Our track allows tread tires to burn out, just not in the water. Back in the water to wet the tread, then pull forward out of the water and let 'er rip. Check with the track. How much burn, if at all, will depend on your particular combo. Experiment. We run a KOS class that requires stock street radials. For those of us that overpower street radials, hotter is better. If you need more traction than cold tires give you, more heat will be more bite. I have found that leaving the box at about 200* will give me about 140* tread temp at the line if we don't jack around too long. 140*-160* is about the best range I have found. On my car, below 100* tread temp is no hook at all. If your car doesn't need the tire heat to hook, then spare your tread.