth. How does one read or interpret these "holes or dents" as they relate to remaining tread?
My R compounds are on dedicated track rims, although I do drive them to the events. I've managed to wear the tread off the outer half of the front tires after 6 autocrosses b/c I double drive with my wife (so the equivalent of 12 events), and I've done one practice day on them, which was at least 20 runs.
I just hate to discard track tires that may have plenty of rubber on them. Once the tread is worn smooth, I'm not sure how much tread I wear off before I hit the cords. That's really what I'm trying to figure out.
Perhaps these dents are a possibility. Any further info? Thanks, Drew
Thanks for the response. Overall tire life is obviously dependent on many factors, but I'm really just wondering about how much is left between wearing off the tread and cording. You mentioned "tread wear indicators (the 'holes or dents')." This sounds like something different than the tread bars that indicate the minimum street legal tread depth. How does one read or interpret these "holes or dents" as they relate to remaining tread?
My R compounds are on dedicated track rims, although I do drive them to the events. I've managed to wear the tread off the outer half of the front tires after 6 autocrosses b/c I double drive with my wife (so the equivalent of 12 events), and I've done one practice day on them, which was at least 20 runs.
I just hate to discard track tires that may have plenty of rubber on them. Once the tread is worn smooth, I'm not sure how much tread I wear off before I hit the cords. That's really what I'm trying to figure out.
Perhaps these dents are a possibility. Any further info? Thanks, Drew
12-13-2002, 02:19 PM
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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Drew:
Once the 'dents' disapear there is very little rubber to the chord.
If you have lots of negative camber dialed in reversing the tires (inside out) on the rim will significantly increase longevity as long as you are willing to accept the loss of stick.
Carefull attention should be paid to 'worn tires'.
Autocrossing like this 'should' be okay. I would not want to take a chance of tire failure at speed at the track.
marc <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
Once the 'dents' disapear there is very little rubber to the chord.
If you have lots of negative camber dialed in reversing the tires (inside out) on the rim will significantly increase longevity as long as you are willing to accept the loss of stick.
Carefull attention should be paid to 'worn tires'.
Autocrossing like this 'should' be okay. I would not want to take a chance of tire failure at speed at the track.
marc <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
