Snow Tires for Playing in the Dirt

[odi]

I'm sad to see my new SS4 rallyx class legal street tires go to s*$t after practicing in the dirt (I like to drive in the dirt alot).
I use these tires for daily street driving and rallyx events. The events do not harm them too much because they are short. But practicing kills them fast.

I have an extra set of 16"'s and would like to utilize them by buying some long lasting tires to practice on in the dirt. Would winter tires last longer than regular street tires in the dirt? Is the sidewall of a winter tire as soft as a street tire? A light truck tire like Kyle's BFG's would be cool, but my car is not powerfull enough for that big of a diameter increase.

Maybe I should just save up for 15"s & rally tires, move up to rally class, and use my street tires for daily street driving and the rally combo for both rallyx and practice.

What do you guys think?

[lminette]

I just saw the Hankook Ipikes and they look pretty sick. They have large sipes yet look relatively streetable.

[martinus]

Snowtires are a softer compound, so yes. They would wear much faster ...

I been buying my snow tires around now or in a month. That way they are @ full tread-depth for the winter, and last through all the summer http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/vr6gti72/shenanigans.gif ( read : rallycross, autocross, the occasional poker-run. If you get the v-rated ones they are purdy decent in the dry with the squrriel-y tread worn down to the wear-bars. :D ) til lI need new ones .

[odi]

Kind of a silly question, but how much longer do rally tires last in the dirt than a good set of winter or street tires.

I am hoping that they last much longer. But I know that rubber compound must be soft on rally tires for maximum tration.

I really want to buy some tuff tires to be able to drive in the dirt for a while without wearing them very soon. My sessions driving in the dirt are usually haulted due to a tire dismount or blow out.

[409industries]

shennagins!

I dunno man, i've been beating on my same set of M+S tires for at least half a dozen rallycrosses and several dry lakebed events. I think a lot of it depends on what surface you are on. Hard gravel is obviously going to tear up your tires much quicker than soft silty dry lake bed.

Im thinking that winter tires will last longer simply due to the fact that their treadwear rating is so much more than street tires. Like having thicker soles on your shoes!

[UP2MTNS]

sometimes I feel like a dunlop sales guy.


I really, really, really, like my Dunlop Winter sport 3D. They were expensive, but that's because I put them on 17" rims. I drove them on the street every day from January to May...about 8K miles. And I've raced every rallyX in them this year. They still have at least half their tread left.

V-Rated....so they corner decent....agressive tread pattern, killer in the snow. SM4 legal. (cough). They keep me up there with Tam and Phil, so I see no need to go any more aggressive. I've debeaded a few times, but I also drive really aggressive in rallyX's....I run them at 45-50psi and they're still doing well, so......

Next season I think I'm going to get some 15" rally rims and put the same tire on them. I don't want rims with dedicated rally tires because I still need snow tires for winter and until I get a service vehicle and put a cage in my car, I still need to be somewhat practical.