How often can you mount and dismount tires?

I'm deciding if I want a separate set of wheels and tires for auto-x/DE. My other option would be to just get a second set of tires and change back and forth with my street tires. Is there a limit to how many times this can be done? Will it hurt the tires? If there is a limit what is it? TIA

I don't know how many times tires can be remounted without harm, but that option doesn't sound like a very attractive one to me, as it would be expensive and time consuming over the long haul. I like the separate set of wheels/tires route best, but the second choice would be to mount something like Michelin Cups and use them on the street too. That assumes that much of your driving is on track/autocross. If I didn't do track/autocross very often, I'd probably just buy a good set of sticky summer max performance street tires and use them for everything.

Lance, Swapping tires on rims is probably not a good idea. Every time you dismount and mount a tire you risk damage to the rim. Every time you drive on the track you risk damage to your rims. By doing both with your street wheels you are pretty much assured of messing them up in a hurry. Just look at dedicated track wheels next time you are at the track. They're generally a mess. Also, I'm not big on the idea of tracking your car on your street tires unless it's absolutely necessary. How your tires wear at the track tell you a great deal about tire pressures, tire temps, camber, driving habits, etc. You loose that information by using the same tires on the street that you use on the track. Just my $.02 worth. Jim

I used to swap snow and summer tires on the same set of rims. After four or five years the rims were so damaged that they would barely hold air. Go with two sets of rims if you are going to be switching tires a lot (or even just a couple of times a year).

Ok....scrap the tire changing idea. What if I mounted some Hoosiers or Kumhos just for the auto-x season and drove around on them? Would they just disintegrate with the street miles?

I used to do that on the early BFG R-1s about 15 years ago before I got separate wheels and tires. I certainly wouldn't do that with Hoosiers, or the new Kumhos (not yet out) that sound like Hoosier clones. Although DOT approved (I don't know how they did that), they are just not intended for the street because they puncture, flat spot, wear, and pick up crap too easily. They also go away (sour, go off) after only a few heat cycles. It might be somewhat more reasonable to drive on the Michelin Cups or Kumhos that way. Face it now or later; separate track wheels and tires are the least problematic way to go.

It looks like an extra set of wheels is my only option at this point. Can anybody recommend a cheap set of wheels for a widebody 996? I'm not too concerned about build quality since I'll be mostly using them for auto-x where speeds are low.

Lance, You could go the exact opposite way, and get a sweet set of aftermarket rims (Ruf, Techart, etc) and use the stock rims for auto-x

True...but I just don't feel like spending the extra cash for nice wheels. I'd rather go the cheap route for now and then upgrade later on if I decide to.

LanceK...or you could talk to wheel enhancement (no affiliation whatsoever) and get a set of Turbo Hollow spokes (with delivery miles).....throw a set of Michelin Sport Cups/Pirelli Zero Corsa's on them ...and you're out for ~$3.3k.