i've been following the recent threads re; dunlop SSRs and picked up a set since they are so cheap right now. i bought them one, for the price, and two, since they were cheap and i wouldn't feel guilty about driving them to the track events (up to 3 hour drives). haven't used them on the track yet so i was wondering how many track days do they last?

which leads to another question. assuming that they will last 10 sessions and i won't be doing more than 10 this year, will the tires last a year in my garage and not deteriorate to a point where they become unsafe? am i just over-reacting?

(sorry for the newbie question)

 

What do you mean by sessions?

You will be ok if each session is a 20 minute session on the track. You will need another set or two if each session is a two days event.

I bought my set last September and have 1 three days, and 2 two days events on them plus winter driving (yes I used those tires in the cold but not in the snow).

I still have thread left. The only problem I can see is that -1.4 front camber (my current setup) is not enough. The outside shoulder in the fronts are going to see cords way before I run out of thread.

 

I ran 7 heat cycles over a weekend. They look like they will go 4 weekends or more additional (at a minimum). I am running -3.0 front and -2.5 rear (camber). My 968 is hard on the outsides of the fronts so I will have to keep an eye there. So far I am pretty happy with their performance. Te only real issue is there are not 285's and 245's available.

Mike

 

Make sure you heat cycle them. Mine lasted only 3 days DE without heat cycling. Down to the cord on the left rear. Last set lasted 4 weekends or 8 days of DE with heat cycling.

Tires do not dry-rot in a garage. Just keep away from sunlight, on their side, with nothing on top.

Where'd you get them? Tire Rack is currently out of C2 sizes.

 

do you heat cycle them yourself or do you have tire rack do it? if you did it yourself, how?

good to know about the tires lasting in the garage and not rotting away. just wasn't sure so i thought i should ask.

tire rack still has 225/40, 235/40, 265/40 (all 18" sizes). i think i'll go for 235F and 265R. viken said the 265s were more like 275~285s so i can deal with that.

thx,

 

sorry, when i said sessions i meant events. that means i probably won't be doing more than 10 events. 50% of them 1 day events and the other half are 2 day events. i guess 5, 20 minute sessions per day?

so it looks like they'll last for 10 track days. i think i'll just have to get more.

thx

 

Carlos, if you want the 225s, I have a set and I'm not too far from you

 

DOH! i hit the "order now" button a few hours ago. well maybe i can cancel it since they're closed on the weekend (i think). do you have a set or just 2 225/40 - 18s?

 

Does anyone know if 245 & 285's will be available again? If not I guess I will be back to MPSC's or try RA1's.


Mike

 

The rumor is that SSR's are no longer being made. These are the last of the lot.

 

someone on this board mentioned that they were being discontinued. i guess that's why they are on sale.

 

There is coming a new model to replace them during 2006.

I have some experience of the SSR's and I would not compare them with an R-compound tire. Generally I think that they suck, just came home after a weekend at a track and everything was great except for the tires. They are consistant in their behaviour unlike a street tire but never grip as well as a good R-compound.

 

perfect, that's exactly what i was looking for. i'm not so much concerned about ultimate grip (yet) as i am for consistent behaviour. i also wanted a cheap tire so i wouldn't ruin my pricey street tires.

 

I have a set not yet mounted. My plan was to use them as a street tire with occational track use. I have rather worn Michelin Cup Sports that will need replacing soon on other rims. My concern is how long the Dunlops will last as a street tire. I paid the Tire Rack discount price for the Dunlops.

 

I think they will be perfect for that, my intetion as well. As long as you ok with them being good and not great at the tracks you'll be fine. On the street they seem to wear normally for a street tire. But I don't drive the car much if it's not to and from the track and put some extra pressure in it before the highway travel.

Basicly it feels like a street tire with stiff sidewalls and good rubber compound.