Brian S

I usually run the R6 for track outings and wanted to know what characteristics the A6 may have over the R6 being a softer compound. I assume the A6 wears faster but does it still hold up to the heat of 30min+ runs or do you have to run shorter sessions?

(btw, I tried to search but a6 and r6 are too short to search on)

disasterman

Don't even think about A6's for track use unless you want to change tires very often, ie; daily.

Brian S

That is about what I figured, one of the guys at the track got a set and put a few 30 minute runs on them and they are ok still though. Mostly trying to chase down 8 tenths that he has on me with these tires in similar cars, you know how the mind games go so I'm just trying to figure out how much they are worth.

IcemanG17

A local ITE & AX class Mustang (Griggs racing) runs 315/30-18 A6's all around....even during "sprint" events that last between 20-30 minutes.....its VERY fast too....but I don't know how long those tires would last in a 3000lb car with 600+ hp

Brian S

I will have to ask the guy that ran his :P same cost as the R6's.. so I may try it and see if they are worth 8 tenths or if he is just that much better than me.

Mussl Kar

When they get really hot they can still pull the same Gs, but at a much greater slip angle. On a 2 min autocross course on a hot day I wiped out an entire 4 cone slalom at about the 1.5 min mark, in the afternoon sessions. Tires went from "velcro" sticky to "flypaper" sticky. When the car did not respond with the crispness I just crusied to the finish. I cord mine in about 90 min.

Brian S

Sounds like they are worth a shot for a couple colder days then, my R6's will be done in two more days so I will have to order something anyway.

Btw, do any of you have a hard time keeping the wheels from slipping or is it just my shop mounting the tires improperly? (I first thought that hoosier just couldn't make a round tire as they went out of balance every day, but we marked the valve stems and the tire, the 19" wheel really spins. rears under acceleration and fronts under braking)

Gasser

These might make good intermediate rain tires. Damp track but no standing water. If you have enough wheels sitting around, maybe a set sitting for a SPECIAL ocasion. I know some even use these to qualify and then pull them for the race. These would be a tool and not a daily use item...

Grantsfo

I second the reccomendation for them being a good intermidiate rain tire for cold damp track - not standing water or too many puddles.

Mussl Kar

60 second autocross course in the dry, same course in the afternoon in a drizzle was 63 seconds.

brad@tirerack.com

Cronus

From what I heard in the paddock, the A6 is a great qualifying lap tire and short (<20min) session/race tire. Anything over that and it turns to a gooey (is that even a word ) mess.

Brian S

A6's are in fact faster than R6's.

The same consistent driver (partial professional racer) had some fairly worn A6's in 18" and then bolted on my 1 cycle old 19" R6's and could not get within 0.7 of his A6 time over 20 minute test sessions for each tire. Which was within a few hundredths of the fastest time I could get on the R6's so I feel pretty good just under equipped.

He claims the A6 never goes away on him, he was still turning faster than R6 times at the end of the 20 minutes so unless there is a cliff they would most likely be as hot as they were going to get already. He also believes that the A6 wears about the same, or at least not dramatically different.

Now, what about R100 that was supposedly made for the GT3 with a higher load capacity?

Lemming

Brian, what were track temps for your test?

Brian S

It was overcast and about 75, standard 50% humidity. Not exactly sure on the surface temp though.