Kerry

I live about 20 highway miles from where I autocross and don't have a way to carry race tires. Do you think I would wear out the A6 too quickly driving it to the auto-x? I would seem that you'd get most of your heat/wear in hard cornering and braking, not highway driving? Has anyone done this?

cooleyjb

It depends a lot on your suspension setup. If you have much toe, camber and other stuff in the suspension you can scrub the tires down. However if you have a fairly mild amount of any of those you should be just fine. The big thing you will do is throw a lot of rocks up. I've driven to and from sites on R compounds.

Kerry

Thanks, cooley. I'm not sure how much camber to run, considering this is also my daily driver. Do you think -1.0 front and -2.0 rear would be enough to work with the A6?

Joe Weinstein

hi. Hoosiers want 2-3 degrees to work best, but it is a compromise... Your
low camber setting are perfect for long street driving and not wearing
the inside edges too much more. I have occasionally gone 80 miles
each way on Hoosiers, but no one recommends it. They will wear out
quickly anyway, and when they're done do try the Kumho 710s. They
are excellent autocross tires and they last 10 times as long as Hoosiers.
Joe Weinstein
http://www.sfrscca.com/solo2/Results...nship/asp.html

Joe Weinstein

Oh, and I'd recommend 2 degrees in front too.
I run 2.75 all around, but I'm more AX-focussed...
Joe

Kerry

Thanks, Joe, I'll give it a try with the Hoosiers. I'd like to use the V710's but they don't have them in the sizes I need (yet). I'm planning to run with 18x8.5 front and 18x12 rear wheels. What size of wheels and tires do you use? Have you modified your TT's suspension? It's rare to find someone else who is autocrossing their TT!

cooleyjb

As for the tires getting worn out on the road I'd worry more about the toe than the camber. I've seen cars with 2-3 degrees of camber get decent mileage out of tires but a car with some significant toe get A LOT less.

I'm not sure on auto-x setup on your car though. It sounds like a few have chimed in already. I imagine that you don't want less camber in the front of your car. In a low speed event like an auto-x I'm going to guess that your car will have a tendency to understeer a bit anyways.

Joe Weinstein

mine are stock 8x18 and 11x18. I have some 9x18 and 12x18 CCW
wheels with Hoosiers and I like the slightly smaller Kumhos better.

Kerry

Joe, I take it you run the 710s in 245/35 front and 285/30 rear on your stock wheels. If you've already tried the A6s in 245/40 and 315/30 on the 9x18 and 12x18 wheels and you like the Kumho setup better, then I won't waste my money on a set of GT2 size wheels! - I'll use the Kumho 710s on another set of stock wheels. I really appreciate your comments on this. I'm getting JRZ club sport RS coilovers and I'll take your suggestion of -2.0 camber front and back.

Joe Weinstein

lemme know how it goes.

Kerry

Will do, Joe. I'd like to know, why do you favor the smaller Kuhmos over the larger Hoosiers? Isn't there a noticable increase in traction with the larger tire and wheel?

Matt Romanowski

Do NOT drive Hoosiers on the street. If you don't wear them out, you will most likely damage the tire. They are expecially susceptable to punctures and damageing the belts.

Joe Weinstein

I find the Kumhos to be more predicable and constant, and stick as well or better
than Hoosiers. Also they have a slightly smaller running diameter, which helps
acceleration.

2002M3Drew

Lots of experience on R-Comps...

I wouldn't recommend the Hoosier A6 if you have to drive it on the street. Aside from obvious wear issues and being prone to damage and subsequent flats, they will heat cycle out quickly by driving them to/from events. Once that happens, they are average in their abilities to do what you bought them for.

I have two suggestions for other tires:

1. Toyo RA-1 - A terrific do-it-all tire (cold temps, hot temps, wet, dry, autox, track), with unreal lifespan. You can actually use these as a street tire if you don't do a lot of non-sport miles (actually, you can use them as your only tire). I use them on my car for track and autox, and easily drive to and from events. The tread is not as aggressive as A6 or V710 (i.e. there is an actual tread!). You will not be as fast as you would be on A6 or V710, but you will be equal to a Victoracer, a Yokohama R comp, and way ahead of street tires.

2. If you must have one of the ultra grippy race tires, go with the V710 Kumho. Though not highly recommended, you can street these on a limited basis with little regard to heat cycling. They are the most grippy in their first 20 autox runs, and then go into stable second stage of wear for approx 70 runs. All in all, my buddy and I ran the same V710s on his GT3 for 140 autox runs, put 1100 street miles on them between events, and set FTD at just about event we entered (including the last one at run 140! ) No where near as durable as the RA-1, but a great tire nevertheless.

Now, if you can trailer the car, change tires at the event, etc (i.e. no street miles) and you want to be fast regardless of wear (short lifespan) , the A6 is the best out right now.

Good luck!

Kerry

Thank, Drew. I'm looking to get a set of 710s and see how they work for me. What sizes did you run on your GT3? I read on the Tire Rack site that the 710 works better with camber no more than -1.5 . That seems a bit odd. Did you find that to be true?