Do I need to shave my Victoracer V700's?

[Emission]

This is my first "racing" post after nearly a decade of DE events (the last 5 years in my 930)!

My friend and I just went in on a '98 Boxster for Spec Racing (BS-X). It's in decent condition (new engine and clutch are the critical components), but not nice enough to feel guilty about gutting down the road as we advance.

Long story short, for BS-X the car remains mostly stock (we do get to put Bilstein PSS9's on it). The chosen tire is the "Kumho Victoracer V700" in 225/45-17 front and 255/40-17 rear.

I am about to purchase them "heat cycled," but Tire Rack "highly recommends" they are shaved. Since we are going to use this car on the public streets for the summer, and at several non-competitive DE events while we get it sorted, do we have to shave them at this point in the game? (Tire Rack warns of uneven wear or chunking.)

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

- Mike

(Pic below: Yesterday, after her first wash. She won't look this innocent for long...)

[dfink]

Unless you really want to get that extra little bit speed out of them right away I wouldn't worry about shaving them. You can save the $60 and have more tire to wear out. I have run shaved and non shaved. The shaved did NOT last longer than the unshaved tires. They did perhaps stick better right away. Get a second set of tires and wheels and you can heat cycle them your self. You get save the heat cycle money plus get the seat time doing it. If racing you will want a least two sets anyhow incase something happens like a flat tire or you cord a set part way through the day.
So if you want your maximum usfullness don't heat cycle or shave. If you want maximum performance right away do both.
Other opinions may vary many threads on this already.

[jaydubya]

I used the victoracers for almost 10 years.

I agree with dfink, no need to shave. They will be a little squirmy for the first few sessions but this will go away quickly. Nowhere near as bad as the RA-1s in terms of tread squirm.

I always heat cycled them through tire rack. I never tried them without heat cycling so I can't offer any comparision information.

Have fun!

Jeff

[Emission]

You both agree with my assumptions.

We won't be pushing it 10/10ths on this first set of tires, and we aren't running competitive yet...

I will get them heat cycled at Tire Rack (only $15 per tire) and run them full depth on the street and at DE events through the summer.

This Fall, I will get a second set (wheels/tires) shaved and ready for competition.

Thanks guys.

[nostatic]

i learned something today. Don't put new unshaved RA-1s on the front mated to half-worn RA-1s on the back. Freaking nightmare of understeer hooking up just when you dno't expect it...

[Emission]

Originally posted by nostatic
i learned something today. Don't put new unshaved RA-1s on the front mated to half-worn RA-1s on the back. Freaking nightmare of understeer hooking up just when you dno't expect it...

Did you find this out on the track, or the streets?

[ronbo456]

My mechanic runs V700s on his 944s heat cycled but not shaved, so I am doing likewise.

BTW, I heat cycled the tires myself - warmed them up for half an hour then took them off and put them in the garage for a week. Nothing to compare to, but they seem to work fine. Gobs of grip once they heat up. I don't even know the tread is there (of course, it won't be for long ).

[nostatic]

Originally posted by Emission
Did you find this out on the track, or the streets?

track. Fun during a cup race. Not.

[Tim L]

just don't push them too hard they will blister.