MrZUMZUM

Good news and bad news...........

The Good News: I came across a barely used set of Hoosiers and ran them on my car at Sebring this past Saturday. Thems's some sticky ****'s and I took my lap times from 2:58 (street tires/Potenza RE730's) down to 2:48.
I was loving life and still can't get my blue steel hard-on to go down.

The Bad News: I ate the tires up in 5 hours of track time.........belts showing on a couple...........and can't afford to put new Hoosiers on each time.........but love that sticky feeling..............

What tires would you guys recommend? A buddy of mine got a set of Michelin Pilot Cups and has about 20 hours of track time on them and they still have plenty of tread left............he also is running 2:48's on his 911 so it's not like he's babying them..............he also dropped 10 seconds when he threw them on................they're kinda pricey but seem to last...................

All suggestions are welcomed.............I also just bought a used set of Potenza Pole Position S03's as an aggressive street tire but haven't run them on the track since I got them, then found the Hoosiers for $100 (all four) and ran them.

Are the S03's any good for track? And if not what recommends do you guys have.

Thanks a bunch. I'm loving this FD more than ever now that I jumped into the "fast crowd" at the track. At 2:48, you don't get passed by too many people, but for a change get to pass LOTS of people.............

David

C. Ludwig

iTrader: (27)

The Michelins are supposed to wear very well from what I've heard...but man they're expensive! Hoosier is coming out with a new compound (have heard some guys are running it now for development) that should be in full run by the first of the year. Supposed to be just as sticky but wear like a Kumho (which some will say may or may not be an improvement). If you want something that sticks well and wears like a rock the best bet is Toyos IMO. I have a set that I use at full depth for an intermediate rain. They surely don't grip like a slick Hoosier but they're tons better than a street tire. Most everyone says they wear the best of the bunch. Another option is buying used as you've done. There are tire dealers that carry many used race tires and deals like you have already found aren't that uncommon. Good luck!

Chris

MrZUMZUM

Thanks Chris...........

I forget which model but my buddy blew threw a set of kumhos in one day also.............

David

SleepR1

David,

FWIW, new sticker Hoosiers should last longer than 5 hours. The key is the break-in process.

I've had three sets, and nothing else compares...although I have not tried the Michelin Cup Comps.

Toyos are bricks and don't stick THAT much better than a normal UHP tire, on the track.

Kumho V700s were all right...a bit on the greasy side...(too much slip angle). FWIW, they do have a new tire being released (yellow lettering), that is supposed to stand toe-to-toe with Hoosier R3S03/R3S04 stickies...

Hoosier R3S04 is due out this fall...interesting what that compound will be like. I'm told by the Hoosier "insiders" that the stick will be similar to R3S03, but will wear like their Motorola Cup tires (slightly harder).

redrotorR1

The Kumho V700 was originally a road race tire that was found to be equally capable as an auto-x tire. The Kumho's absorb heat a bit faster than the Hoosiers or RA1's ... so you'll get up to operating temp pretty fast. But, the downside is that they tend to overheat and get greasy. The wear is a lot better than the Hoosiers. The hardcore track guys around here typically get 2-3 events out of a set. The other downside is that the V700 is a much heavier tire and you'll probably find that your times are a bit slower. Sacrifice time for durability.

Now that you've run around on race rubber, you'll never want to go back to street tires. Keep the S03's for the around-town driving.

SleepR1

Well, I thought this would be the case, but so far this season, money's been tight, and I have run on street tires only. I've been having some fun with Pirelli P6000s. Not the greatest tire for track, but very smooth and quiet on the road, and @ $100/each in 255/40-17 from Discount Tire (closeout tires)...?

I'm still able to run within 2 to 3 seconds of the guys running Hoosiers/Michelin Cup Comps...could be my car...could be me...could be both??

Still would like to get stickies back on the car, with newfound power mods on Speed Sauce Rx7 R1...I'm betting I'd set the world on fire with stickies (hee hee LOL )

christaylor

Really?! I've never driven the RX-7 on anything other than RA1's, but I'm amazed at how well they stick. Again, I've never driven the RX-7 on anything else (spec class) but they stick better than the slicks I ran on in quarter midgets (apples and oranges, I know).

Now I gotta go get me some of these other tires and try them on the DE car...

SleepR1

I don't have personal experience with Toyo RA-1s, but have beaten many cars shod with RA-1s (I'm currently on cheap Pirelli P6000s). Given the choices out there in R-compound rubber, if you're not willing to go all the way with Hoosiers, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Comps, or Pirelli P-Zero Corsas, you might as well run cheap road tires, like I am, and just have fun tearing them up LOL

redrotorR1

It'd be interesting to see how fast you are on R-compounds versus the better street tires. I've just slapped on the Bridgestone RE750's for street tires and they're pretty grippy tires. A little hike on the price range, but I imagine they'd make a decent track performer. But comparatively speaking, I don't think they'd hold a candle to the Victoracers that I'm used to. Just hard braking on the street alone, I can tell the difference.

Uh oh ....

C. Ludwig

iTrader: (27)

SleepR1, what kind of times do you run at Mid-Ohio, Gingerman and IRP? Just curious.

SleepR1

The best way to satisfy your curiosity is to come out to my August 29 MDC evening event @ Putnam Park and be a participant

C. Ludwig

iTrader: (27)

I was just curious what kind of times a decently prepped 3G would run. No need to get an attitude. Besides I'll be at a race at Grattan.

SleepR1

No attitude intended...

MrZUMZUM

Yo Ludwig.........I didn't get attitude from SleepR1 either; I think he was just doing a little advertising to get folks to his event. I'd love to go, just too far to drive. Nothing better than seeing other FD's on the track; there was only one on the track this past Saturday..... a beautiful BB..........see pics (I'm pissed the photog got none of my car)...........

http://www.chinmotorsports.com/galle...e=IMG_2625.jpg

This guy had mods out the ying-yang and I could still wax his ***.............all due to seat time and tires, I have no doubt............here's my baby...........

http://www.chinmotorsports.com/galle...e=IMG_4174.JPG

C-ya.

David

SleepR1

David,

The links didn't work? Hope to see you @ Road Atlant next year, either in March with Peachtree BMW CCA, or with TracQuest in June

MrZUMZUM

Hmmmmm............don't know why...........well, if interested you can go to www.chinmotorsports.com ..............then go to Gallery, then to August 2, 2003 to see the pic of the BB FD (actually there's two pics)..............

My pic is on the August 19th, Sebring_2 group (only FD in the pics, car #211)

Anyways, cheers............I'll have to checkout the Peachtree BMW group..........hadn't heard of them..........and see about getting to RA again...........friggin loved it.............

David

MrZUMZUM

Come to think of it, my avatar is a pic of me at RA coming out of the esses with a nice *** Porsche coming up on me to pass me, err, again.............I have a beautiful 11 x 14 of that shot in my office.............Schweeeeeeeet...............

SleepR1

Hmmm, yeah, I see that now in your avatar...damned Porsches LOL Keep up the great work representing the Mazda Rx7 at open track events!

SleepR1

Peach State PCA is hosting a Road Atlanta DE August 23/24. Here's their weblink http://www.peachstatepca.org/

I considered this Road Atlanta '03 event too, but it's too close to my August 29 MDC Putnam and Sept 1/2 Mid Ohio TracQuest...

Keep on trackin'!