Is it worth my $ to buy R-comps?

Question: Is it worth my money to buy a set of R-compound tires for the limited amount of autocrossing that I do, or will they age out before I can get my money's worth from them? Other alternatives are a set of street touring type tires (Azenis, Potenzas) or maybe finding a set of used R-comps for sale.

Background: Recently bought a '99 Miata that I'll be running in C Stock. Everybody else in the class runs R-comps. I have the money available for dedicated auto-x wheels & tires, but ... I'll make it to only three more events this year before it'd be time to store the tires for the winter. On average, I probably get to six events a year. My concern is that, even if I store the tires properly, they'll get hard and lose their grip before I've gotten much use out of them. Other factors -- R-comps mean investing the time/effort/dollars for a hitch, a tire trailer, somewhere to store the trailer, and changing tires at events. Also, I'm generally a mid-pack driver and doubt I'll be running for the win each week.

Thoughts???

To answer your question how much is going faster worth to you? If your just there to have fun i would hold out for some charity tires from another autocrosser who $$values$$ speed more then you do and chucks his used R-comps before they are fried.

As for a tire trailer, what type of car do you have? There has to be an easier way to get 4 tires to the autocross then a trailer. How far do you normaly drive to your event?

Azeni's or equavilent will keep you around midpack or better if you drive better. I'd spend the $$$ on setting up the Miata better in C Stock, like shocks and front sway bar before I get serious on extra tires/rims. A friend let me thrash a set of used R-Comps last year on my 99 Miata and it was a trick to get them to event. One in the trunk, 2 in the passenger seat and 1 on the folded top/rear deck behind the seat (secured to the seat backs :omg: ). Sometimes my daughter would carry a couple for me in her RX8 since she was racing too. Then the time to change 'em out before and after the event. I'm just running Azeni's this year. HF has small trailers kinda cheap. Some around me use them. They say spring for the larger wheels on the trailer though, makes it tow better.

I have 5 wheels with R-comps on them right now that I can't use except for the occasional autocross (I got a good deal on the wheels). I plan on having the R-comps removed this Saturday and sell them, then replace them with some Azenis's. The R-comps are good for autocross, but I'd prefer to have a dual street-autocross setup since I mainly 'cross for fun.

Back when I autcrossed regularly, I bought a used set of R-Comps and loved it. For national or even regional competition, you'd be outgunned, but to keep up with the local guys, they were fine.

The aurgument could be made that for the price of a new set, you could do a autocross school and get more out of it, especially if you aonly get out a few times a year

Last year I got a set of leftover A3S05's from Hoosier for a pretty good price. They were NOS to begin with, I used them for 3 events, stored them in my basement, and they were just as sticky my first time out this year. If you store them properly, they should be fine for 2 seasons, maybe more; number of heat cycles will be the limiting factor.

R-comps are clearly the fastest, but you will eventually break down and buy a trailer if you are changing tires with a miata. Stuffing 4 tires, a jack, tools etc. into a miata is a PITA.

There is something to be said about throwing your air tank, lawn chair and cooler into the trunk and the end of the day and driving home on your "race tires", so I wouldn't discount the Azenis' (or comparable).

Hoosiertire.com and Tire Rack has good deals on R-comps from time to time. I would personally avoid buying used tires.

How fast do you want to go?

Last year I got a set of leftover A3S05's from Hoosier for a pretty good price.

+1. This is how we got "stickers" for less than $100 ea. for the Challenge. And FWIW, calling is always better than the 1nt4rw3bz. NOS is a great middle ground between new and used, both for stickiness and price.