Tires are like an addiction...You never have enough.
If you only ever run one or two tracks, you won't need nearly the same tire inventory as you will when you travel.
As an example: most midwest tracks don't bite up enough to ever require thin flat cut Burris. But if you ever attend a big Burris money race on a track that bites up hard, you will have to be on Burris punching 60+ that are cut flat and about corded.
If your local track is prepared the same each week, then you pretty much know what to expect for available grip, lap times changing, etc. Consistent track prep (and preceding weather) and consistent car counts make tire choices considerably easier.
As far as wear...that will depend on the brand of tire, the level of competitiveness you choose, the HP & weight of your kart, and how abrasive the track is.
You could choose to run an uncut, unprepped, full rubber tire such as Burris or Hoosier for several years but never be real competitive against the guys that are on (the right) cut tires and prep. Again, choice of speed vs cost.
Thin rubber tires obviously start out life with less rubber. Maxxis is around .050-.060" tread depth. A new Burris is around .110." Obviously cutting these two brands of tires is approached very differently.
I've had personal sets of Burris that were 10 years old and VERY competitive when the application called for them.
Then again, I've been to Maxxis races where we wore the shoulders off the tires each time we hit the track.
Big HP karts are obviously harder on tires than stock classes. In addition, heavier weight classes are harder on tires as well. A 265# Jr1 kart won't abuse tires like a 430# Jawa.
I've seen Maxxis run competitively 20 races or more on midwest black organic dirt tracks, while the guys in the south may have to flip them during the race night if the track gets abrasive and/or fast. Even without much wear, couple nights on Maxxis and all the roll speed is gone on red clay higher biting momentum tracks. Little bullrings that never bite up obviously won't abuse those same tires as much.
Then consider that we refinish tires from week to week. You will remove more rubber from your tires by sanding them then by racing them.
Having more tires in your aresenal is always a good thing. Knowing which 4 to put on your kart at the right time is the real challenge.
No matter how quickly you are going through tires, you will always want more...
Addiction with no Betty Ford, AA, or 10 Step Program to save you.
Kind of an in-depth answer that may have been more than you were looking for, but hopefully it helps.
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Thanks and God bless,
Brian Carlson
Carlson Racing Engines
Vector Cut
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www.CarlsonMotorsports.com
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32 years of service to the karting industry ~ 1Cor 9:24
Linden, IN
765-339-4407
bcarlson@CarlsonMotorsports.com