Snow capable tires that will hold up to some track days?

My friend is looking to participate in his first track day, but they tires on his 2014 Focus are pretty much shot. He wants to buy budget conscious tires that will work year round in Michigan, and will hold up to some track time. I looked on Tirerack, but immediately got overwhelmed. There are a lot of options that look like they should work, but I am a little bit worried about having an issue like tread chunking. 

I am interested in any suggestions

I'm not sure that's really possible. Those are about as opposite uses as you can get. Anything that would make a tire good for one use would make it terrible for the other.  Assuming Michigan winters are kinda like Southern Ontario winters and you actually get a fair bit of snow.

How dead are his current tires? I'd probably try and completely use them up at the track day, then get new winters. Put the best ones in the front, maybe flip them so the most tread is on the outside edge.

This is a terrible idea.  But to stick to the exercise:

The to UHP all seasons like Michelin, Pirelli, Continental are all competent enough for trackday use, but they would need to buy a set in the fall, use them in the snow while they are still at full tread to provide winter traction.  Then they can spend the warmer months doing track events, with the expectation that they will need to discard and replace them for a new set that fall.

I think you'll run into two issues: safety, and inefficiency.

To the first point, I would not trust snow tires in performance driving situations, period. An autocross fun run or two? Sure, absolutely. But sustained track use? No way - I think that presents a risk to them and those they share the track with. And even without those issues, I think track use would just burn through them pretty quickly. I am far from a tire expert but have spent enough time on track to know that tires are one of the biggest things you shouldn't cheap out on.

I've learned the hard way that there is rarely one tire that can do it all. I would say if your friend has the means, go with a cheap-ish all season and then a second set of track tires. And there are all-seasons out there that can handle moderate track use, if you really can just swing one set. How many track days are we talking? Best of luck
 

In reply to mkingham :

Have you considered used tires? Maybe a set of used winters and a set of used summers are cheaper than one set of all seasons?  Are these at $200 for 4 winter tires the proper size for a '14 Focus?  

If you do shop used tires be sure you learn tire date codes.

I'm also concerned with your friend spending too much on tires for the track.  If he can not afford tires, he might find track days to be a "too expensive" hobby.  

They'll chunk like crazy. 

Yeah any tire that can even survive being used in freezing temperatures is going to chunk terribly on track. The Michelin PS4S is the closest, it can survive almost-freezing temperatures and it still chunks pretty badly on track, and they're super expensive. Two sets of tires, at least one used, is the best option.

If the car is only doing track days and some street driving in the summer, Hankook RS4s would be ideal, they last super long on the track and are decent on the street, their only weakness is low cold grip.

In reply to mkingham :

Mark, get these Marketplace - 225/50-R16 BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE-71RS | Facebook and a set of 16" wheels. The Focus did come with factory 16" wheels that can be found cheap. Some Jaguars,Volvos and Ford Fusions also used the 5x108 bolt pattern. They'll be narrow for a 225 tire, but ok to try a track day.

Edit: 16" Taurus wheels might work. These need the lips cleaned up...Marketplace - Taurus SHO Wheels | Facebook

Where do you prefer to crash,the track or on the street in the snow and ice??

 Michigan winters pretty much require proper snows,the track requires something that can handle the heat and loading.

 In the end its cheaper to have 2 sets,dedicated snows only used in the winter are going to survive and still be usefull in their 4th winter.

Trying to use no seasons yr round means maybe almost ok'ish 1st winter and crap for the 2nd.

So your still going to use 2 sets in 4 yrs but you'll have the right tire for the job in each season.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/videos/a5604/winter-tires-track-tested/

I'm surprised this article hasn't been linked yet. Send it and tell us what happens. I bet you could find a set of snows with wheels for it for less than the cost of brand new tires on Facebook market place 

I think we're forgetting the 'first track event' + 2014 Focus part. True snows will be hateful but UHP all seasons will be fine. They won't handle super well but he won't drive super well, either.

If the bug bites he can get a set of track wheels. 

to get a tire that does both is honestly a borderline unsafe level of compromise

Lol, ya'll are dramatic. 

Just go drive it, check between sessions. 

I'm not saying this is a great idea either - I'd re-iterate my recommendation to be on the lookout for an extra set of wheels/tires on marketplace. I bet you could find something that'll fit the bill (even if it's just some stock takeoffs), especially for your first event - for cheaper than just new tires. I do it all the time, I rarely buy new tires, but now I've gotten to the point of "too many sets of wheels" 

That addendum in place, I still wouldn't be freaking out over the idea of running snow tires that aren't aged out on the track, just check between sessions and listen to the ol' butt dyno for odd sounds/sensations.

Thank you guys for your input. We have a plan, we will run the tires he has for the first track day, and if he wants to do more we will buy some used stuff (Thank you DeadSkunk (Warren)). I had not considered used tires, and there are some good deals in our area.

In reply to mkingham2 :

I'm picking up the tires I linked tomorrow. They will be sitting here until spring. Should your buddy enjoy his track day experience and wants to try better rubber, he can have them for what I paid. That's dependent on him finding 16" wheels (not common) of course. I hope he enjoys himself.

In reply to mkingham2 :

That's a plan! Have fun, don't forget that part!