Cheers!

so if you were buying autocross tire how do you know which R compounds to buy?

Coulthard Fan

This is a recent email from our local hotshoe (who was picked by SCCA's SportsCar magazine to win the STX class at the nationals in Topeka, KS Sept. 8-12 this year) and one of my instructors:

>From: "Brian Garfield" <garfield@m...>
>Reply-To: wdcr-solo@yahoogroups.com
>To: <wdcr-solo@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: RE: [wdcr-solo] Comparing Lap Times Between Tires
>Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 08:59:40 -0400
>
>Well, there are many variables involved including but not limited to: type of surface, surface temperature, vechicle, and vehicle suspension. But in general, I would put tires by performance in this order:

>Hoosier A3S03's
>Hoosier R3S03's
>Kumho Ecsta V700
>Yokohama A032RS
>Hankook Ventus
>Kumho Victoracer V700
>Toyo Proxes RA-1

Any one have thoughts on that?

Coulthard Fan

With respect to the above email, another local autocrosser added:

"GRM pubished a test between a number of tires in their Nov 02 issue, using a Neon ACR on a 40-second asphalt course. They got about a quarter-second difference between the A3S03s and Kumhos in either flavor of V700 -- the ECSTAs were a shade faster (a couple of hundredths) than Victoracers. Toyos were about a half-second behind the Kumhos. They also tested a number of sticky street tires on the same car and course -- the fastest of them, BFG KDs and Azenis, were about 1.5 seconds behind the Toyos.

"They also published a test of the Hankook Ventus and Yokohama A032RS against Toyos using a Spec Miata out on Roebling Road (an asphalt road course) in their Aug 03 issue -- for lap times running 86-88 seconds, the Yokes ran a half-second to a second ahead of the Toyos, and about a quarter-second ahead of the Hankooks. That doesn't quite extrapolate cleanly to an autocross course, but for now, I'd estimate that the Yokes and Hankooks both will be close to Kumhos."

Food for thought. In any event, I'm replacing my RA-1's soon with.... RA-1's. When I get a second set of wheels, maybe then I'll start playing with the Hoosiers.

in2twins

Keep in mind that is on new tires, the kumhos, and the yokes lose grip fairly quickly as they age, while the RA1s get better with wear(imho). As far as total usable life the RA1s are at the top. If i was going to drive to, and from events(road race) I'd get the RA1s, if I were trailering, I'd get the V700s(Victoracer, not Ecsta). For autocross V700s. Carl Byck

redrotorR1

Also, I'd advise to keep in mind the types of surfaces that you race on. Many of these R-compound tires behave differently according to the surface characteristics ... on auto-x comparison. For instance, on a sealed surface, Hoosiers are immensely faster than the rest of the field. Kumhos generally equal the Hoosiers on non-sealed, regular asphalt. And in colder conditions on high rock content asphalt, Toyo's can be nearly as fast as the stickier R-compound tires.

WRT road racing, well ... the most stick for the least weight. Very easy answer.

redrotorR1

double post

in2twins

cost independent

John Magnuson

I drove to and back from a track day 500 miles away with Kumho Victoracers. They did just fine... of course this was in a lightweight Miata with stock alignment. It was all freeway and highway there and back.

I havn't tried anything but the Kuhmo Victoracers... cause I'm poor.

SleepR1

The polls have spoken...I'm going to try RA-1s with steel wheels and plasti-chrome spinners LOL

Montrealer

Then you would have to add the A-032R (hard compound) at the bottom of that list.


I also would recomend the RA-1 for a stree/trackt tire. It can take more heat cycles and has better tread life than both the A-032 H and solf.

So, no they are not the stickiest tires around but I find they are perfectly suited for budjust racers and people who do not want to changer tires at events.

As far as stree tires are conserened, the Azenis are excellent tires for Auto-x (STS-STX) but seem to overheat and get greasy. I cannot speak for the other street tires however.