dg50@daimlerchrysler.com wrote:
>
> With all the tire talk lately, this question has surfaced in my mind:
>
> Why do we require DOT race tires? Why not allow race slicks too?
Well, remember that *allowing* slicks is the same as *requiring* slicks for
those that want to be competitive. And that has some implications...
>
> Good enough for CP, good enough for ESP
Well, most Prepared cars are trailered to events; many SP cars will be
driven to the events; some driven their on their race tires. And most
in SP will be on the most competitive rubber -- not real safe -- not
real legal.
Note that many SP cars are daily drivers. Many do not take advantage
of non-street-legal mods like removing cats -- and yet are not at any
significant disadvantage. Not running slicks would be a huge disadvantage,
and thus almost every SP car would be pushed into running in non-street-
legal form.
Further, unlike Prepared cars, many SP cars are very much still covered
by their factory warranty. However, at least some factory warranties
are voided by running the car with slicks. A prominent example is Porsche.
Finally, there is a reason why manufacturers void their warranties with
slicks! Many of the cars are not designed to handle the G-forces possible
with slicks.
Thus, allowing slicks in SP will result in some blown motors, broken
suspensions. Allowing slicks will also result in a big migration of
cars from the SP classes to the ST classes (prediction). Of course,
some large displacement cars would no longer be able to run except
in stock (e.g., the newer 911's). And the newer 911 turbo can't run
there, so it wouldn't be able to play competitively at all.
>
> Allowing slicks would give people even MORE choice in tires.
Debatable. From a competitive perspective, it eliminates all the existing
choices.
Your choices are slicks. And the delta between those running street tires and
those running competitive rubber will be even huger.
I think allowing slicks in SP would be a very bad idea.
Brian
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