Set a spec tire compound and let the market dictate what people are willing to pay or not pay.

Make the compound hard enough people can get a few races out of them. As far as sealing over goes, I've seen guys buff tires with angle grinders with wire wheels on them and the tires are usable again.

Cost has to be rained in or racing in general is going to become too unaffordable.

I find there is very little "discussion" on this board. It is out of respect for Bill Gardner and what a huge fan he was that I even continue to be a member of this board.

It's the same guys stirring the pot every freakin' time.

RIP D.O., I think of you often (especially when messing with slot cars!)

We run a 360 winged car on a shoestring budget, a good friend
Builds our 1 engine and run lots of used parts, not complaining either. We
buy used tires from teams that are able to put new tires on every night
Sometimes 2 new tires. This helps them and really helps small teams like ours. This year probably will be tougher cuz our group has gone to one tire a night rule, good and bad rule, most nights RR will be smoked off, this will limit good used tires for sure. Other side is all teams will be equal on tires so that can help competition. My hop you throw in another mfg’r that can add to cost because different compounds, this will widen the competition gap and racing might not be as competitive, not good for teams, tracks & especially fans, quality car counts and competitive racing needs to be at the forefront
For everyone involved.

So more than one thing can be true at the same time right?

Like multiple tire suppliers end up being more costly for the teams AND that the current tire supplier is taking advantage of their monopoly situation. The two facts aren't mutually exclusive.

The fix happens the next time tire contracts are renewed. Hopefully there are sanctioning bodies that are exploring future options now.

I for one don't feel like having one tire supplier in control of every major dirt series in the country is a good thing. Especially when that supplier is a multi-billion dollar international corporation that the race tire division is a tiny piece. YRMV

Other than a few cheap shots, I must have missed the rest of the seven pages of discussion here so far.

I worked for a tire company (Michael Tire Cincinnati) back in 87-88. There was tire for small cars, Escorts, Cavaliers etc called Englebert (Angle Bear pronounced) It was the best street tire I every seen or owned, Sold itself. I went to a Ft Wayne Comets game and north of indy there were areas of six inches or more of snow on I69 and I could hold highway speed no problem.

88 Continental buys em out. discontinues it and continental hasn't made a tire to match it since. While I'll take the spec saves teams some $$ Im not sure your getting the best possible product that can be made. Continentals priority is dividends.

Englebert. Wow, Charles. That name knocked some rust off of this memory bank here.

I can remember reading about their relationship with Ferrari back in the 30s, or so. Enzo got in a pissing contest with whoever was the main supplier for GP racing back then and opted for Englebert, then made in their home country of Belgium. The tires were sub-par but Enzo was determined to make his point.

Looking at Wiki (which anyone can do - this is not my memory reporting now) they were really involved, which much more success, in the 50s both in GP, LeMans, and the Mille Miglia. de Portago's fatal crash in the 1957 Mille Miglia however brought Englebert and Ferrari up on manslaughter changes for it was deemed a blown tire caused the disaster. They were subsequently cleared in 1961.

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Engleber...e_manufacturer)

Talk about an open TIRE rule! Pissing contests, failure, success, no balance-of-performance, and people coming up on charges!

I never imagined the company was around as long as you mentioned, Charles.

Well Michael was Uniroyal dealer and Uniroyal owned Englebert till 79 Apparently that's when Continental grabbed it up but we sold em until 88 and they ain't been seen since.

Glad I saved my posts from last month.

’m sick and tired of complaints about a company doing what they need to do to maintain their margin and profit.

I’ve had a price increase in damn near everything I consume for the last two years. Racing isn’t a birthright. If you
don’t want to pay for it, THEN STOP RACING.

I absolutely love and support the consolidation of tire specs. I also love the money that all the tracks / promoters we CHOOSE to race at have cashed that “Hoosier money” for years to support the maintenance of the facilities, their equipment, their points funds, etc.

It’s not a monopoly, it’s a democracy amidst a free market.

Quit it.

But again… what are you actually blaming Hoosier on?

They make a product. They sell a product. They offer money to sanctioning bodies, series and tracks that CHOOSE to take it to run their tires.

The cost to manufacture, distribute, and R&D their tires has increased significantly. So they now charge more. I also pay more for methanol, oil / lubricants, chassis, parts, engine rebuilds, injection, hotels, meals, etc. it’s part of the game.

I also will 100% stay with Hoosier even if given the choice of another brand. Why? Because of their support of the sport and the money they put back into it over several decades. And… they are still testing, evolving new products, etc. When Neil from Hoosier tells me something I listen because I know they’ve put the time, expense, and effort into improving and understanding the product they produce. That also costs money because it’s an employee. That gets paid, has benefits, etc.

I just don’t understand how “they” (Hoosier) have a monopoly. I’m not forced to run their tire the moment I CHOOSE to run a track or series or race that requires it. Much in a similar way that series, sanctioning bodies, promoters, tracks, etc. CHOOSE to align with Hoosier, and have for years. Maybe it’s because it’s a better CHOICE for them. Maybe Hoosier is a better business to deal with.

TCR57, you have made about eight or nine points with that post, and definitely let all know where you stand on this topic. No wishy-washy banter.

Thank you, and many others, no matter which side of the open tire/spec tire side you are on, for addressing the question of the thread that flagboy55 made and started, debating it, and discussing it.

Gotta love the Winter season!