Sanjeevan

I was told by a tire rack rep., who definitely sounded like a knowledgable salesperson, that R-compound tires like P-zero corsa are not street legal, I thought DOT approved means it is street legal, he claims almost everyone thinks that way, but apparantly DOT approved for track use only ??

Bill Gregory

R compound tires are very legal for road usage. Think about it, DOT approving tires for track use only? I can't imagine that scenerio.

Sanjeevan

I know... I thought the very definition of DOT approved means it is street legal, but this tire rep. from tire rack was arguing with me that it is not...I even told him I've personally spoke to SCCA racers who differ with him...the guy claims that almost everyone thinks that, but legally R-compounds cannot be used on streets. I thought I was losing my mind, just needed some independent verification that I was right, so Thanks.

Sam Lin

What he likely meant is that DOT R compounds may not have enough tread depth to be legal - legal minimum tread depths differ by state and it's often the officer's arbitrary call on whether to write you up.

Sam

Brian P

Agreed, I know people who took brand new R-compound tires to state inspection facilities only to have them be "failed" because the tires weren't street legal. When a cop is writing you up for a ticket, I doubt he cares whether those tires are DOT approved or not.

Sanjeevan

Yeah, he was saying something similar...like...these are not approved for the minimum required puncture resistance and thread depth for rain...man I am learning new things everyday.

M758

When it came to victoracers I'd joke that they were street legal new on the way to the track, but not legal on the way home.

Most DOT R tires are legal, but just barely. I would not be taking them to an inspection station.

DrJupeman

Brian, I've probably said this before, but what a great picture of your car in your avatar...

JCP911S

IMHO whether legal or not they are not really appropriate for street use anyway. Stiff short sidewalls really hammer potholes and bumps into the suspension... I have broken two swaybar downlinks due to this.

Also, they are trecherous in the rain, and in cold weather are very slippery. Theoretical discussion aside, I suspent the DOT rating is there more as a hard stop rule to prevent a tire war as much as anything.

Bill L Seifert

I'm sure Tire Rack told you that for legal reasons, just in case you are driving in the rain on the street, and kill yourself. I think the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, would be fine, expecially if you did not shave them. I would be real afraid of S04's in the rain. But, before I had a trailer, I drove on DOT race tires to and from tracks, including Mosport, from Tennessee, I was just careful in the rain. But I will admit that sometimes they were so thin, you could almost see the air through them.

DOT approved means Department of Transportation approved, and they are legal, but it may take a good lawyer in court, to convince a judge. In Tennessee if they hold the car off the ground, cops won't mess with you. But, anyway, if it says DOT on the side of the tire, they are approved for street.

Bill Seifert

1987 944S Race Car

DGaunt

If there is a DOT number on the tire, it is DOT approved. This means it has been tested and passed drum tests for load, high speed and puncture resistance. It also means it is in tolerance to fit TRA spec wheels.

Minimum legal tread depth everywhere (as far as I know) and certainly in Canada, is 2/32 across ALL cricumfrential grooves built into the tire. Wear bars ar distributed around the tires that show at this depth. Any tire with <2/32 is not leagal, so I guess you could have trouble on the way home from thetrack if you've ground off the outer groove. depneds on the Cop at that point.

Best of the Season!

mds

From the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup web page:

"Representing our pinnacle of handling performance, the Michelin® Pilot® Sport Cup is a competition-oriented, race-compound tire designed specifically for serious performance enthusiasts. Utilizing our extensive Formula One motorsports experience, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup features a racing-inspired tread compound optimized for on-track performance. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup delivers extreme cornering power, fast and consistent track times and is DOT (Department of Transportation)-approved for street use."

GrantG

For those who want to drive on the street with DOT R rubber, I recommend the Toyo RA-1 as the most streetable that I've tried.

dgz924s

I think it is the DOT standards are met but the manufacturer does not consider the tire for street use. When the maker says not for street use it is hard to argue with that so many shops will back the maker not the DOT. It is in the shops best interest to say they are not street legal.

DGaunt

Is that like "off Road Only" lights, carbs and other equipment? Legal, and reccomnended still have different definitions in my book. One is legislated, the other usually **** covering.