Hoosier R6: how long do they last?

[VENOM V]

Hi all,

I just had an incredibly fun tracking experience with R6's yesterday at Somoma Raceway. More on that when I write it up. The Viper handles so well on these tires, remarkably better than the Continental slicks I ran recently. I love these Hoosiers.

I am tracking again for two days at recently repaved Buttonwillow Oct 18-19, and need to drive 3-1/2 hours to and from the track.

Will the R6's last through the third track day, including the long drive to and from the track? This would be a total of 14 heat cycles including Sonoma. As long as they don't go to cord by the end of the day, I'm ok if they begin to lose grip. Buttonwillow's new surface may eat tires a little faster as well.

I drive more aggressively than some, and slide around at Buttonwillow so I expect more wear than a conservative driver. My camber is -2.8 front and -1.5 rear.

[Jack B]

I would like to hear how that 7 hours on the street affect them.

[ViperSmith]

You need a truck and trailer man ;)

[Dusty1]

We get about 16 heat cycles but don't drive them on the street so have know idea how they will last with that level of camber. We heat cycle ours when we buy them and that seems to help some. Usually don't cord them but they do get really hard after that many heat cycles.

Richard

[Stealth]

The R6s will also get hard if they just sit--doesn't sound like you have this issue!

[allans]

How worn are they now? If they still have good "depth" in the wear indicators, two additional track days might be ok but, the addition of 300+ street miles will be marginal.These tires are not for road use and can be more easily punctured than a street tire. Is there any way you can install your street tires/wheels and get someone to transport the R6s for you. The tires I have on my T/A have about 12 heat cycles and 400 street miles on them now and they need to be replaced.

[Bryan Savage]

I gotta ask what size you're running. I'm interested in eventually having a set, but I can only seem to find R-tires in a 345/30 R19 instead of a 355.

Yes, I know they will physically fit in place of the 355s on the Gen V cars, but the old "match factory size" thing... freaking nobody that I can find makes a 355/30 19.

What's up??

I live my life 10mm at a time...
7089

[VENOM V]

You need a truck and trailer man ;)

If I can avoid that hassle I will. I like rolling up to the track, opening a can of whoop ass, then driving home. :web_driver:

[VENOM V]

We get about 16 heat cycles but don't drive them on the street so have know idea how they will last with that level of camber. We heat cycle ours when we buy them and that seems to help some. Usually don't cord them but they do get really hard after that many heat cycles.

Richard


How worn are they now? If they still have good "depth" in the wear indicators, two additional track days might be ok but, the addition of 300+ street miles will be marginal.These tires are not for road use and can be more easily punctured than a street tire. Is there any way you can install your street tires/wheels and get someone to transport the R6s for you. The tires I have on my T/A have about 12 heat cycles and 400 street miles on them now and they need to be replaced.

Thanks guys. They're not too badly worn yet, except of course on the edges which is the way Hoosiers seem to wear. Sounds like I'm gonna be borderline. Total street miles will be 110 miles round trip to Sonoma Raceway + 440 miles round trip to Buttonwillow = 550 street miles. I know several guys that drive to Buttonwillow on Hoosiers in their Vipers but they live a little closer. I have a call into the trackside shop to see if I can order Hoosiers from them. If I don't use my existing tires up while at the track, I'll see if they can ship the new ones to my house.

[VENOM V]

I would like to hear how that 7 hours on the street affect them.

If I decide to do it, I'll let you know how they perform Jack.


The R6s will also get hard if they just sit--doesn't sound like you have this issue!

Haha, no I don't see to with 16 track days so far this year in the Viper.

[VENOM V]

I gotta ask what size you're running. I'm interested in eventually having a set, but I can only seem to find R-tires in a 345/30 R19 instead of a 355.

Yes, I know they will physically fit in place of the 355s on the Gen V cars, but the old "match factory size" thing... freaking nobody that I can find makes a 355/30 19.

What's up??

I live my life 10mm at a time...
7089

Bryan you'll be fine with 345s, the difference is small and they work well. How well? Holy crap I could not believe how well these stuck. I'm running 315s on 18x11" front wheels, damn I've never experienced this level of turn in. Impressive. 315s in the front are key, understeer is virtually non-existent and balance is perfect with this set up. Allan and Jack suggested it, they were right on.

I ran Continental slicks at my last couple of events, they were on fire-sale so picked them up. They were narrower at 285 front and 325 rear. I don't know if it was the compound or the width, but they are not in the same league as the Hoosiers. I've run Hoosiers on my Camaro at Buttonwillow and was just two seconds off of the track record set by a Viper ACR. The Camaro is much heavier than an ACR, has less power, and has a smaller wing than an ACR, yet put down an impressive lap. That tells you how good those Hoosiers are. Now my goal is to beat my Camaro's lap in the Viper, which should be child's play with Hoosiers.

[Bruce H.]

Haha, no I don't seem to with 16 track days so far this year in the Viper.

Damn...I gotta work in 2 more quick:)

[VENOM V]

Damn...I gotta work in 2 more quick:)

Hey Bruce, if you do and since we're on the subject, you gotta try Hoosiers. Yes, they are that good :car-smiley-003:

[V10LEE]

Very nice those sound killer! I just re-aligned my Viper,and put more camber( -2.5 & 1.5 rears) I'll have to ditch the Cup tires now for these R6s.. Making me spend more $$$ Bro!

[Bruce H.]

Hey Bruce, if you do and since we're on the subject, you gotta try Hoosiers. Yes, they are that good :car-smiley-003:

I really should try them if I get a second set of wheels. Hoping for MPSC2's in our sizes for my street wheels first!

[2doorrocket]

They will last about 1000 miles.

[VENOM V]

Very nice those sound killer! I just re-aligned my Viper,and put more camber( -2.5 & 1.5 rears) I'll have to ditch the Cup tires now for these R6s.. Making me spend more $$$ Bro!

Guess what I just discovered- Hoosier has just released the new generation R7 and A7 in 18" and 19" sizing. They make a 295/30-18 front but their biggest rear is a 325/30-19. I'm a little worried they won't give us a 345/30-19 R7 and will discontinue the R6. That would be downright depressing.

[VENOM V]

They will last about 1000 miles.

Yikes, are you talking 1,000 street miles? If so, I don't think my tires would last a full 14 track sessions +550 street miles.

[RedTanRT/10]

Todd, not sure how much wear you'd get from 4 sessions at Sonoma? BW doesn't seem to be too hard on tires (compared to willow or CA Speedway) so I'd say new tires on BW would last 14 sessions. The fronts are more of an issue than the rears, swap sides after day 1. they'll certainly fall off but if you swap I don't think you cord the fronts.

those continentals are a good price but the sizes and the compounds just aren't the same.

I'll see you up there Saturday morning, I'll try to remember to throw a used spare for you in the van. Not sure if your running 19's in the back, I use the 345 18's

take care and looking forward to seeing you. Mike

[VENOM V]

Todd, not sure how much wear you'd get from 4 sessions at Sonoma? BW doesn't seem to be too hard on tires (compared to willow or CA Speedway) so I'd say new tires on BW would last 14 sessions. The fronts are more of an issue than the rears, swap sides after day 1. they'll certainly fall off but if you swap I don't think you cord the fronts.

those continentals are a good price but the sizes and the compounds just aren't the same.

I'll see you up there Saturday morning, I'll try to remember to throw a used spare for you in the van. Not sure if your running 19's in the back, I use the 345 18's

take care and looking forward to seeing you. Mike

Hey Mike,

Looks like a few of us will be out there next weekend, great. Lee Walters and his friend Larry that drives a Z06 will join us. There's a small chance I'll drive the Camaro but more likely the Viper.

I run 19 x 13s in the rear, 18 x 11s in the front, so I'm not sure if a rear spare would be helpful but I appreciate the offer. I have a friend that is offering to loan me his trailer, I'm tempted.

See you soon.

Todd

[RedTanRT/10]

Great, be good to see you and meet Lee. Not sure about the SoCal folks, a bunch were at Willow last week and probably all got heat stroke.

I've got 2 or 3 315 fronts that would be good for a day or better that I'll bring up. the rears should be OK if you swap and don't flat spot spinning sideways! the rears should be good for 20 plus sessions, I've corded a number of fronts, never the rears!

Saturday looks pretty full, noticed there must be 10 NSX's on Saturday

Weather forecast looks great, See you Saturday

[Bugeater]

The most sessions I got on a set of R6's was 24. They are not competitive after 8 (if you race).

[VENOM V]

Thanks all for your feedback.

Problem solved- I'm gonna drive there on my street tires and have the trackside tire shop swap Hoosier A6s onto my stock wheels. A6s work very well at Buttonwillow (while they last!). At the end of the weekend, I'll swap my street tires back on.

[Herrsss]

Very nice those sound killer! I just re-aligned my Viper,and put more camber( -2.5 & 1.5 rears) I'll have to ditch the Cup tires now for these R6s.. Making me spend more $$$ Bro!

We call them "crack cocaine"!

Since we both track our tire budget is double and we get about 2.5 weekends out of a set - thank goodness the last kid graduated from college and got a job!!!

[Bill Pemberton]

Depends on the track and how abrasive it is , so saying that 16 sessions ( assuming 2 weekends ) could be gotten with rotation, is plausible, but there are some tracks out there that you must rotate the fronts or you won't make weekend of usage.

Now if V10 Lee has a trailer, get an extra set of rims with Hoosiers and have him bring them down for you. You will of course owe him a beer or two, or maybe a good quality bottle of Cabernet!?

[VENOM V]

Depends on the track and how abrasive it is , so saying that 16 sessions ( assuming 2 weekends ) could be gotten with rotation, is plausible, but there are some tracks out there that you must rotate the fronts or you won't make weekend of usage.

Now if V10 Lee has a trailer, get an extra set of rims with Hoosiers and have him bring them down for you. You will of course owe him a beer or two, or maybe a good quality bottle of Cabernet!?

Tire rotation is a big help and I try to do when I can.

Last time May hauled my slicks but she looked pretty bored at the Laguna Seca, despite the delicious red wine we had at dinner, LOL.

[V10LEE]

Guess what I just discovered- Hoosier has just released the new generation R7 and A7 in 18" and 19" sizing. They make a 295/30-18 front but their biggest rear is a 325/30-19. I'm a little worried they won't give us a 345/30-19 R7 and will discontinue the R6. That would be downright depressing.

Wow that would suck. I better order some soon..




We call them "crack cocaine"!

Since we both track our tire budget is double and we get about 2.5 weekends out of a set - thank goodness the last kid graduated from college and got a job!!!

Ha lol Herrsss! To satisfy my " track rat addiction",and to keep the wear and tear down on the Viper($$). It's a good thing I do karting most of the time. A set of Hoosier R60 slicks for my kart cost me $230 bucks,and a whole days of gas $8 to $10 bucks..:D




Depends on the track and how abrasive it is , so saying that 16 sessions ( assuming 2 weekends ) could be gotten with rotation, is plausible, but there are some tracks out there that you must rotate the fronts or you won't make weekend of usage.

Now if V10 Lee has a trailer, get an extra set of rims with Hoosiers and have him bring them down for you. You will of course owe him a beer or two, or maybe a good quality bottle of Cabernet!?

Lol Bill ! Venom V doesn't need me. He already has a nice Chaperone. Lucky guy..