I agree with Jim, we are overworking these tires. many reasons in my opinion; tires are too big and too sticky, wheel offset is too much, we ride the curbs too much, shocks are marginal at best, springs are too strong in order to compensate for the weak shocks.
So what can we do?
I see only 2 options. The first being a harder, smaller tire. This will save some people money. It will cost others money as a new setup is developed that works with a new tire, testing is expensive. This may also have the added benefit of saving some hubs and other suspension parts.
The other option would be a better shock. But this must be done in coordination (maybe not at the same time) as the new tire. It must be tested by multiple people so we don't have any unintended consequences. Price, repeatability, reliability, rebuidability and inspectability must all be part of the equation. And it must be done transparently and phased in over time. Probably a 3-5 year time frame. Known about and publicly tested in year 1, available for use in year 2, required at Majors year 3, required at Regionals in year 4. Non SM classes, such as SSM, SMT SMSE can do what they wish for their local classes.
Changing wheel sizes would be a big expense to the entire class. We consume wheels at a smaller rate than we consume shocks. Plus everybody has multiple sets of wheels, but only 1 set of shocks. Stopping people from using every inch of race track is not going to happen. Springs don't really wear out, tires and shocks do. Changing tires and shocks can be put into a consumable expense.
I am not on any committy, I know nothing more than what I hear at the track and read in the interwebs.
Just my 2 cents
dave
Dave Wheeler
Advanced Autosports, the nations most complete Spec Miata shop
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Building Championship winning cars since 1995
4 time Central Division Spec Miata Champion car builder 2012-2013-2014-2017
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