How Long Racing Tires Good For?
 

Suppose I had a set of Hooiser R3S03 R-comps made in 2004, new in the box. Would they still be any good, or at least better than say street tires with 150 tread wear rating? Hoosier says they are not supposed to be used after they are 2 years old, but I'm not interested in getting the fastest laps out of them, just some decent ones. Thanks.

They will be black, round and hard and will hold your car off the ground. Don't expect much more than that.

I used some R3S03s that were at least 4 years old for a few events (they still had "MC" on them!), they weren't as sticky as ones in good condition, but they were definitely better than street tires for sure.

They should be fairly good if they have been stored properly. If they where stored in a dark no to warm, not to cold place. And maybe giving it some moisture to keep the tires fresh. And also stored in the plastic bag they come in.

Then they should be good for at least 4 years if not longer. But they won't be as good as when they where new. Tires have a date stamp on them for a reason, esp racing tires.

JT

I would expect them to be like any four year old tire that hasn't been used and stored properly: slightly less life and slightly less grip, due to the rubber slightly degrading. Are you going to be on a road course or auto-x? If you're on a road course, I'd be careful with them the first few times you heat cycle them, just in case something catastrophic happens.

A friend of mine used to race paved circle track. Since there were so many restrictions on tire compound and size, they used to inflate them to about 80 psi and lay them out in the sun covered with rags soaked in fuel oil (deisel). The end result would be a slightly larger tire with a much stickier compound....


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Formula V seems to be the best from what I have read as a tire softener

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=3340

I have only used Hot Lap on some old tires and was not convinced it did anything, the first few laps were good but after that I couldn't tell.

http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/p..._Strengtheners

I don't use a tire treatment anymore as I only use fresh new tires now.

That is very very interesting (not sarcasm)

He really knows his stuff. He was untouchable on the track, always held the track record and always won when he drove. He is also involved with Vettes, and spends winters racing at Daytona and Sebring.

He used to scare the shit out of me when I'd ride with him and he was in a mood to play around on the backroads, but he was always so relaxed and everything he did was perfect. I learned a lot from him, but doubt I'll ever be that good. :)

I have done something similar racing my kart. An experienced friend showed me to soak a rag with gas and rub it on the tires right before a race. At the local kart track, you could not build enough heat in the tires on the pace lap for them to work. So always a fun first couple of laps.

I have never driven on tires that have had Formual V traction treatment, my father would swear by it, when he was racing during the 1990's.