How do you tell when slicks are done?

Pat wrote: I don't know the answer, but I have a bit of a follow up question....even as they harden, can tire treatments soften them back up a bit? Something like Formula V? I've never used one but have heard some positive results. Any feedback?

I know that a lot of drag racers swear by various chemicals like VHT, rosin, and others. I don't know how long the "stick" would last, or if the tires actually re-soften, or what, but those guys (and I'd imagine, and local roundy-rounders on pavement) probably have some good ideas.

Drag racers and karters use softening chemicals the most, plenty of info to be found online.

walterj wrote: If you don't have enough camber flip them on the rim after 5 or 6 days to extend their life. Once you wear off most of the 1st layer the direction does not seem to make any difference to lap time.

The rotating direction is only for wet use so the tread works properly. Once the tread is gone or if you're running in the dry, it matters not. This applies to the RA1 and NT01 and probably the R888 as well - but mostly to the RA1 because it's the only one that really has a tread pattern

Looks like that tire got attacked by an angle grinder!!

guillespeed wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/87442173@N07/8006770650/ sorry...here is a pic of the poor Hoosier!!!

Ouch! Yeah, I think that one's done. Curious about the pattern, though. Could right down the center be a case of overinflation?

And the lesson I learned from the hotlink thread is that flickr still hates hotlinking.

2 year old dead thread revived and no one noticed. Pretty sure that means you all owe me a beer (anything from mikkeller will do.)

poopshovel wrote:

Tom Heath wrote: I'm cheap, so I run them until they cry. Your mileage may vary.

I'm ashamed to admit that I've auto-x'd on worse.

I used to run a car that always had mutiple drivers. We used slicks purchased used, usually softer compunds. We ran an event on a concrete parking lot and by the end of the day ended up with 2 of the 4 tires corded. We sent out one driver for a "fun run" at the end of the event and he set FTD on that run, which didn't count of course. Soft slicks and brushed concrete, WOW just fantantic grip.

It's really quite simple to tell when a slick is "done."

Slicks are pretty much the exact opposite of street tires, but a reversed analogy can be made between the two. As street tire wear out, they lose their tread and become almost like slicks. Smooth and sort of slick over all. Slicks respond in the exact opposite manner. As they wear, they slowly develop tread. The soft slick compound wears away revealing the treaded substrate.

Often times you'll see folks auto-crossing with tires that have Goodyear or Hoosier lettered on the sides (famed manufacturers of racing slicks) yet have tread showing as well. Of course, these tires are at the end of their usefulness and need to be thrown away.

Hopes that this helps explain.