Tire Limiting Process Proposal
#28303 from Spec Miata Committee · Member feedback requested · Minutes (2020-03 Fastrack)
The SMAC is requesting input from the SM community for the Tire Limiting Proposal. Please provide
feedback though the letter log system by Sunday, March 15. http://www.clubracingboard.com/
Below is an outline of a theoretical process of how a tire limiting strategy might work.
Outline of Proposal:
1. Competitor comes to registration at beginning of the weekend to pick up their registration
packet. In the registration packet with the tech sheet is a tire claim card and a tire claim
sticker. The tire claim card and tire claim sticker will have a spot for the competitor to record
or claim the serial number of (5) new or used tires to be used for all timed sessions on track
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throughout the race weekend. The serial number will be molded into the sidewall of the
Hoosier tire form the factory.
2. Once competitor chooses which 5 tires they are choosing to run, they will record the 5
serial numbers on the tire claim card and the tire claim sticker.
3. The tire claim card and tire claim sticker need to be presented to tech with the standard
tech form to receive a tech sticker for the weekend. Tech will take and keep the tire claim
card on file. Tech will verify that the serial numbers on the tire claim card match the serial
numbers on the tire claim sticker.
4. Competitor to place the tire claim sticker inside the rear windshield on the driver’s side so
that it may be viewed from outside the car by tech and will not be impacted by weather.
5. Competitor may only use claimed tires in all qualifying and race sessions throughout the
event.
6. Practice sessions do not require the claimed tires to be used. Any tire may be used for
practice sessions.
7. In the event of a flat spotted or damaged tire the competitor may replace the damaged tire
with the 5th tire that they have claimed on the tire claim sheet with no penalty.
8. If a competitor needs to put a non-claimed tire on the car due to multiple tires being
damaged, then they lose the times from the previous sessions which would then require
them to start from the back for the next session.
Example 1 - You flat spot tires in Q1 and you need to put a non-claimed tire on the car you would
lose your qualifying times for Q1 which would then require you to start from the back of Q2.
Example 2 - You flat spot tires in Race 1 and require a non-claimed tire to be put on the car for Race
2 then you would start at the back for Race 2, but would keep your finishing position from Race 1.
As with any new change in process and rules there can be both positive and negative impacts.
We have outlined below a few positives and negatives we would like you to consider when
evaluating your position on the need for a tire limiting strategy for Spec Miata Super Tour
Events.
Positives:
• Reduced tire cost for all competitors who would normally use more than one set per
weekend.
• Possible increased competitiveness for those who were not using multiple sets of tires per
weekend.
• Reduced number of tires to be hauled to the track, mounted, stored, swapped, etc.
Negatives:
• Essentially requires a new set of tires for every event to be competitive.
• You would be penalized by no fault of your own for an on track incident. i.e. you get hit and
spun.
• Opportunity to use multiple sets of used tires per weekend is not possible increasing the cost
for competitors who normally manage their used tires for a race weekend.
• Additional requirements from tech and the volunteer community to implement a plan like
this may not make it possible.
• Tire issues such as blistered tires or defective tires would leave you no recourse.
• Tire cost may increase (less than $5.00 per tire) to have the serial numbers molded into the
tires.
• Could cause a safety issue if a competitor chooses to run a damaged or compromised tire
rather than start at the back.
• Some competitors will likely use all 5 tires in a given weekend which could cause other to
feel like they have to do the same to be competitive.
• Could impact the number of tires purchased at the track which might affect the support
from tire suppliers.
• Could impact the number of tires sold by Hoosier for each event which could cause tire
prices to increase in the future to make up for the loss in sales.
• Reduction of low heat cycle used tires that many front runners sell off to other racers
trying to control tire costs.
Questions:
• Will the CRB/BOD support this plan?
• Will Hoosier support this plan?
• Can this be implemented at events outside of Super Tours, such as at Majors?
• Does it actually reduce tire costs?
• Is this what is best for the class given the survey results?
• Do the positives outweigh the negatives?
• Can tech support the logistics and implementation of the plan and effectively penalize?
Spec Miata Community:
The SMAC is now asking that competitors review the tire survey results and provide feedback on
both the survey and the draft proposed tire limiting process. This feedback will be formally
requested in the What Do You Think (WDYT) in the March 2020 Fastrack.