Miata Mailing List: May 1999, Message #45

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  Snow in the mountains last night, 60 degrees today.  We're moving straight 
from winter to summer here in the southern Appalachians and autocross season 
is scratching at the door.  In 10 years of CSP competition I've never been 
able to afford a set of dedicated race tires for ol' Rocinante.  Fresh from 
defeat by a friggin Neon on R1s I'm tempted to try summer tires biased more 
toward track performance.  I'm wondering if Yokohama A032Rs at 205/50/15 
would be at all reasonable as street tires -- that is, would they last until 
the next snow?  I'm OK with 8-10,000 miles on a set of tires, and realize 
that summer performance compounds are not a good thing at low temps (did 1 g 
on SP8000s at 30 degrees then a quick loop de loop de loop).  I know how to 
properly heat-cycle street/race tires, and a bit of what the limit behavior 
tradeoffs can be.  I guess I'm asking for opinions on whether unshaved Yokos 
would be 8,000 or 3,000 mile tires.  Street and race I run 1.5 deg neg camber 
in front, 2 deg rear, zero toe all 'round.  Comments?
  Foureagles
  "Don't confuse symmetry with balance."