With the dissapearence of the V710, I now have to find another auto-x tire. I would get hoosiers but I do not want to spend the money right now. What are the pros and cons of the Esta V700 and the victaracer? I am new to the race tire world and some help would be appricated.

Anthony

 

Good question.... what size wheels are you using???

for a 15" setup... I would go with the Victoracer 205/50/15 or wait for the revised 710 in a 205/50/15 (I have a current set and love them... no damage showing )

for 16" wheels I would go with Victos 225/50/16 (what I have on order now) or Escta V700 205/45/16 (what I ran last year)

Personaly I feel the Victo is a better tire for the camber challenged MINI over the Escta 700... but the Escta 700 is made in a better 16" size... and may ultimately be faster than the Victo.... as the compound on the Esctas is softer....

Of the 3 the Victo should last longest....

hope that helps...

 

I forgot to say I am going to be using a set of 7 holies. Are the victos any good in the rain??? I think I will go with the victos until the new v710s come back out. I am planning on 205/50/15

Thanks for the help

 

Full tread victos are great in the rain. They just don't stay full tread very long

 

Curious: What was the price of the v710's in 205/50/15?

 

If you could buy them today.... $133 each.

 

>>If you could buy them today.... $133 each.
I just wanted a price comparision to the other tire coices now left. I see the SCCA made them illegal until further notice, including any new Kuhos. So even when the new v710s are out they may not be legal for a little while. :???:

 

The Victoracers give you ~98% of the performance of the Ecsta V700s. Because they can be autocrossed at full tread (while the Ecstas require shaving) they give you approximately twice the service life. Plus they are very capable in rain, at least when nearly new.

So you have to decide whether you want that last couple % of performance or you want a set of tires that will last longer. For all but the best drivers the difference in peformance between the two tires is much less than the "standard deviation" of our own consistancy.

 

With the input I seem to be getting I think I am going with the Victos for my first tires. I should have the wheels tomorrow and I will order some tires. Now all I need is my Mini to arive!

 

To shave the voctos or not to shave...that is the question. What is good/bad about either option.

 

Don't bother shaving the Victo's, unless they MUST perform their best the first day you use them. All you're doing is taking away some of their life. That said, you should do a "scrub in" session by heat cycling them or burning some off before the first event. All R Compounds tend to be a little slick when brand new.

I scrub mine in every time by driving up the highway about 5 miles, pulling off onto a deserted road, tossing the car side to side, swapping the front to rears, doing it again, then driving home. Pull them off for 48 hours and they're set for the first race.
Ideally, this would be done on a hot day where they can get up to temperature, but either way, it's a good scrub in session (I had do this in 45 degree weather befor I went down to Atlanta this year).

Brian

 

Sounds like a decent scrub in routeen. I am finding it very hard to pay tirerack to heat cycle the tires for extra money. Is there anyway I could get 225/50/15 on the car? With 7 hole wheels. I see there are victos in that size. Or a hoosier 225/45/15. Or wouldn't the extra work out for me??

This forum is working out for all my questions about tires and such, Thanks to all

Brian, Anyone else
Are you coming to the event on saturday @ Ripken stadium?

 

The 7 hole wheels are too narrow to get the benefit of the extra wide tire. If you want to stick with that wheel go with a 205.

 

That's not *entirely* true. The top drivers are still running as wide as fits, just not nearly the same air pressure.
Rob Carpenter ran 225/50R13's on 13x5's
Chang Ho Kim run's a 225's on his Civic as well (I believe 14x5.5's)
BUT, those two didn't have an option to run a wider wheel (like the 16x6.5), so you'd be better off going to 16's or keeping a 205 on the 15.

That said, unless you have a good tire installer and are wringing out every ounce of speed, I wouldn't bother, the 205's are fine.
ATTEMPTING NOT TO SOUND ARROGANT... I won the 2002 Petersburg Pro Solo on a new, unshaved, 205/50R15 Kumho Victoracer with a completely stock Cooper.
http://www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/pr...g/results.html
So I wouldn't sweat the big tire scenario...

As far as Ripken goes, I may decide at the last minute, but mainly to get my son out in his kart with new gears on it. It's my birthday!

Brian

_________________
2002 SCCA Pro Solo H Stock Champion/ STX Cooper S in 2003/G Stock Cooper S in 2004. Moderator: PRO SOLO and G STOCK
garfield@northamericanmotoring.com

 

Thanks guys,

I will just stick with the 205/50/15. Maybe down the road I will try and stuff large tires on the car but for now I will leave it along. Happy Birthday Brian.

Anthony