64 replies to this topic

[Jim Drago]

I dont have much time on teh Sm7 yet.  so far imo opinion, you set up and run similar pressures to that of SM^. I have heard peopl erunning very low and people running very high. We run middle ground 35-36. So far I have not seen the tire to be very sensitive to pressures, but I have not tried very high yet either.

 

I feel the SM^ was an easier tire to drive, the Sm7 has to be driven hard. It never feels as 'stuck" as the SM6 used to feel, but even so, it is often faster. I believe that you have to really dance the SM7 to get the lap times, it may separate the top drivers. I believe teh SM6 brought teh fields closer.

Jim

[Parity]

Jim, those are the pressures I ended up at as well. Hoosier guys wanted 40 PSI.

[Danny Steyn]

I dont have much time on teh Sm7 yet.  so far imo opinion, you set up and run similar pressures to that of SM6. I have heard peopl erunning very low and people running very high. We run middle ground 35-36. So far I have not seen the tire to be very sensitive to pressures, but I have not tried very high yet either.

 

I feel the SM^ was an easier tire to drive, the Sm7 has to be driven hard. It never feels as 'stuck" as the SM6 used to feel, but even so, it is often faster. I believe that you have to really dance the SM7 to get the lap times, it may separate the top drivers. I believe teh SM6 brought teh fields closer.

Jim

 

Agree with everything above. Other noticeable difference, in qualifying laps, mid corner speeds were a few mph faster with SM6 than SM7. However SM7 retained speed entire session and typically delivers fastest laps at the end of the race, whereas the SM6 peaked in the first 3 laps and then got slower thereafter. If money were no object I would run SM6 for qualifying and SM7 for racing.

[Danny Steyn]

And from the Mid Ohio thread, herewith my tire observations

 

• RA1 - really great tire, but hated the shaving different thicknesses for different tracks. Lasted a long time, and we all had so many years on them that everyone had them figured out. Great SM tire
• R888 - struggled at first, got them figured out and then loved them. Switched before we really could dial them in for every track. This tire had potential to be a great SM tire
• SM6 - unbelievably fast sticky tire that had 2-3 hero laps and then would fade. Costliest tire to ever be used in SM - everyone had to sticker up when the field was deep - mid corner speeds just stunning - DESTROYED lots of wheel bearings. Loved everything about this tire except paying for them. Lets please NEVER spec a tire that offers so much more speed when fresh.
• SM7 - an AWESOME SM tire, can get serious HC's, no apparent value to stickering up, typically the fastest laps come at the end of every session. Have not destoyed any bearings on the SM7 despite 8 race weekends and double dipping each weekend. 
• RA1 Unshaved RAIN tire - they desperately try to kill you in the rain, but this tire lasts several seasons and is a tremendous equalizer, as those with talent and larger stones spend more time on the limit.Very little observable performance difference between a fresh set and a set with several HC's
• H20 RAIN tire - most expensive SM tire ever. Even more so than SM6. Just a single rain session and it is immediately slower than a set of fresh sharp H20's. In 4 years on RA1's I used two sets, but I am on my 5th set of H20's in two years and way less rain sessions. I would love to see a more durable rain tire specified for SM. But this tire makes everyone feel like a hero in the rain, Just amazing water pumping action. Sucks to be the driver behind trying to find a way around, just cannot see anything.
• HOOSIER - Love their product, and their service - just don't like spending so much on tires. would like to see them stay on as SM supplier
• TOYO - have decent tires, but no real service to speak of. Seem to be very active with NASA. Would be my 2nd choice for SM tire supplier

[FTodaro]

I think the SM7 is similar to the BFG, g force, as a harder compound, I do not think heat cycling the tire is as critical as it was with the 6. It appears to be fast in most places.