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06-11-2012, 02:48 PM | #1 |
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To shave my used RA1s or not to shave.....
In preparation for my track day at Laguna Seca on June 30th, I am getting my tires setup. For the past year of track and autocross I have ran shaved 275/35/18 RA1s in the front and full tread 305/35/18 in the back. The setup has been amazing and I was unable to push the tires to their limit at the track. Although I do often push the tires to their limit and beyond at autocross.
So I recently chorded the shaved fronts and am getting pretty low in the back. The backs seem to be a bit more slippery than I remember, but I may have also been pushing them harder than normal at the last autocross. So I picked up a set of fronts that have tread, and now I have 4 unshaven tires. To enhance front grip and refresh the rears life I was thinking about shaving all 4 tires for Laguna Seca. So I was just wondering everyone's thoughts and was also looking for anyone who has experience with full tread RA1s vs shaved. I worry about grip in the front and have contemplated trying 285/30/18s possibly.
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06-11-2012, 05:36 PM | #2 |
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Ok, I'm not one to go around correcting spelling/grammar all the time but at least in the track forum we can get this right. Chord = something you play on a guitar Cord = stuff that shows through the rubber on a tire when you've killed it
If I owned a tire shaver I wouldn't shave used tires. Too easy to mess up the blade with rocks and nails and stuff. Shaving won't bring your rears back if they're heat-cycled out, which they might be. Get some formula V or other tire softener and use that if you're worried, probably cheaper than shaving and won't be a waste of time and rubber. I would definitely go to the 285's in front if I were you.
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Last edited by Richbot; 06-11-2012 at 05:42 PM.. |
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06-11-2012, 05:41 PM | #3 | |
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And I would be getting them shaved through a shop that specializes in race prepping. And they do have an expensive shaving machine.
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06-11-2012, 05:44 PM | #4 |
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Have you asked them if they will shave used tires for you? It's possible, it's just a PITA to check the tires for stones and other crap in the tread before shaving
http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/p..._Strengtheners
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06-11-2012, 08:31 PM | #5 | |
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OP: I wouldn't shave used tires. In my experience RA1's got fastest right before cording though, don't remember heat cycles being an issue. |
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06-13-2012, 02:09 PM | #6 |
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I've run full tread depth and shaved RA-1s on my e36m3 race car (sold). Full tread depth are fine, as long as you don't push them very much. I would recommend getting the new ones shaved slightly (2/32nds or so) at a minimum, or do a lot of highway miles with them. I chunked a new RA-1 at Phoenix at PIR. Too much for the right front on the banking. Laguna won't be kind to the right front either...
I agree with Porschefile. My fastest times on RA-1s occurred in the session I corded them.
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06-15-2012, 03:47 AM | #7 | |
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