Road legal track day tyres could be outlawed

[Andyk]

Just read this in EVO....Not good.

New legislation on tyre labelling and accompanying minimum standards to be introduced simultaneously in Nov 2012 will effectively end the production of road legal trackday tyres. Tyres likely to be axed include Dunlop Direzza, Toyo 888, Mich Pilot Sport Cup and AvonACB10 and others.

The aim of the new reg is both raise all-round performance standards and to give buyers a greater understanding of the performance and enviromental impact of each particular tyre before purchase. All road legal tyres will have to display rating figs and rolling resistance, external noise and wet grip and will the min rating system and min levels have yet to be set it is unlikely that the track biased tyres will be able to pass on all counts.

Tyre manufactures are currently lobbying the European Parliament but it will be very difficult for them to make a successful argument for tyres that allow drivers to corner faster in the dry but offer significantly lower level of performance the moment the surface becomes damp.