\thread jack

Hey, speaking of tires, what is the opinion of Koni Challenge tires by Hoosier?

I found a place that sells used ones (225/45-15), stating that there's 60% tread left. Are they useless at that point, like R6's?

 

Moved this into a new thread since I thought it'd be a good one to have. I myself just bought 4 used R888s for $40 from Midas, apparently the shop owner races SM. $35 later I had them mounted and balanced with new valve stems Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to try them yet, and it looks like with school I won't be racing this season :(

Anyone else have experience with them, good or bad?

 

My brother bought a few used race takeoffs. Similar deal I imagine, ~$250-300 shipped for a set.

He said that the grip of the 225 hoosiers was about the same as the 255 r888 he usually ran. Times were too close to tell which was faster. the grip deteriorated faster on the hoosiers. though it may be his 350hp 3500lb awd tank puts alot of heat in the tires.

He said it was cheaper to run 2-3 weekends on the hoosiers than to get 4 weekend out or the r888s.

Since i get ~8-10 weekends on a set of nt01s its cheaper to run the nt01s. If you are looking for more grip you'll get it with the hoosiers, but only for a few weekends.

PS TXMC is supposed to be fun, not expensive! Next year is when it should start turning into a money pit.

 

This summer I'm buying my track set. Planning on the 949 xtr's (hell yeah) and some used tires. I think for occasional track days you can't beat used tires for the money.

 

Thanks, Curly; I hate thread jackers!

The used Koni Challenge Hoosiers are offered for $75 each, which I think keeps in the spirit of the Texas Miata Challenge (the part about not spending too much).

However, if the grip goes away in the first 40% of the tread, then it doesn't matter how cheap they are - the NT01 and the RA1 will be superior.

I'm asking if anyone has any knowledge of the Koni Challenge tire: specifically, if they're worth a **** after the first 40% is worn off, and what other tire's grip is comparable?

Here's a sample answer:
"Koni Challenge tires are re-branded R6's, so they're only good for one weekend when new. Used NT01's or RA1's have more grip than used Koni Challenge tires."

Here's another:
"Koni Challenge tires are slicks, and they perform like slicks all the way down to 50% tread. With used ones, you'll get one good day, then they'll be toast. If these are for the Texas Miata Challenge, maybe one day is all you need."

 

i had one bad experience with used hoosiers. they had a ton of tread left, but were heat cycled out. i was barely as fast as my buddy on azenis rt-615.
i've had nothing but good experience with used ra-1, nt-01, and bfg r1.($200-300) they all had great grip all the way down to the cords. i bought used cantilever 9'' goodyear formula spec tires, (about $260) and they were awesome! but unfortunately, i spun at a ridiculous speed in some gravel (airfield track) and wore them through to the cords when i went both feet in! until that happened i was raping all.

i bought a set of used yokohama a048r's and they were awesome too. i finally got ttod at the local auto-x beating out the z06's on hoosier a6's that usually get it. also were great at the track, i just wish i had gotten a hold of them sooner, as i corded them after 2 track events and a couple auto-x and daily use. my buddy bought a set tho' and they had great tread left, but were already hard, so i would be careful with those. those are what the worlds fastest time attack car uses. (hks carbon evo vIII)

i bought some used hankook r comps, they were okay, but kinda hard already. not as bad as the hoosiers, but not great even though they had alot of tread.

i have some kumho v710's right now that are still sticky and they are getting down there treadwise.

yes the koni hoosier are just r6's but they may not be any faster than nt-01's. 12-15 heat cycles and the hoosiers are pretty much toast. anything after that and they are expensive falken azenis.

 

For what its worth, my Nitto NT01s are almost down to the cords and when i get the proper air pressure in them and they are hot they grip pretty close to what they did when brand new. I don't think i am turning consistent enough lap times to notice a true true difference in them. I also street drove them for aprox 3-5k miles and i think 6 days on track. I am hoping to get another 2 or 3 days out of my set.

That said, i would buy a used set of NT01s with a decent amount of tread left on them, i am not competing just out there to have fun so if I'm 3 seconds slower its not the end of the world.

 

****!

 

As spoolin stated some tires are ok to buy used. RA1's, NT01's, BFGR1's, etc will be fast until corded. Other tires like Hoosiers will heat cycle out in a drastic way before even half the tread is gone. The tires mention in the first sentence will drop 1 second or so for a pro level driver but still be great. Heat cycled out Hoosies suck suck suck. I'll give an example. Last weekend at the autox my buddy in a Rotrex powered M3 ran his Star Spec street tires Saturday for practice an ran a low 53.xx Sunday he bolted on his new used Hoosier R6's and couldn't break a high 54.xx. Oh, and FYI I drove a miata on used Goodyear cantilevers and they absolutly rocked. I'm looking to try these next. I'm currently running spec miata RA1 takeoffs. Emilo likes the used fronts off the formula contenental series cars?

Jake

 

Really? Buy?
I get mine for gratis from my local Spec builder. (RA-1/R888)

 

what's the market price (if there is one) for buying used R888 take offs ?

 

60%-70%+ tread (225/45/15) about $60

http://www.jbracingtires.net/dunlop.htm

This guy has been doing it for 30+ years.

Tell him Mike Glass gave you his info.

Example of what you get.

http://www.jbracingtires.net/tires/toyo1.jpg

The ones I got have that much or more rubber on them.

 

Good thread. I have been wondering about this as well. Everytime I look into this I keep coming back to NT01s as best bang for the buck. I wish to hell though they made a 245/40/15 or something bigger than their current 15" offering. I think everyone here would buy them.

Double ****! All we need is for people to show up with unobtanium wheels and Hoosier A6 305/20/15 tires that they swap every two laps (when they get greasy) with a set that has been sitting on warmers with four hired bikini supermodels (on each wheel) running the lug gun and the tire temp gauges rubbing their breasts on the carbon fiber flares, side panels, hood, roof, and trunk lid.

Wait, actually that would be kind of cool...

... but with less clothing. After all, I would not want them to get overheated in these hot Texas summers.

 

I'm going to jbracingtires or the ebay source I got from GRM. The tires are starting to come in with good deals. Check out these:

596-4 USDRRT HOOSIER used Road Race tires 225x45-15 : eBay Motors (item 270553990759 end time Apr-05-10 20:53:09 PDT)
595-4 USDRRT TOYO used Road Race Tires 205x50-15 RA1 : eBay Motors (item 260576051324 end time Apr-05-10 19:06:51 PDT)

 

My uncle bought some used tires off of a Grand-Am team for his Mustang and had good luck. He was definitely faster with the used tires than he was with street tires, and for the price he got them for I think it was well worth it.

 

Just ran some NT01's on an non turbo miata today, 205/50/15. They corded early in the day and we ran them a few sessions after that. They were super predictable and easily controlled over the limit. They felt better than half tread life ra1's when corded. Love this tire...