A friend of mine just told me he has had a set of used V700 Victos sitting in his basement for 3 or 4 years that is wants to just give away. They are 225/50/15 and would fit the 15x7 Slipstreams I am ordering.

Here is a pic:



I have -2 degrees of camber up front so my MINI should chew up tires a bit slower than MINIs with no camber would.

- How well will used 3+ year Victos perform compared to RA-1s (which i was considering until this landed in my lap)?
- How many events do you think I can get out of these things? Are they worth the $50 in mounting and money lost on not getting a wheel/tire package which would include mounting balancing on the RA-1s?
- Should i mount them the other way around so that I can make them last longer? the outside blocks seem pretty badly warn, though i do have -2 deg of camber.

 

If they're 3-4 years old, the rubber won't be very sticky anymore. If you do mount them, you can "flip" them so that the inside of the tire with more rubber left is on the outside of your wheel. This is totally fine and Kumho approves it, even though the sidewalls are usually stamped with inside and outside markers.

I think you could get a lot of events out of those (esp. with 2 degree negative camber), but you probably won't be as fast as you'd be with newer rubber.

 

For the price of mounting you can give em a try ?

 

I am about to order a set of wheels and tires. If i get them as a package the shipping will be free and so will the mounting and balancing. Getting them as a package probably saves me $120 between shipping and mounting/balancing.

Now if i go with just wheels only, then try to put these on, and they turn out to be too old and suck, i will be out $120 + whatever i spend on mounting the tires.

If i already had a set of wheels with no tires, i would without question get these and try them out. Worth the $40 i would spend on mounting them.

 

Life of those depends on the number of events you do, and level of driving skill, but it looks like there is enough to get 1-2 years worth of events out of them, especially if you rotate them after each event to even out the wear.

True, they may not be the same "sticky level" as a new set, but after an event or two they just may re-heat cycle back to being a decent set of tires. As an aside, I've found that if the Victoracers are shaved, and then let to sit for a few years, they are basically usesless no matter what you try to do to them (I won't do that again!).

Consider them as low-cost tires to "test n tune" your skills for at least a year.

I skip the balancing on my Victoracers (buying them for almost 9 years now, autocross use only, no track days.), as I've never had a problem with the Victoracers being noticeably out-of-round (knock on wood/head), but if it's included with the mounting, sure.

Now, that being said, if you're in a serious points battle with some other driver, only you can decide where/what/how any money "may" be better spent.

Just .02 worth.

Eddie
New England SCCA Solo2 Novice Chief
G-Stock homeboy

 

The RA-1's should be faster than worn 3-4 year old Victor's and those Victor's would be hopeless in the rain, whereas the RA-1's are possibly the best dual purpose "R" tire.

 

Just looking at the tread wear, would you say the tires are halfway worn out or more?

It looks like whoever used them before had major camber issues. I have plates that give me -2 degrees of camber up front - should i still "flip" the tires and mount the inside wall on the outside?

 

My buddy has a durometer (measures hardness) and we ran around at an auto-x event measuring tire hardness. New Victoracers were significantly softer than 1 year old tires, as a matter of fact, new Azenis were softer than the old tires. That said, if you plan to auto-x or road race your car, order the new wheels with new tires and get the used Victos as well. you could run the used ones on the back and new ones on the front, you want less grip on the back anyways.

 

Eddie,

Looking at the wear pattern, would you recommend that I flip the tires on the wheels (ie the sidewall labeled "inside" is on the outside of the rim)? I have -2 degrees of camber on my car upfront.

 

Besides the fact that the Victors are old and probably hard, it is not a good idea to mix tire models f/r or s/s AND I just noticed the size is a 225/50/15. This could present some fitment issues, depending on offset and lowering, it did for me. I'm not saying it can't work, just that you may want to consider another size, like 225/45/15.

 

gowest, thanks for the warning. I have some concerns about that as well. My original plan was to get 15x7 slipstreams with 225/45/15s, but that would set me back $1,100... this option will set me back $360. Most people with stock suspensions and ride height (which is the case with my MC) report little to no rubbing... i'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Vano,

The top tire looks like about half used, and the bottom tire is well past that. But my rule of thumb with these tires are as long as there are 2 noticeable grooves all the way around, they're useable (may not be optimal, but useable).

My guess is the previous user never rotated between most (if any) events. Not that you can get perfect wear balance across the board if you do, as one or two flat spots on one or more tires will screw up that concept. (Did that once on concrete with a brand new tire...taught me alot about concrete and paying attention to the car under heavy braking)

You bet I'd flip 'em and try 'em for at least 2 events (but not a rain one). Figure the first will re-heat the compound and let some re-cycling to take affect, and the second/third event will give you your long-term answer.

Heck, for what it costs to mount them, you have little to lose (imho). Mount 2 and drive around a few blocks with them on the front, then on the back. Not a perfect test of the entire suspension travel, but a few full lock "u-ies" in a parking lot should tell you. Then, as gowest bought up, you know that you have a fitment issue with VR 205/50/15s. (and a shame they dont make a 45)

Here's another option: if they fit Ok with no rubbing issues, with the fair looks of the top tire, you "could" consider getting just 2 new Victoracers for the front of the car, and run the 2 best freebies in the rear. And at the worst, you have 2 spares in case of any cording due to any "ooops moment". Watch for a set of cheapo rims someone may be selling in your autocross circle.

Slight digress: I found a good local full service and tire shop that is now familiar to seeing me stop in with my "funny tires" now and then. They always give me to whomever is in the shop-doghouse for the day when I need tires unmounted/mounted, and charge me very little, unless its a rush request. I will add, my wife ALWAYS makes them a bowl of cookies for Christmas and I buy coffee for the guys if I'm there and the lunch canteen drives in, to keep up, shall we say, some "marketing" on the deal.

Here in New England, we have more than a few 2nd year autocrossers that will take any condition of R tire offered to learn on. So if you don't like 'em, offer them to a novice that looks like he/she shows driving potential and needs good old practice rubber.

Since money doesn't grow on trees for most people, I'm a thirfty ol' sot (my wife mutters something like "cheap Colonial bastard"), but I have learned "tire management" in more ways than just air-pressure.

Eddie

 

Thanks Eddie. I think I'll take the advice and try the tires out. The worn out tires can go on the back. The mini barely uses its rear tires anyway. I figure if the rubbing is there, it will be minor enough that it won't matter at the autox course, won't be doing too many full lock u-turns out there.