Track day tire recommendations

[yellowss7]

I just ordered a set of Toyo R888's for the Caterham as my street tires, and was just about to order a set of Hoosier slicks for this seasons Autoxing and my upcoming trackday at LOG 29, but my source, who also autoxes and competes in road racing, suggested that I hold off on the Hoosier's.

 

He thought that the R25B compound slicks that I use for Autoxing might be too soft for the 20 minute track day sessions and that I might be better off using the R888's for the trackday and that they may be good enough for Autoxing as well.

 

Any recommendations from those that have done trackday events? I really liked autoxing on the Hoosier slicks compared to my Avon CR500's. Hugh difference. Will the R888's be more comparable to the slicks or the CR500's?

 

Tom

[jwduncan]

Tom,

 

I have a set of R888s for the street and they are no where near as sticky as a Hoosier R25B compound. IMHO the R888s would be significantly slower than the R25B on an auto-x course.

 

That said, I'm also not sure a R25B would survive a lot of track use. The only track day I did last year was with the R888 and it was raining.

 

Why don't you do the track days on the R888s and auto-x with the Hooisers? The other option is a harder compound Hooiser for the track but then it will be a compromise at the auto-x.

 

YMMV.

[yellowss7]

Thanks Jeff. That's the dilema, I know the Slicks are best for the autox. But I was hoping that I could get away with them on the trackday as well. The confidence they provide is just awesome.

 

I was looking for some feedback from someone who runs slicks on the track, as to whether the R25's would hold up for several 20 minute sessions. It's just a track day event not a race so I wouldn't be running at 10/10ths.

 

Tom

[Boxologist]

kill off the current autoX tyres on the track. but the toyos will be the best bet if u are only going to have 2 sets of tyres. the hoosier r6 or moving to the r35 compounds would be ur track tyres, but how often are u doing road courses?

[yellowss7]

Thanks Box. My Old Hoosiers are coming up on their 4th season if I would run them now. Last Autox season it was painfully obvious that although they had plenty of rubber left on them, they had hardened up enough that they weren't really sticky any more and my PAX times started to drop off. In fact on my first runs it was very difficult to get them to grip at all.

 

I would not have any confidence using them at higher speeds on the track.

 

Based on the comments, it looks like I'll bite the bullet and order the Hoosier R25B's for the Autox season, and run the R888's on the first and second sessions of the trackday and then maybe change over to the Hoosiers for a session and see how they hold up.

 

Tom

[WestTexasS2K]

I know Chuck Spera runs the R25A for Auto X and track days. If it is really hot out they may start to get greasy about 15 min in. With a light car they hold pretty well.

[yellowss7]

Thanks. that's what I was told by Michael D. as well. I'll give them a try.

 

Tom