28 Dec 2012 : 2013 Tire Policy

FROM: JOHN RASTETTER - TIRE RACK

PRODUCT INFO MEMO: 12 - 046

DATE: DECEMBER 20, 2012

SUBJECT: 2013 Tire Rack One Lap Of America Tire Policy

The 2013 Tire Rack One Lap of America organized by Brock Yates is the modern evolution of his infamous Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dashes of the 1970's. As such, these annual contests challenge automotive manufacturers, vehicle tuners and driving enthusiasts alike.

Competition in the 30th Tire Rack One Lap of America will start at Tire Rack's headquarters in South Bend, Indiana on Saturday, May 4, 2013. The first event will be a wet skidpad challenge conducted at Tire Rack before the competitors begin their weeklong trek, stopping off at many of America's racetracks for timed competition. The final performance test in this year's event will be a dry (weather permitting) skidpad challenge at Tire Rack on Saturday, May 11, followed by the awards presentation.

Eligible Tire Brands

The Tire Rack One Lap of America competitors can select tires from the participating tire brands listed below in 2013:

BFGoodrich

Bridgestone

Continental

Dunlop

Firestone

General

Goodyear

Hankook

Kumho

Michelin

Pirelli

Yokohama

Each vehicle is required to be equipped with tires from a single brand.

Offering these multiple tire brands should reduce the difficulties of finding appropriate sized tires to fit unique vehicles, as well as minimize problems due to availability from the tire manufacturers.

The same set of tires will be used throughout the event unless changes are deemed necessary for safety reasons by the organizers.

Two spare tires and wheels are permitted. Because many vehicles entered in Tire Rack One Lap of America are fitted with different sized tires and wheels on their front and rear axles, one spare tire and wheel for each size used on the vehicle can be carried in the vehicle or on a tag-a-long trailer.

Regardless of what tires were fitted to a vehicle as Original Equipment, only street legal tires with a minimum UTQG Treadwear Rating of 140 will be allowed. No racing slicks or Track & Competition DOT-legal tires will be permitted.

Tire shaving is not permitted and all tires, including spare tires, must begin the event with a minimum of 7/32-inch tread depth (to be confirmed during pre-event vehicle inspection) and complete the event with a minimum of 2/32-inch of remaining tread depth (to be confirmed during post-event vehicle inspection) at no less than 2 points around the tire's circumference that are approximately 180-degrees apart.

In order to assure that all tires are standard street legal tires as sold by their manufacturers to the general public; all participants are required to purchase the tires they use during the event directly from Tire Rack.

The 2013 One Lap of America tires will have unique identification permanently branded into their sidewall to clearly identify their origin. Vehicles will not be allowed to participate in the event unless their tires have the required identification branding.

Tires must be purchased and installed on competition vehicles before they arrive in South Bend for registration. This will allow tires to be broken-in before the event and minimize the possibility of newly mounted tires slipping on the wheels during rapid acceleration or braking, which could allow them to go out of balance and cause vibrations.

Tires purchased through this program are not returnable, even if they have never been mounted.

Competitors who wish to use tires left over from the 2012 OLoA event (unused spare tires, for example) will be allowed to do so provided that:

• tires are of a brand participating in the 2013 event (see list above)

• tires are identified with their "OLOA 2012" branding

• have at least 7/32-inch of tread depth at the beginning of the 2013 event

If you have any doubts about the eligibility of your 2012 tires, contact Tire Rack.

Tire Selection

Since the team's cumulative track time is used to determine the winner, most One Lap of America competitors will be best served by tires from the following Tire Rack tire categories:

Extreme Performance Summer

Max Performance Summer

Ultra High Performance Summer

Street/Sport Truck Summer

With Tire Rack approval, teams may select tires from other tire categories manufactured by the participating tire manufacturers.

If none of the participating tire brands offers a tire size that can be fitted to the vehicle, then Tire Rack will consider approving alternate street tires.

Tire Sponsorship

The participating tire manufacturers have agreed to sponsor all 2013 Tire Rack One Lap of America teams using their product by supporting a 25% rebate fulfilled by Tire Rack for tires purchased directly from Tire Rack. The 25% rebate will be based on the selling price identified on the www.tirerack.com website at the time of purchase and applies only to the cost of tires. It does not apply to the cost of any other products, taxes or shipping.

Teams can purchase a total of 10 tires for their OLoA registered vehicle that will be eligible for the rebate (four tires are suggested for pre-event testing with the remaining six tires for use/spares during the event). While teams may desire to compare tires from different manufacturers in their pre-event testing, regardless of which tires are selected, only the first 10 tires per registered vehicle will receive the 25% rebate. Additional tires for use in the event must be bought through Tire Rack to receive the required tire identification branding and will be sold at our everyday low retail prices. They will not be eligible for any discount or rebate.

In order to process tire orders quickly, the team representative ordering tires will ultimately receive multiple invoices. The first will be for the full cost of the tires and shipping. The second will be for the 25% rebate, which will be processed after event organizers confirm the team has completed registration at Tire Rack and their entered vehicle has begun competition.

During event registration and vehicle inspection, the tire manufacturer's name will be painted on the outboard sidewalls of all tires to be used in competition.

The tire manufacturer's logo will be required to be placed on both sides of the vehicle.

Participant Order Processing

Only a team representative whose name appears on the OLoA website's final 2013 Entrants List will be eligible for the rebate, The team representative should call toll free (888) 370-8473 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Identify themselves as a One Lap of America competitor, and provide entrant and vehicle information.

NOTE: Competitors cannot place One Lap of America tire orders through tirerack.com because the website cannot implement the unique identification branding required by the program rules or process the competitors' rebate.

UPS or FedEx Ground Service is the most cost effective method available, and usually results in one- to two-day deliveries. Overnight service is available, but expensive due to the weight of tires.