shekmark

I'm doing my first autocross on Sunday at NJ Meadowlands with PCA-SCCA. I am only doing the "fun" group. I have three tire choices. I am not competing so I know it does not really matter. It is supposed to be 50 and rainy. My winter tires. Pirelli Sottozeros are still on. I'm thinking of leaving them. Second choice, OEM Bridgestone Potenzas with half tread left. 3rd choice is brand new Michelin Pilot Sport 4s's on new rims sitting in my garage. Hat to F up a brand new tire, so I'm leaning toward the first two choices. Any thoughts? Will autocross mess up my winter tires?

PedalFaster

Take your snow tires off -- depending on your driving style and how abrasive the lot is, you could potentially destroy them in a single day of autocrossing.

50's not that cold -- I'd have no concerns about running the Michelins, personally.

sjfehr

Oh, you'll have fun!! And yeah, I'd run the MP4S, too. 50F is plenty warm enough, and they'll warm up as you drive them, too.

burglar

I've seen the MP4S in action in the cold and rain last year at Pittrace and it was impressive. I plan on running my BFGs in 45 and rainy on Sunday. Worst case you learn some car control, which is really the point, right?

sjfehr

I've ran RE-71R when there was literally ice in a slalom. Last year's first event was supposed to be raining, but ended up as snow, sleet, and hail. That was an interesting event. A guy that drove down from Boston on sticker RE-71Rs looking for an event that wasn't canceled ended up taking FTD, lol.

The NASA event at VIR two weeks ago was a mess with several inches of snow falling overnight. They asked the guys that had street tires like MP4S, VR1 and RS4 to drive the track and clear the slush off so the guys on r-comp slicks could run. I don't get why people are afraid to run Michelins when it's 50F out. That story of the defective batch of Corvette tires?


Every car in this photo was on track pretty soon thereafter, and not on snow tires.


And the first lap of the NASA Lightning race:

Scooby921

This is good to know as the RE71-R is what I'm likely to put on my car when my new wheels show up.

I'm waiting on my cheater wheels to show up before I buy tires and let you co-drive.

Mussl Kar

Only thing to think about with the M tires is that they are brand spanking new and have mold release on the outside. Tough to scrub that stuff off if it rains.

shekmark

Raucky