Used Hoosiers - thoughts?
10-19-2013, 02:29 PM
#1
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Used Hoosiers - thoughts?
Someone locally is selling two sets of 225/45/15 Hoosier R6 for $200 with anywhere between 4-6 heat cycles between them.
Itll be my first time stepping up to R-comps from Star specs and Rivals, just wondering if:
1) Its worth it at that price?
2) Its safe to run after that many heat cycles?
3) Is there still noticeably more grip than the current street tires im running?
4) How many more track days (or heat cycles I guess) can be expected out of them on a 2:00 track?
5) Anything I should know when running with or maintaining R comps?
I don't compete quite yet so I feel itd be a good chance to get my feet wet with stickier tires. I currently have 2 summers of track days under my belt so far. Looking to join NASA after I graduate next season to get my HPDE requirements in.
Itll be my first time stepping up to R-comps from Star specs and Rivals, just wondering if:
1) Its worth it at that price?
2) Its safe to run after that many heat cycles?
3) Is there still noticeably more grip than the current street tires im running?
4) How many more track days (or heat cycles I guess) can be expected out of them on a 2:00 track?
5) Anything I should know when running with or maintaining R comps?
I don't compete quite yet so I feel itd be a good chance to get my feet wet with stickier tires. I currently have 2 summers of track days under my belt so far. Looking to join NASA after I graduate next season to get my HPDE requirements in.
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10-19-2013, 02:40 PM
#2
Two sets, meaning 8 tires?
Looks like a good deal to me as long as theres rubber left. 4-6 heat cycles but how long was each run?
If theres any thread in thema nd u can do the tire change ur self i'd say its pretty good price tag. There were few locals selling them at 50 a pop.
Looks like a good deal to me as long as theres rubber left. 4-6 heat cycles but how long was each run?
If theres any thread in thema nd u can do the tire change ur self i'd say its pretty good price tag. There were few locals selling them at 50 a pop.
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10-19-2013, 03:04 PM
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Two sets, meaning 8 tires? Looks like a good deal to me as long as theres rubber left. 4-6 heat cycles but how long was each run? If theres any thread in thema nd u can do the tire change ur self i'd say its pretty good price tag. There were few locals selling them at 50 a pop.
Correct, 8 tires.
They were used for TT so im not sure how long those sessions are but it seems the majority of the Midwest tracks here are roughly 2:00/lap. Id have to pay to get them swapped out, but my friend can dismount and mount/balance a set for $40.
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10-20-2013, 11:05 AM
#6
1) Its worth it at that price? A: Yes, I would say so, if they acutally have only 4-6 heat cycles. Good condition used R-comps for $25/each is pretty fair. If I were buying them I would really grill the seller on how many heat cycles they actually have, and if they were rotated, etc. Sometimes people say "4-6 cycles" when they are actually more like 8-10.
2) Its safe to run after that many heat cycles? A: Absolutely they should be safe to run. I'm not as familiar with Hoosiers as I am with BFGs but you should be able to get like 20+ heat cycles until they are so bad that they are "unsafe", maybe more. Not fast, but not unsafe.
3) Is there still noticeably more grip than the current street tires im running? A: Again, if they only have 6 heat cycles, and they were properly cared for, then yes they should still have noticeably more grip then grippy street tires. They won't have the absolute grip of a sticker tire or one that was properly scrubbed in with 0.5 heat cycles. But, they should still be much better than what you've been using, if only from an absolute grip standpoint.
4) How many more track days (or heat cycles I guess) can be expected out of them on a 2:00 track? A: This really depends on how the previous owner broke them in, and if they were properly "scrubbed". My understanding from talking with Hoosier engineers and guys that run Hoosiers at the Runoffs and other high level club racing, is that the Hoosiers are best when properly scrubbed in. This process includes doing one 6/10ths session of about 4-5 laps, then slowly cooling the tires down (think blankets after coming back into the paddock) and then letting them sit for at least 24 hours. This break-in process will lead to the tires having a much better life in the long run, i.e. more useable good heat cycles. I would ask the seller if they broke them in like that, if yes, I would say you should be good for another 8 cycles or so, if NOT, then maybe only 4 or 5 (those are mostly uneducated guesses).
5) Anything I should know when running with or maintaining R comps? A: See 4's answer, that applies to breaking in brand new sticker Hoosiers though. Otherwise just keep rotating them to get the best life out of the car. If the tracks you are going to are harder on a certain tire (i.e. front left) then make sure to rotate that location more often to keep from excessively wearing one of the tires. Otherwise, don't let them get overly hot or overly cold when storing them. If you're planning on keeping these over the winter (I assume yes), then try to store them somewhere where it's > 50 F or so, you don't want them to get too cold otherwise they could harden a little bit and lose some grippiness.
2) Its safe to run after that many heat cycles? A: Absolutely they should be safe to run. I'm not as familiar with Hoosiers as I am with BFGs but you should be able to get like 20+ heat cycles until they are so bad that they are "unsafe", maybe more. Not fast, but not unsafe.
3) Is there still noticeably more grip than the current street tires im running? A: Again, if they only have 6 heat cycles, and they were properly cared for, then yes they should still have noticeably more grip then grippy street tires. They won't have the absolute grip of a sticker tire or one that was properly scrubbed in with 0.5 heat cycles. But, they should still be much better than what you've been using, if only from an absolute grip standpoint.
4) How many more track days (or heat cycles I guess) can be expected out of them on a 2:00 track? A: This really depends on how the previous owner broke them in, and if they were properly "scrubbed". My understanding from talking with Hoosier engineers and guys that run Hoosiers at the Runoffs and other high level club racing, is that the Hoosiers are best when properly scrubbed in. This process includes doing one 6/10ths session of about 4-5 laps, then slowly cooling the tires down (think blankets after coming back into the paddock) and then letting them sit for at least 24 hours. This break-in process will lead to the tires having a much better life in the long run, i.e. more useable good heat cycles. I would ask the seller if they broke them in like that, if yes, I would say you should be good for another 8 cycles or so, if NOT, then maybe only 4 or 5 (those are mostly uneducated guesses).
5) Anything I should know when running with or maintaining R comps? A: See 4's answer, that applies to breaking in brand new sticker Hoosiers though. Otherwise just keep rotating them to get the best life out of the car. If the tracks you are going to are harder on a certain tire (i.e. front left) then make sure to rotate that location more often to keep from excessively wearing one of the tires. Otherwise, don't let them get overly hot or overly cold when storing them. If you're planning on keeping these over the winter (I assume yes), then try to store them somewhere where it's > 50 F or so, you don't want them to get too cold otherwise they could harden a little bit and lose some grippiness.
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10-21-2013, 11:22 AM
#9
Honestly, one of the race teams I work for keep a lot of our tires in a storage shed outdoors with no climate control for all Ohio winters. We haven't seen a big change with one winter's worth of storage, but that's on BFGs, not as much experience with Hoosiers.
BUT, in talking with tire engineers, rubber engineers, they recommend keeping them above 50F to prevent the rubber from hardening...
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10-22-2013, 04:20 PM
#10
I wouldnt want to freeze cycle tires, I have a set of RS3s that freeze cycled and they're awful. I've been told to make sure I dont freeze cycle the hoosiers and that they arent exposed to natural gas in the basement. I'd run the hoho's until they cord if you're on a budget or run them until they arent fast then sell them to someone on more of a budget than you. There's a definite time when they drop off and it seems completely up to how that particular tire was treated.
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10-22-2013, 04:45 PM
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I wouldnt want to freeze cycle tires, I have a set of RS3s that freeze cycled and they're awful. I've been told to make sure I dont freeze cycle the hoosiers and that they arent exposed to natural gas in the basement. I'd run the hoho's until they cord if you're on a budget or run them until they arent fast then sell them to someone on more of a budget than you. There's a definite time when they drop off and it seems completely up to how that particular tire was treated.
At this point I dont know if I should get them. I came across another thread for NT01s, so its a matter of:
-8 hoosier r6 (4-8 heat cycles) - $200
OR
4 nitto NT01 (50% tread left) - $250 + ship
What do you guys think? Like I said, not trying to win championships but just making the transition to R Comps. I know the Hoosiers make more grip, but break away more suddenly and have significantly less life than the Nt01s. Although I guess thats the purpose of stepping up to an R-comp.. I don't know.
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10-22-2013, 04:51 PM
#12
I'd take the 8 hohos for basically no money myself. Hohos, when new ish definitely break away a lot less abruptly than streets. They dont give you the audible feedback like streets but they allow you to make miracle saves when you do go past the limit. The Hoosier magic fades with age though so the older the hoho the faster it drops off the cliff when pushed to hard and the harder to save.
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10-23-2013, 10:32 AM
#13
I'd take the 8 hoosiers for sure.
Shipping tires is expensive, plus you get twice as many roundy round black things for less money. Seems like an easy choice.
As far as "freeze" cycling, you'll want to avoid it but I don't know if it's the end of the world.
We have BFG's that have been "freeze" cycled for two straight Ohio winters and they still had more grip than a new R6... they were brand new, never used during their "freeze" cycles though.
Again, it's best to avoid storing anything rubber in freezing temperatures, especially race tires, but it's not the end of the world if you have to store them in non climate controlled space for one season.
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