State Inspection Needed for SCCA Track Night?

[19OWGT350]

My car wouldn’t pass inspection today because they said that my Cup 2s with 2k miles on them were worn out even though there’s plenty of tread. I’m not putting new tires on to go to the track.

My question is, do they require a current, valid inspection to drive the car at the event? I couldn’t tell from the information online.

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[DrumReaper]

Hmmm... that’s interesting. I wouldn’t except the average Joe at the inspection site to recognize SC2 treadwear when half of the Forex techs can’t.

 

[matthewr87]

I don't know about SCCA Track Night specifically, but I've attended several SCCA HPDE events through my local chapter and you need to submit a tech inspection form (can be self inspected) and then at the actual event they check your brakes and underhood to make sure there are no leaks.

People run all kinds of non-road legal vehicles so I don't think they care about state inspection.

 

[NoXiDe]

My car wouldn’t pass inspection today because they said that my Cup 2s with 2k miles on them were worn out even though there’s plenty of tread. I’m not putting new tires on to go to the track.

My question is, do they require a current, valid inspection to drive the car at the event? I couldn’t tell from the information online.

This doesn't make sense. I bet you could have brought brand new cup tires and they would have failed you still. I recommend you go elsewhere and get it inspected by educated folks. In fact, I would have pulled up the tirerack.com in front of them and shown them this is what factory is and this is where mine are using a thread gauge. /32s I'll also share you will need to start to educate people you talk to people most have not seen cup tires unless your into motorsports.

 

[DrumReaper]

This doesn't make sense. I bet you could have brought brand new cup tires and they would have failed you still. I recommend you go elsewhere and get it inspected by educated folks. In fact, I would have pulled up the tirerack.com in front of them and shown them this is what factory is and this is where mine are using a thread gauge. /32s I'll also share you will need to start to educate people you talk to people most have not seen cup tires unless your into motorsports.

Exactly...

 

[Bitten in '69]

Minimum allowed tread depth in PA is 2/32. If you didn't make the inspector show you where you were in violation of that, it is on you.

 

[nordique14]

You do not need a state technical inspection. Some cars there will be trailered and not even be licensed for the street. They will certainly not have a state inspection.

what you do need is a technical inspection by a qualified mechanic (which could be self tech if you know your way around the car). As long as the tires have enough meat on them to survive a track day you are fine.

 

[NoXiDe]

You do not need a state technical inspection. Some cars there will be trailered and not even be licensed for the street. They will certainly not have a state inspection.

what you do need is a technical inspection by a qualified mechanic (which could be self tech if you know your way around the car). As long as the tires have enough meat on them to survive a track day you are fine.

I’d recommend a self inspect. I paid for the inspection and I thought it was the biggest scam ever. Not a single bolt was checked. It seemed like the inspection was an opportunity for them to sell you stuff. Ah no thanks, just got my brake fluid done 1000 miles ago. I was mostly livid about my suspension and etc not being checked. I could have done a better job. Haha

 

[Tomster]

2k miles and how much wear? Did you measure the depth of the tread? Did they?

The GT350R cup 2s have wear bars. Is your tread depth down into them?

The GT500CFTP has a newer version of cup 2s that have wear indents on the outer slick side of the tire.

So I dont know what the inspector was looking at, but I have a hard time believing that a tire with 2k miles is past the point of an acceptable track day inspection. I would download the tire specs, talk with another official, and point out that is how the tire is built. The guy should already know this..... cup 2s are not uncommon.

Pics please.

Edit to add:
I was digging through the manufacturers literature pertaining to tread depth and the wear bars. Here is what it says:

TREAD WEAR BARS INDICATE THE LIMIT OF TREAD LIFE MICHELIN® tires contain “Wear-Bars” in the tire tread grooves at 2/32nds of an inch (1.6mm). When the tread remaining matches the height of the Wear Bars, your tires must be replaced to ensure tire safety. Tires worn beyond this stage are extremely dangerous. For more information on checking tread depth, visit Safe Driving at michelinman.com and read the illustrated how-to information on tire inspection.

 

[matthewr87]

So I dont know what the inspector was looking at, but I have a hard time believing that a tire with 2k miles is past the point of an acceptable track day inspection. I would download the tire specs, talk with another official, and point out that is how the tire is built. The guy should already know this..... cup 2s are not uncommon.

My understanding is the OPs car did not pass STATE inspection, and he was worried that the SCCA would frown upon him bringing a car without state inspection to the event.

 

[19OWGT350]

This doesn't make sense. I bet you could have brought brand new cup tires and they would have failed you still. I recommend you go elsewhere and get it inspected by educated folks. In fact, I would have pulled up the tirerack.com in front of them and shown them this is what factory is and this is where mine are using a thread gauge. /32s I'll also share you will need to start to educate people you talk to people most have not seen cup tires unless your into motorsports.

Funny that you said this...it is exactly what I did!

 

[19OWGT350]

My understanding is the OPs car did not pass STATE inspection, and he was worried that the SCCA would frown upon him bringing a car without state inspection to the event.

Exactly... After some more research, I’m thinking I’m fine with the HPDE. I’ll just figure out a plan to pass the state inspection (not the first time I’ve had to be creative about this )

I have two new sets of Cup 2s... Worse case, they may just end up being my track tires.

 

[19OWGT350]

2k miles and how much wear? Did you measure the depth of the tread? Did they?

The GT350R cup 2s have wear bars. Is your tread depth down into them?

The GT500CFTP has a newer version of cup 2s that have wear indents on the outer slick side of the tire.

So I dont know what the inspector was looking at, but I have a hard time believing that a tire with 2k miles is past the point of an acceptable track day inspection. I would download the tire specs, talk with another official, and point out that is how the tire is built. The guy should already know this..... cup 2s are not uncommon.

Pics please.

Edit to add:
I was digging through the manufacturers literature pertaining to tread depth and the wear bars. Here is what it says:

TREAD WEAR BARS INDICATE THE LIMIT OF TREAD LIFE MICHELIN® tires contain “Wear-Bars” in the tire tread grooves at 2/32nds of an inch (1.6mm). When the tread remaining matches the height of the Wear Bars, your tires must be replaced to ensure tire safety. Tires worn beyond this stage are extremely dangerous. For more information on checking tread depth, visit Safe Driving at michelinman.com and read the illustrated how-to information on tire inspection.

So, the outermost groove was right at 2/32nds, but the other 2 had plenty of tread. I have another set of brand new Cup 2s and that outer groove is shallow and has no wear bars that I can see.

They failed them because of the outer groove

 

[Tomster]

So, the outermost groove was right at 2/32nds, but the other 2 had plenty of tread. I have another set of brand new Cup 2s and that outer groove is shallow and has no wear bars that I can see.

They failed them because of the outer groove

Thats how cup 2s are. People are idiots. The guy who inspected your car didn't know about a cup 2? What an idiot.

You were wronged. Maybe that is the reason that they put a wear depression on the GT500CFTP version of cup2s.

Sorry to hear. Arm yourself with info for next time.

 

[19OWGT350]

Thats how cup 2s are. People are idiots. The guy who inspected your car didn't know about a cup 2? What an idiot.

You were wronged. Maybe that is the reason that they put a wear depression on the GT500CFTP version of cup2s.

Sorry to hear. Arm yourself with info for next time.

I’m good... I didn’t buy tires. I knew they were wrong, but I couldn’t convince two inspectors that they were wrong! I just need to find someone that knows what they’re looking at...

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