Slicks vs. R1 Radials
 

Other than street vs. mod classing, what's the difference between slicks and R1 compound street tires like the V700 or BFG R1?

I've read that slicks can be lighter. Is there any real difference in dry weather grip or sidewall stiffness?

Thanx in advance. :)

True slicks will take more heat to bring them up to optimal temp, but they will be stickier then a DOT tire. They are lighter as you stated.

The 245/40/R17 Yokohama A032R on my 20lb rims weigh in at 46lbs at 39psi cold (so 26lbs of tire/air).

I'm not sure about the weight of the Kumho V700 Victo or Hoosier A3S03 is in a comparable size.

It's 26 lbs of tire. The air doesn't weigh much ;)

I met with some 240z racers today at an autocross, and one of them had some 15" slicks on ~8" wide steel wheels. The combination felt like it weighed in the neighborhood of 35 pounds, and there appeared to be 9-10" of contact patch there. I'm sure that wheel alone weighed 20 pounds.

Some guy in a rusty old 240z got the top time, but that guy could really drive, and the car was well prepped.

Sounds like he was running some of the Formula Atlantic front tires. They work pretty good on our heavy cars for autocrossing but they die very quickly during track events. On a longer autocross course they might overheat also.

He said he got them from grassroots motorsports as take-offs for like $80 apiece. I really like the old Z cars and the type of people who race them. Some of those badboys are stripped beyond the bare metal! One of them had two supertrapps coming right out the front of the engine bay under the grille. :eek: That's function over form in a big way!

It's hard to say about sidewall stiffness. It depends on which size tire you get. Some classes have softer sidewall tires because of the size they run... ie taller sidewalls.
The slicks will definitely weigh less. The cords are usually nylon, versus steel.
FP is a good class. That's where I'm headed with my FC.