RE-71R experiment?

[Z1NONLY]

The new RE-71R "street tire" from Bridgestone seems to be running and more importantly wearing, like a race tire with a tread pattern...and a 200 treadwear rating to make it "legal" for the street-tire classes.

Many people seem to be reporting accelerated wear over previous street-tire offerings from various manufacturers. I would like to quantify this in an experiment.

I'm considering:

1)Fitting a Miata (small, cheap tire sizes) with RE71R's on one side and RE-11A's on the other.

2)Use a traction circle and a pyrometer to set appropriate air pressures for each pair of tires.

2)Constructing a symmetrical course and running it in both directions, repeatedly, with consistent drivers. (-making sure that each driver splits their directional numbers evenly)

3)Document wear with before and after tread-depth measurements and pictures.


*IF* there is a huge difference between two different tires that a single manufacturer has rated with identical tread-wear ratings, then I think it's fair to say that Bridgstone was incorrect with its treadwear rating process/number and the exclusion list should be considered.

If the RE71R's wear similar to the RE11A's, great. But if there is a gross difference in wear, the SCCA has an exclusion list and the RE71R should be on it.

I fear that allowing tire manufacturers to stamp "200 treadwear" on the side of a compound that isn't even close...without repercussions...will be bad for autocrossing.

So, before I bother to set up this process:

-Does anyone even care?

-What other variables should I try to control for?