What slicks do you use?

[Hal Copple]

My biggest concern with my Hoosier road race Radials, which i bought used for about $40 apiece, and are mounted on an extra set of Trigos, was that they would be a very sudden "break-away" race tire. I am no race driver, for sure.

At the last VIR SPF event, my son and I drove or 70 miles on the infield track, .7 miles, with top speeeds about 95 mph or so. I found the tires to be very very forgiving, and not at all abrupt in break-away. Even a novice like me could decide how much to hang out the rear and let it stay there. No detectable wear (remember they are used).

Read in Grassroots Motorsports mag recently where they tested a number of DOT race tires, and they too found the Radial Hoosier's to be very forgiving and predictable, the most important trait for me. Also the fastest, if that is important to you.

Mac DeMere, senior tire test driver for Michelein, who drives instrumented cars all day long, at their SC test track (an incredible facility, by the way), told me that folks tend to think that race tires, like mine, are very slippery until they are properly warmed up, but that "cold" they actually give about as much grip as the Goodyear GT II's i run on the street. He told me that my car runs about 1.25-1.3 G's with the Hoosiers.

Mac did a lot of instruction in our SPF, and commented that with the Race Olthoff Bilsteins and their thicker upgraded rear antiroll bar, it was absolutely top notch, and very fast.

He called it "one very sticky car."

They are a very light tire, too, which helps in our light cars. Apparantly, they use a higher air pressure rather than more carcass to make it adequately stiff.

I have 245 series tires front, 275 in the rear, both 50 aspect.

I would not even think of running them on a wet surface.

[Tom T.]

Hal,

Right, exactly--the very low wear rate is pretty incredible--I don't know your age, but if you're around mine (53) you'll recall that when the major tire companies started introducing radials on a wide basis that one of the big selling points was longer wear. Seems to work that way on the track, too!

TT

[crillyiv]

When y'all mention "Hoosier Road Race Radials" are you speaking of the R3SO3? I would rather ask a dumb question than make an assumption.

I have no shame, as some of you know

[RACER X #99]

Tom,
I think you are right about the wear. I can wear out a set of slicks in 4 track days while the BFG R 1's used to last me 6 days.

Of course the radials cost more $150 vs $100

Cranky

[Hank Dondero]

I have to echo the responses so far regarding the R3S03s. I found that once warmed, and properly inflated, throttle modulation will allow you to "steer" with confidence and accuracy. Only time I felt the tires to be squirmy was when they where hot in very hot track temps. Sidewall flex would increase. (Running 22 lbs front, 23 lbs rear cold).

Great tires that last quite a while on our light cars.

Hank
FFR 1776-II

[coyled]

I have run both the goodyear slicks and hoosier streat td's in bias ply. The hoosiers tend to hunt more when they are cold but I think the hoosiers last longer on the track. I also ran more tire preasure in the hoosiers and less in the goodyears for ultimate bite, don't know why?. I just baught a new set of goodyears which roger K. told me are a step or 2 harder than the old goodyears I was running. Maybe these will last longer. They may take longer to build heat though. Scott

[a427sc]

Scott

The TD's are a harder compound than the Goodyears. The softer tires will build more heat faster, thus the softer initial PSI. The "real" slicks also use a stiffer sidewall, so less pressure needed to hold the contact patch.

Are you gonning to come play with us at BeaverRun?

Don

[Jamo]

OK--be honest--anyone run tubes in your TDs? I never have--love the light weight.

[aumoore]

Where are you guys finding these used race tires for $40 each? I have done a google search and found nothing. I want to put a inexpensive set of race tires and track rims for autocross and track events. I just don't want to spend $500 for race tires that only get used a couple of times per year.

[Jamo]

Find a race distributor in your area--get to know the dock guys--have them call you when some race team is coming in for a fresh set. You may only get a tire or two at a time, but you'd be surprized how much rubber is still left on some of these things.

[Tom T.]

Jam Man,

Nope, I never ran tubes with TDs; however, I did use a bit of green slime anti-leak from Roger Kraus. Had leakdown issues without the slime.

I envy you and your new aluminum touring machine. Let us know how long you can keep the front wheels off the ground with that ground-pounder.

Best,

TT

[Jamo]

Hard to believe, no doubt, but I ran the TDs on the old gold webbed Enkeis from the early 80s that came with the car--very light wheels--and never lost a pound that I ever measured. No green slime, no tubes! Used them as my main street and autocross tires, and a couple of times at the track.

Thanks Tom--I can't wait myself. We're getting spring-like weather here in Fresno and it's getting tough to wait. One of the first drives will be to one of those breakfasts.

[coyled]

Don, I doubt that I will play at beaver run. I don't want to go across the country for 1 track day. I am interested in the road america event in september if club cranky is goung. 3 days of track time and this year they are running a transponder session on saturday. 30 minutes, fastest lap counts. scott

[Tom T.]

Ron,

Be sure to post which Saturday a.m. you'll be there, and I'll do my best to make it. Look forward to meeting you at long last and seeing that big bad new toy.

TT

[a427sc]

Tubes are a lot like underwear, necessary if you have holes, but you run a lot free'er with out them.

McFEz

[Jamo]

McFez
Yup--what you said.

[SCCA Nat Champ]

Hello everybody!

I've got a quick question about the tires "Goodyear West" slicks? What compound are these tires?
Has anybody asked Goodyear about the difference in a circle track tire vs. using it on a road course?

Thanks for any reply....I can't seem to view all of the posts in this thread - so feel free to e-mail me.

Best Regards - Joel

[David Borden]

Guys,

Keep in mind that Hoosiers will go off after 2-4 events. You may have plenty of tread, but they WILL GET HARD and become very slick and unpredictable.

Not sure on the Goodyears... but most true race tires will heat cycle to a point they are worthless... especially on a light car.

David

[tommachine73]

Guys I am running Hoosier RS303 275x60x15rear 225x45x15 front. I really like them.I am a little concerned about them getting harder ,guess I will have to sign up for more track time.Has any one ever heard of cantileverd slicks?

TOM

[leadfoot]

I am entering the Targa Newfoundland (www.targanewfoundland.com) and the 2000km event is run over 5 days on tarmac... so I like the Hoosier's, but I need to prepare for rain, and we are limited to 6 tires max. for the event. Any suggestions??