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2012 Laguna Seca - Tire Strategy
2012 Laguna Seca - Tire Strategy
May 08 2012 03:20:10 AM ESTESPN
Laguna Seca has been a place of drama, surprises, ups, and downs.

For 2012 we see the race being moved back to May (11' was in September). This means it will be warmer then before. Tires played a key factory in the 2011 race which saw the Corvettes finishing 5th and 7th due to tire durability and degradation. What is the difference?

Tire Durability is the predictability of performance loss of the tires over a stint.

Tire Degradation is the severe abrupt unpredictable loss of tire performance due to overheating and over-stressing the tires.

For 2012 Michelin have supplied Corvette Racing with a larger and improved set of tires. We have seen the BMW's Dunlops progressively get better as the stint goes on. The Michelin's still fall off near the end, but are they improved enough? They will have 6hrs to find out.