Spec Tire in 12th Stock next Year?

Blake · March 23, 2015, 01:46:13 PM

Hey all,

I'm looking for opinions here:

As of late, there has been a bit of a movement toward a spec tire in 12th Stock. CRC and BSR both make a spec 12th tire using the same foam as the WGT spec tires. They have a stripe on them just like the WGT tires. Anyway, both Seattle and WCICS are *thinking* about the possibility of using them for next winter. The goal is to eliminate the mysteries of the various colours of foam, and simply have everyone on the same compound of tire which will make it MUCH simpler for new people entering the class. Brian Bodine and the Seattle crew have been testing them this winter at club racing, and apparently they work quite well. It sounds like they're only 0.1s or 0.2s slower than the Blu/Greene/Magenta setups we're using now.

Anyway, I will be asked for Victoria's opinion on this topic, so I'd like to hear what you all think. Do you like the idea? If so, why? If not, why?

Thanks,
Blake

Jtg.73 · March 23, 2015, 04:47:19 PM

I'm a fan of this idea. Get rid of the endless tire equations and work on chassis set up.

Shawn68z · March 23, 2015, 06:58:49 PM

As usual I am Anti-Spec tire. It doesnt lower the cost of racing, and it doesnt make racing any closer. Fast are at the front, and the slow at the back.

jarrodH · March 23, 2015, 09:27:37 PM

Can't see it changing things that much. For the most part we all use pretty well the same compound anyway.. Just make it cheaper for those that have sets of different compounds in their box.

I say if we do go spec, let kids/new racers use what ever they want. But the experienced/vets must use the spec.

Blake · March 24, 2015, 02:25:36 AM

Quote from: Shawn68z on March 23, 2015, 06:58:49 PM
As usual I am Anti-Spec tire. It doesnt lower the cost of racing, and it doesnt make racing any closer. Fast are at the front, and the slow at the back.

"Fast are at the front, and the slow at the back."

Truer words never spoken for sure. But, would a Spec tire make anything worse than Open tire in your opinion?

Blake

Jtg.73 · March 24, 2015, 03:05:58 AM

I wasn't really thinking about cost or making the racing any closer. It's more a matter of simplifying things. Just like when we decided to run blinky.

cheifman · March 24, 2015, 08:49:13 AM

I agree it wont make a slow driver faster but it will help even out the field. For newer drivers it is one less variable to deal with. It will help with costs because there will be no need to buy multiple compounds to try are run when traction changes.

valk · March 24, 2015, 01:27:08 PM

I guess it depends if you just want to be as fast as everyone else, or as fast as you can be. Tires are a really big part, the biggest part of car setup and car handling. It always feels like cheating people out of that experience if everything is dumbed down with spec rules. Part of what makes racing fun is seeing what the next guy is doing. What works for him ect and trying it out.
It may not work for me or my driving style but that's ok.

If it isn't tires, people will find something else to spend their money on to try and get an edge on their closest competiton. I don't always make good motor choices. Actually pretty bad at it lol. But that's part of racing.

BCbud · March 24, 2015, 09:05:19 PM

I think we as a club should follow what ever WCICS decides to do.

Neil.

Blake · March 25, 2015, 03:49:48 PM

Quote from: BCbud on March 24, 2015, 09:05:19 PM
I think we as a club should follow what ever WCICS decides to do.

Neil.

Sure, but remember that as a WCICS club, we get an opportunity to influence the direction of WCICS. That is how WCICS grows and evolves to match what the racers want. I need to know how to cast Victoria's vote....

It should be noted that if the majority of WCICS clubs vote favourably toward a Spec Tire, it impacts only our big WCICS race in Sidney. We can do whatever we want in club racing obviously.

Blake

valk · March 25, 2015, 05:00:04 PM

Is it possible for us to get some to try out?

Ruckus · March 25, 2015, 10:36:54 PM

I've spent money of different sets of tires. Wouldn't have done so if spec tires were used. So it would save people money. I'm all for it.
John

Blake · March 26, 2015, 12:24:22 AM

Quote from: valk on March 25, 2015, 05:00:04 PM
Is it possible for us to get some to try out?

I'll probably grab a few sets on my next CRC order.

Blake

ColinB · March 26, 2015, 11:57:38 PM

I've changed my mind several times, trying to answer this one. I'd be fine with either.

Pro: Simplify car setup for new drivers. True, it would. I feel qualified to say that new drivers may not know what is wrong with their car, if anything. So it would eliminate that one variable. That said, it is simple to ask at your club what compound is working well, which is what I've done. For my level so far, that's been good enough. I haven't spent any extra $ trying different tires. So far.

Con: Will it take away from the tuning aspect of the hobby?

Con: What about those who have the bin full of tires - will they be wasted?

Will a spec tire take us closer to a "one design" type class, where the cars are intended to be identical? I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not. I can see the appeal to both sides.

Sorry Blake, not much of an answer, is it?

Colin

Shawn68z · March 27, 2015, 10:59:59 AM

Ok, so instead of sending responses to each msg here is my concerns.

Will it make racing worse? It might. Running one tire type on a club night is one thing, but when it hits speedweekend the grip changes. Instead of just changing tires (which is atleast 50% of the setup), you will be changing chassis springs/dampening etc. It can make setup even more critical, which will frustrate newer and more experienced racers alike.

Saving money from not buying multiple > This is the same argument you can use with summer tires & winter tires for you real car. Yes you have paid more money buy each set will last longer, as you share the running on them. When the grip comes up, instead of switching to a harder tire, you will be truing the spec tires down to the rim. (ie WGT)

Cost is not the issue > For some of us it is. The #1 reason i am not running the rest of this season is cost. I normally pay $6 per pair for 1/12 tires. Spec tire will atleast double my tire bill (just like in Pro10 when we did the switch to WGT, and club spec raised the price of wheels for TC too.) My average RC bill this winter season was $375/month. I averaged 1 set of tires per week (thats between cameron and I), so this change would add another $50 per month. The wife finially took notice of my RC budget,and I am already in the dog house...

It will help even out the field > No it won't. How many people can come with Craig on his WGT setup. He laps the field pretty easy. (nothing against criag, he has that WGT Dialed!)

Lastly > 1/12 scale has had a real resurgance world wide, and provides some pretty sweat racing.. Why change a good forumula?