Did anyone have trouble with left side tires?

[Weston]

I was just wondering if anyone else tore up a left side tire at this event... I'm trying to figure out if this is a common problem on this track and how to prevent it next time.

I shredded my left front tire pretty badly on Sunday, so much that the "tread" (it's a V710) was peeling up. I have reason to believe that my front alignment is off, so I was going to blame that, but I just found out that a friend in Group 1/2 did similar with his street tires (but to a lesser degree). It was his left rear... he's RWD and I'm FWD, so it seems to be the left side drive wheel, but it's hard to be 100% certain since we both rotated the tires after Saturday.

My suspicion is the rough surface in turn 10, but who knows. There's was also plenty of load on the left side in turn 1, but that turn is not so big on acceleration, so I don't know if that would be linked to the drive wheel. Any thoughts?

[JLMounce]

At first glance I didn't notice any large amount of wear on my tires. Definitely not the front left. I will check again on my rear left now that you mention this.

I don't think it saw any significant wear like you describe however.

[Snymo]

Pueblo is usually pretty hard on tires. The left front is the outside turning tire for most or the higher speed/longer corners. The track is pretty abrasive, so uneven wear and excessive wear on the left side is not uncommon. A lot of the racers will swap tires right to left or front to back between morning/afternoon or Sat/Sun.

Rick

[JLMounce]

just went out and checked my tires again. There is some visable wear on the outer edges of both the left side and right side. Overall I would say my tires didn't receive any more abuse than I figured they would. The left hand side does not look to be in any worse condition than righthand side.

[rlavende]

Weston, I ran SCCA TT's with you last year, and didn't get a chance to say hi over the weekend. I found PMI to be faster and had trouble completing braking before turning, which could be an issue for you. I learned that lesson after cording both my fronts at the last SCR open day! Another factor for the left tires is the extra 360 degrees of turning right on a CW track. At PMI, there are 7 rights and 3 lefts (I think).

Rich
Yella Z06

[MHISSTC]

With all of the suspension on my Cobra being stock, and therefore having a somewhat limited adjustability, at PPIR (run in a counter-clockwise direction), the right sides of my tires would wear faster than left along with passenger side tires wearing more than the drivers side. I would also wear the fronts more than the rear tires. At PMP (run in a clockwise direction), I found the opposite to be true...although to a lesser degree.

This can be countered to some by monitoring your tire wear and moving the tires around the car to even things out. Also, having a tire shop flip the tires on the rims can even out the wear and extend tire life.

I've never heard of a problem running directional treads in any direction iun the dry. However, when it's wet, directional tread needs to go in the correct direction for proper water pumping action in the tread.

[racerman50]

That 3600# BMW 330xi I drove with the M&S Pirellis is getting 2 new front tires tomorrow.:mad: Big ole chunks be disappeared!
Next time: no more street cars! It's the S2000, the Spec Miata or Nikes!
Cheap motel: $35/night. 2 tires: $216. NASA at Pueblo: effin' priceless!!:D
Wildman

[Chad5160]

Yeah it is definitely hard on them. I chunked all 4 pretty bad!

I do have to say that the Hankook RS2 Z212 I ran performed very well. For a treadwear 200 street tire that is. I am shopping for new tires/wheel now though!!
Here are a couple pics!

http://www.norcalsrt4.com/phpBB2/sy04srt4/pmi/p3120141.jpg
http://www.norcalsrt4.com/phpBB2/sy04srt4/pmi/p3120142.jpg

[leggwork]

unless cord is showing, you could keep running those tires Chad.
bruce

[BVinson]

Weston, what degree of camber are you running? In the past I have had -2.5 on the front and -1.7 in the rear and have not had any tire problems. Just my 2 cents.

Brian

[Weston]

Weston, what degree of camber are you running? In the past I have had -2.5 on the front and -1.7 in the rear and have not had any tire problems. Just my 2 cents.

Brian

I'm running somewhere between -2.0 and -2.5 on the front and around -1.0 on the rear. That seemed to be just right for Second Creek and Mead with this car, but PMI seems to want a lot more. I suppose part of the problem could be the amount of body roll I'm getting... I'm only on 425F/450R spring rates, and I'm definately making full use of the suspension travel without much effort.

Here's the tire... It's a bit worse than it appears in the picture...

http://www.turbols.net/videos/2006-03-11_12/pics/thumbs/DCP_5167.JPG (http://www.turbols.net/videos/2006-03-11_12/pics/DCP_5167.JPG)

[BVinson]

that almost looks like blistering from the picture. i ran the V710's all last year at pueblo. maybe we need to play with your tire pressures next time out. when you get off the track stop by my pits and we can check pressures and temperatures. if memory serves correctly i was running 38psi in the front and 48psi in the rear hot. i will check my notes and verify though. looks like you have the right amount of camber though.