Best Tires

Mike Kline · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:59 pm Post subject: Best Tires

Everything I've read so far seems to indicate that the MG Greens and Vega Whites are the tire to have. Does anybody have any experiences or comments on the softer compound Vega's?

The MG Greens show a durometer of 46 and the Vega Whites show 38.

I there any reason why people aren't using the even softer Vega XP and HP? According to THIS graph they should definitely be the softer tire.

What's the fastest F125 tire out there?

-Mike
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#45 F125
2008 CRG Road Rebel

Larry Andrews · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:02 am Post subject:

You mean there's something on that site besides the calendar? I'll be! Shocked

Most F125 guys currently use the MG Greens. I like them and am a bit unusual in that I don't scrub them in - to me the first two or three runs are the best the tires will ever have to give you.

I tried the Vega Whites for the first time in Topeka '03 and didn't like the feel - they work completely differently than the MGs. Much more slip angle and less precise steering. Lesson learned - don't try something you've never tried before at the big dance.

Brian Garfield · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:05 am Post subject:

I don't know. Could it be support? I always hear about and have bought MG's. The only Vegas I've ever seen came on some used kid kart wheels.
Price? There's got to be some reason for brand preference, like Larry said.

Brian

John Denman · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:29 am Post subject:

Tires offer different things that work better on some karts and drivers then others.

Solo's don't give you much of a chance to heat the tires, so the natural thought is to go with the softest, gummiest tire around. Of course softer tires don't always result in better grip. Moreover softer tires really tend to compound any binding, and in turn (literally) can slow you down. Solo's tend to be have a lot of binding type turns.

One of the varience in tires is the Margin Of Reserve (MOR). MOR is where the tires tend to give feedback and some slippage just before they "ice skate" off course. Both compound (not just hardness) and sidewall stiffness affect MOR, but generally stiffer sidewalls reduce MOR.

We've done a ton of testing various brands under Sprint and Road Race conditions, but the same rules apply to Solo - just with a cooler tire.

MG Greens are a good all around tire for Solo. Bridgestones are better for really bumpy tracks as long as you have beadlocks and can run low pressures. Vega Whites are better for experienced drivers on really smooth surfaces and tend to work better on concrete then any other tire when the surface has no bumps.

Vega Yellows are really super soft, at least the first 1/32" of tread is, but amplify bind so badly that they are likelyy to be slower on Solo. They have the lowest MOR score.

Binding offsets turn speed in a way that HP just won't fix.

One of the things I really enjoy about Solos is that it's 70% driver, 10% chassis, 15% tires, and 5% motor. One thing I hate about getting old is that 70% part.... Shocked

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John Denman
Producer for RTMP
http://www.kartweb.com

charles pistorio · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:41 am Post subject:

where is the auto cross close to maryland?

the vega white is probably the best for that type of track.
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Charles Pistorio
Tore Motorsports, Inc.

Brian Garfield · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 am Post subject:

Charles, I'll PM You.

What about the price difference?

The heat characteristics? Obviously if you get too soft you can overheat, even at an autocross. There are no straightaways, per se, so there's no opportunity for them to cool during a run.

But, if the Vegas are not any different than the MG's, I could see more people trying them, IF they're not any different in price.

Brian

charles pistorio · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:03 am Post subject:

the mgs are slightly cheaper. but i think the whites are faster and more consistant.
the vega yellow has a very stiff side wall and soft compound. it is more tempermental then the white and is faster in the rite condition. the yellow likes alot of rubber on the track. if the parking lot is course and no rubber you wont go anywhere with yellows (hp).
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Charles Pistorio
Tore Motorsports, Inc.

Brian Garfield · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:10 am Post subject:

Yeah, it all comes down to the surface, which for Solo is always pretty slippery.
If the tire can generate heat in those conditions, it's definitely advantageous to run them. But it's also how quickly it gets up to temperature, remember, we're talking 60 seconds here and then they're cooling. At Pro Solos, it's only 30 seconds at most.

Brian

Andrew Bell · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 9

What is the typical autocross life on the Vegas? MGs?

Brian Garfield · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject:

I'm not the expert on this, but since nobody else has answered yet, I'll tell you what I've heard.

You can get a full season of autocross only out of them, from what I understand.
When I say a full season, I'm thinking about 15 autocrosses.

My plan is to use the same set for the season until Nationals, and buy a new set for Nationals. That is, unless I feel otherwise throughout the season. Then, use the Nationals set for all locals and have an extra set for National events, or something like that.

Anyone else with actual experience?

Brian

Vernon Head · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject:

I can tell you that MG Greens have won the most National events. They seem to allow the most slip angle and wear pretty well. I personallly don't think they handle bumps very well, but what tire does?

I go through about 4 sets a year, running 25 or so events. After 20 runs or so, they're ready for the track, where I can get probably another 50 laps. I try to use them up completely if I can.

Brian Garfield · Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:46 am Post subject:

Good to hear Vernon. I'm normally pretty particular about having stickies for National events. So it sounds to me like I should be changing more often.
I'm guessing since this first set is going to see a lot of test time, I'll probably change for the Peru Pro.

Brian

Andrew Bell · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 9

Looks like I should stock up too.

Alan Sheidler · Joined: 09 Aug 2001 Posts: 471

I have gone all over the place with regard to tires through a season. Most recetly I have tried to concentrate on having a NEW set for Topeka, and use those to begin the next season. (MG Green) I am not adverse to having another brand new set waiting for that really important event, like maybe the DC Pro. Wink

For track driving, at least where I go, the greens get pretty slippery after a half a dozen laps. For practice/lapping days, you can put almost anything on, and have fun dinking with the chassis to try and get them to work. Always remember what the baseline is for the AX setup, though.

In years past I used to start the season with last year's Nats tires, and buy a new set of MG Yellows. Those things will last 100+ laps if your setup is good and you aren't sliding/overdriving the kart. That way I could take a couple of cold tire laps on the Greens, and put in the miles on the yellows. Last year I just sorted through the odds and ends, used some 6" Maxxis or Bridgestones for the track. Those suckers were hard. I got to play slip and slide for three full track days, easily 150 laps before the air started showing through.

Last year JT and Biff ran Topeka on Hoosier. Deric was definitely in the hunt on the dry day with them. Would be nice if Hoosier decides to apply the usual contingency across to F125, might be worth running them!

Alan