USAC Racing Forum

General Chat => Point .25 => Topic started by: dgriffin on September 22, 2008, 09:46:43 AM



Title: spec tire
Post by: dgriffin on September 22, 2008, 09:46:43 AM
Can you tell me what tire will be the spec tire  and will there be paved and dirt tracks also .


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: USACMedia on September 22, 2008, 12:12:42 PM
There is an RFP (Request for Proposal) out that is due back on Oct 1 concerning the spec tire that was sent to several manufacturers.  Once we receive the RFP's back we will review them and go with what will be in the best interest of the series.


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: goffin20 on September 22, 2008, 04:34:10 PM
What will be the deciding factors for a spec tire for USAC?  Example: supply, cost, durability etc.

Also, to keep cost down and a level the playing field, will there be a requirement that you race on the same tire you qualified on or can people bolt on stickers each time they take the track?


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: dgriffin on September 22, 2008, 08:26:05 PM
Scott is your club looking at this. Dan


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: goffin20 on September 22, 2008, 11:35:28 PM
They did this year, not sure about next year.  However, QMA voted against a spec tire program this year.  As for racing on what you qualify on, that would really level the playing field because many of us don’t have the money to bolt on stickers each time we hit the track while others have an endless supply of tires to use.

I am all for a spec tire providing that the tire chosen is in the best interest of the members and sport, not because of who knows who or how much they donate.

Availability
Price
Durability

I hear complaints about the USAC membership fees which are half of what I currently pay, however, my tire budget more than doubled this year which was much more of an impact than a measly $75.00 membership fee.  But I guess they don’t think about those costs?

4 cars @ 105.00 each = 420.00 in tires per regional race x 9 regional races = $3780.00 per season and that’s just for right side tires!!!  That’s more than double the cost of tires the previous 3 years.

And that doesn’t include weekly races, grands or special series that many others run in addition to the regional races.


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: Justin on September 23, 2008, 12:26:15 AM
holy cow thats a lot of money just to race those cars!


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: goffin20 on September 23, 2008, 02:56:11 AM
Yup, plus wheels, axles, tie rods, radius rods, heims, shocks at 225.00 each, it gets very expensive very quick so every bit of savings helps.  Lets not forget the price of fuel to travel and race to top it all off.

Its alot of fun though as with most forms of racing and the time and memories spent with the family at the track will be better be priceless.  lol


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: heimboyz89 on September 23, 2008, 08:41:59 AM
We ran our points series using Hoosier A40's and I have to say it cut our tire bill by more than half. I know this is hard to beleive but they run the same times out of the wrapper up until the cords start to show. It eliminated for me thinking I had to keep mounting up fresh rubber to be in the hunt.
                     Eric


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: pokesalad on September 23, 2008, 10:03:10 AM
If a spec tire is used , PLEASE do not let it be a vega! The last 2 years my tire bill has been insane.


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: Justin on September 23, 2008, 11:24:39 AM
Yup, plus wheels, axles, tie rods, radius rods, heims, shocks at 225.00 each, it gets very expensive very quick so every bit of savings helps.  Lets not forget the price of fuel to travel and race to top it all off.

Its alot of fun though as with most forms of racing and the time and memories spent with the family at the track will be better be priceless.  lol

wow! thats ridiculous


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: goffin20 on September 23, 2008, 11:59:26 AM
"We ran our points series using Hoosier A40's and I have to say it cut our tire bill by more than half. I know this is hard to beleive but they run the same times out of the wrapper up until the cords start to show. It eliminated for me thinking I had to keep mounting up fresh rubber to be in the hunt."

We ran Dunlaps and Hoosiers our first few years and then had to switch like everyone else to Vegas to keep up.  They are 2 10ths faster and hold consistant lap times, just have less than half the durability as the other brands which more than doubles the cost of tires.

Durability & Cost should be primary factors when choosing a spec tire to help the members.  We can adjust our chassis to any tire to make it work and if we are 2 10's slower on another brand, so will everyone else...  ;-)


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: dgriffin on September 23, 2008, 01:31:13 PM
What about tire prep qma outlawed it then backed up and  said no  ppm number for dirt I dont want to use it but I am tired of getting beat by it this weekend at terre haute it was on several cars and no body did anything if we have a spec tire we will know what readings on tires should be I think that would work?


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: goffin20 on September 23, 2008, 03:35:04 PM
Having rules that are enforced will work!


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: bigal on September 23, 2008, 06:32:00 PM
lets all remember hoosier tires are made in america, but anything other than vega will be fine by me!!!!!!!!


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: miller on September 23, 2008, 09:13:14 PM
We ran points with A40A. We were new this year so we did not know anything about Vega's. We did good with the Hoosier. We practiced 2 cars twice a week and raced once a week and went thru no left sides I actually got my lefts used from another guy and went thru 2 sets of rights per car. I think the Hoosiers are the way to go. One car raced 3 races in senior novice and 12 races Heavy Honda.The other car raced 12 races in senior novice and 3 in senior Honda


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: goffin20 on September 23, 2008, 09:32:17 PM
Boy I remember those novice days where a set of tires would last an entire season.  Unfortunately, the faster classes tend to chew them up and the Vegas are even worse.  I was totally shocked after running the WF this year, talk about eating up some tires…  :-(

I would go for Dunlap, Firestone or Hoosier because they all seem to have alot better wear than the Vega does.


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: Melmo on September 24, 2008, 05:53:49 PM
I just hope the members will get to choose!!!


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: philabenroth on September 24, 2008, 06:04:22 PM
USAC is not a member-run organization, the members will probably not be doing any choosing. Could be a good thing.


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: goffin20 on September 25, 2008, 02:47:07 AM
As a member, I don’t mind not being able to choose as long as the organization is making the choice for the right reasons and keeping the members best interest in mind.


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: TysonThompson on September 25, 2008, 10:18:46 AM
It does not matter who chooses it.  I just want it to be a hard compound that will last several races.  NASCAR , IRL, ARCA, even Hooters pro cup members do not get to choose what tire the series runs.  The drivers and crews must adapt to the tire.  The purpose of it is cost controls. We will figure out how to make them work.  Lets support whatever decision USAC makes.  They are doing this for us.  Positive energy goes along way.


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: speed 53 on September 25, 2008, 12:17:13 PM
The spec tire will be HOOSIER have you ever seen USAC run on anything other then hoosier.The tire bill will stay the same because you have to buy 4 sets to get one to roll out were they should. Ask the Ford FOCUS guys how the cost controll is working for them?


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: goffin20 on September 25, 2008, 03:00:02 PM
Guess thats were we will have an advantage, our .25 tires will fit in the oven to grow or shrink them...lol



Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: speed 53 on September 25, 2008, 10:04:21 PM
Not alot of talk about USAC at ower club. Wonder how long it takes to get out east?


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: Seipy on September 30, 2008, 08:44:21 PM
Okay guys 2 plus 2 equals what?? What other organization was trying to put something together to get out of the QMA mess. I do believe the talk on the grapevine was Hoosier. Just not enough effort on thier part. I would have to say with Hoosier's interest and USAC background the answer is in deed 4. I think this was also why Hoosier put more of an emphasis on the 1/4 midget tires the last 2 years. This whole USAC thing did not just happen!


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: mod9 on September 30, 2008, 08:47:58 PM
i would say what ever tire it will be,mark the tire when coming out of scales and thats the tire you have to start in the main.that alone will cut the cost of tires in half.

my 2 cents.


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: mothersworry27 on October 03, 2008, 10:12:32 AM
Any "spec" tire rule will not be a money saver or a competition equalizer.  The people that can afford it will still have sticker tires for every oppurtunity that warrants it.  Some may already have a stock of tires that where purchased a bargain prices they would have to throw out and start over.  Some have setups carefully worked out over time for the tires they use they would have to throw out and start over.  Most all "professional" tracks  brand and date tires and have rules where you can only replace one tire a week or similar.  Lets use the tires we have and are famililar with and run them for a month.  This approach wll also be better for the enviroment without 1000 tires in the dumpster every week.


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: goffin20 on October 03, 2008, 01:05:55 PM
1. Spec Tire
2. Race on what you qualified on


Title: Re: spec tire
Post by: dgriffin on October 03, 2008, 01:18:14 PM
Speaking about the enviroment they dont throw tires in dumpster they recycle them and coming from a guy who's tire bill is all most as much as the national dept.lol I cant see how a spec tire wont save money we travel to alot of tracks most tracks run different tires and compounds of tires we have 5 different types of new tires in are trailer depending what track we are running to be competitive at each track there is a difference in tires and tracks but if there was a spec tire 1 brand 1 compound are cost would be cut in a 5th just in extra inventory sure we would still put on stickers when we can but hoosiers, dunlops,firestones last much longer than vegas or burris.