Transparency: I got a friend of a friend sort of hook up on a pair of 285/30/15s, the air freight from China cost roughly the same as the current stateside price of the tires, I have no bushiness relationship with Vitour, VU, or any other tire manufacturer for that matter.
Observations:
They thicc... A solid 3/4" wider than a 275/30/15 Hoosier. You really need a minimum of an 11" wheel for the 285. Mine are packed on 10s because Challenge.
They launch harder than any track tire ever should. Like completely fragged an axle on the first test launch of a 2200lb 360hp FWD car
A hot lap of the block around the shop suggests they behave and stick as well or better than the current crop of 200tw tires.
Statements:
Like the guy or not (he cheated in a competitive form of motorsport, virtually everyone who has won at the top level cheats in some way I hate to tell you. He brought a tire to market that works, he brought to market a product that almost exclusively autocrossers (an extremely small slice of the car hobby) asked for and he's put it on sale at a very reasonable (all things considered) price.
Virtually no tire is the same compound and construction in a 205/50R15 as in a 335/30R18, yet no one is suggesting Toyo, Falken, Hankook, and Bridgestone are doing anything wrong.
It is abnormal for a non-spec series to expect the manufacturer of a product to "submit" for their approval a part that meets the confines of the rules as published. Optima rules stipulate a 200tw commercially available tire, this is that, not sure why they're specifically disallowing it. Not sure why that dude seems to be really happy they're disallowing it. The tire is probably going to be competitive I don't believe it's going to be the new hotness.
Learn to like 'em because you'll be losing to an Omni wearing them at the upcoming challenge.
In reply to Byrneon27 :
Got a picture of the tire on a 10" wheel? My wheels are 10", so I'm curious. A picture of the Omni with them on would be cool, too.
Gotta update the build thread at somepoint
In reply to Byrneon27 :
The guy bringing them to market didn't cheat once, and it wasn't just pushing the gray area of the rulebook. He blatantly did things that were called out as not legal in the rules, in *multiple* motorsports, and did so so often that he is permanently banned from competition in multiple racing organizations, including all SCCA events. That's pretty hefty, and frankly unseen since the Pro Stock Dodge nitrous explosion in the 90's as far as I'm aware.
As for the tires, I'm sure they work great. I'm not sure they're legal for much of anything, given the history above. They are probably perfect for the Challenge. Optima has stated that "commercially available" means more than one source with stock on hand, so as soon as Tire Rack, DTD, Vulcan, ST, etc has some on hand they should be legal.
In reply to Byrneon27 :
That doesn't look too badly pinched, so they may be an option when the time comes.
dr_strangeland said:
I run outside of SCCA sanction at lots of events. I'm going to try and get my hands on the 305 for the Miata. Should be perfectly square on 15x12.
I'll need bigger flares in front or just run the 285 up there.
Edit: "305/30/15 $315/each Delivered Price to Anywhere in the Continental USA (Estimated Delivery 12-21-2023)"
I'll order a set at the beginning of December.
What does a Miata that can fit 305's look like? That is a ridiculously big tire.
The SCCA to its credit if you're not cheating or don't get caught is pretty hard on those that get caught blatantly raising a specific finger to the rules even when it provides no competitive advantage. I'm with the guy trying something but lying after you get caught is lame, false paperwork is lame, passing the buck to your machinist or crew is lame. Cheat if you want to, admit when you get caught and move on.
My point was more along the lines his personal dealings shouldn't be a consideration in the quality or appropriateness of the product he's commissioned. My strong opinion as an SCCA member is the rule book should not be a place for politics or personal vendettas, I'll be extremely disappointed if a competitive product aimed at our small slice of the automotive landscape is disallowed because they guy who sells them seems like he might be a butthole.
jeremy mccauley ran them at king of the mountain, they're very fast
Shout out to Flyin Miata for 15x9 Kogeki wheels that fit over the ND brakes. Look good, too.
Now if this rainy weather would just clear...
In reply to Andy Hollis :
225s?
DeadSkunk (Warren) said:
In reply to Andy Hollis :
225s?
Yes. 225 and 285 are the only currently available sizes, and nobody else makes a 285, so...
There's a little more to the sizing story...which will be reflected in the testing.
Was doing some research for the testing story and came across this...
Vitour = "Victory Tour"
Hey, guess what came across my desk today? 
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Wondering...
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Please be a press release that they (or any other 200tw) will be releasing 13" sizes, specifically 185/60/13...
I mean, I can dream...
kevinatfms said:
What does a Miata that can fit 305's look like? That is a ridiculously big tire.
I'm sorry I missed this, but like this:
In reply to dr_strangeland :
Wow. And here I am running 205s....
If I can, would I be able to request a tire comparo?
The Virtour vs the Zestino Gredge 07R and then Potenzas etc..
I am looking for something like the Vitour and Zestino for sizing to go on the 944 wheels
In reply to Byrneon27 :
"It is abnormal for a non-spec series to expect the manufacturer of a product to "submit" for their approval a part that meets the confines of the rules as published. Optima rules stipulate a 200tw commercially available tire, this is that, not sure why they're specifically disallowing it. Not sure why that dude seems to be really happy they're disallowing it. The tire is probably going to be competitive I don't believe it's going to be the new hotness. "
Can't speak directly for the USCA, but I run in that series and my widly speculative guess would be that they're not going to allow it unless it's widely available in enough sizes that anybody running the series can run it. Their GTC class is full of smaller cars running 275 and narrower (I'm on 245s!), so they get the axe for the time being.
USCA also seems to track the SCCA on what "street" tires to allow. Maybe they're following, maybe they just end up having the same discussions as the SEB and come to identical conclusions?
ascott said:
In reply to Byrneon27 :
Can't speak directly for the USCA, but I run in that series and my widly speculative guess would be that they're not going to allow it unless it's widely available in enough sizes that anybody running the series can run it. Their GTC class is full of smaller cars running 275 and narrower (I'm on 245s!), so they get the axe for the time being.
I remember when the Kumho V720 ACR tire, available in only two sizes, was the "tire to have" for Optima. It was clearly substantially faster than anything else out there, but those two sizes would only fit certain cars...sometimes requiring some creative mods. Eventually, it was disallowed.
