I've heard about the new Hoosier for a while, but seen no info. Got the new Grassrootsmotorsports today and it has a pic and said check out the Hoosier website. I did, and found zero info anywhere. Interested in sizes, prices, wheel fitment, when available. If no one here has any info, I'll check back with Hoosier and see what reply they make.

 

After seeing them, and talking with Hoosier guys at the Runoff's:

They are avaliable.
They are avaliable in the same sizes.
A checkered pattern on the sidewall.
There is a small rim protector.
They have a rounder shoulder.
They are about 2mm wider, to compensate for the rounder shoulder.
The grooves are placed across the tread in 1/3s.
There was no ghost tread.
I think he said a tad heavier, and a bit stickier.
Priced very similar to S03s.

 

I heard they are a lot heavier but this is just hear say.

 

None of this is official but comes from 2 drivers I've talked to that did initial testing...

1. Grip is high. Very high. Slicks high.
2. Wear looked better than the 03.
3. Compound is not supposed to heat cycle out like the 03 (but as yet unproven).
4. It is heavier (steel belts instead of fiberglass).
5. The tire is slightly wider but tread width remains about the same as the 03.

As of 3 weeks ago Appalachian only had 15" sizes. That might have changed by now.

 

Hoosier Tom had two of them on display out at Nationals. They definitely look and feel MUCH more like a slick than the SO3. As was said before, the edge is much more rounded, no ghost tread, two grooves divide the surface into thirds. The surface did not feel as sticky and soft as the SO3 just sitting there. I would have to imagine these will not like cold temps. The weight was more than the SO3, but not by HUGE amounts. If the grip is what they are saying it is, then the weight will really become a non issue.

 

New Hoosier Spec Miata Tire



LAKEVILLE, IN -- Hoosier Racing Tire is proud to announce the release of the P205/50ZR15 D.O.T. Competition radial tire for the Spec Miata class. The new Spec Miata tire is a result of extensive testing and development from the Grand Am Street Stock Endurance Series and R3S04 developments. The new Spec Miata tire will feature a sidewall plate that reads “SM” on both sidewalls for easy identification. The new tires will carry a catalog # of 46500SM and will have a suggested retail price of $142.00 (US). These tires will be available only from Hoosier distributors and dealers that provide SCCA trackside service. The current tire approval process for the Spec Miata class is left to the individual SCCA areas and regions. Currently, all approved tires include predominantly the Toyo Proxes RA1, Kumho V700 Victoracer, and Hankook Ventus. The main criteria for regions approving these tires has been durability and price.

A review of current tire pricing is as follows:

TOYO Proxes RA1 $150.00 = $600.00/SET
($165.00 less $15.00 rebate coupon)

KUMHO V700 Victoracer $130.00 = $520.00/SET

HANKOOK Ventus $137.00 = $548.00/SET

HOOSIER SM $142.00 = $568.00/SET

Other Hoosier benefits:

* The new HOOSIER SM tire will produce extended wear over the previous R3S03 model tire while delivering more grip, speed, and confidence resulting in quicker, safer laps.

* Unlike other brands, all Hoosier tires are produced in the U.S.A. so availability issues should not be of concern.

* Hoosier has a much more comprehensive trackside support network in place than any of the other tire suppliers

Is this a different compound then the new R3S04's? Last as long as Toyo?

 

Anyone know if these have the DOT stamp? I assume that they do.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyone know if these have the DOT stamp? I assume that they do.</TD></TR></TABLE>

They had a quick writeup on them in the back of November's Grassroots Motorsports P. 168. According to the blurb, they are indeed a DOT approved race tire.

 

I'm not going to pass on any details because it isn't official and it is 2nd hand info (although it comes from a great source that is close to Hoosier), but the new Hoosier is reported to be a bad ***. It will wear nearly as well as a toyo and is molded at 4/32 so it doesn't need to be shaved. The SM compound is rumoured to be slightly harder to match the wear of the toyo and is the same compound used by Grand Am for endurance racing.

Again, its all 2nd hand info, but based on the source I believe this is going to be one great tire. One pro driver that tested this tire stated afterwards that "it damn near has too much grip. I couldn't get the car sliding around like on the Toyos."
This comes at a cost similar to the cost of a shaved Toyo. And as mentioned above, there is never a supply problem with Hoosiers (yes, I noted Hoosier's jab at Toyo in the above statement and it is an accurate jab).

So... Who wants spec Toyos now???

 

Don't know sizing and pricing, but we did get a chance to test out some 225/45/17 R3S04's on the S2000 at Gingerman and Road America. In both cases we were within a second or two of the T2 lap records with our B-Stock solo car.

Gingerman - 1:35.13 best
Road America - 2:42.62 best

Tires have PHENOMENAL grip, and we got about 6 hours of track time before cording a small band on the outside of the tire. They are still very new on the inside of the tire (not enough camber... the extra grip and stock springs made the tires corner on the outside.)

This makes me salivate to feel them with the proper springs and alignment settings. Overall I'm VERY impressed with the tire. Much sharper and more communicative than the previous Hoosier, and they appear to last much longer. I can't speak to Heat Cycling performance loss because we wore them out after only a few cycles.

Overall looks to be a spectacular tire:

 

oh how i pine after that car :deep sigh:

more incentive to do well in school right now

 

Ive talked to 2 guys that have run them, One being Jason, Awesome grip, but definetly do NOT last as long as toyos's, maybe half as long, but probably even less from what Ive seen.

Mike

 

So, for someone just starting out on R compounds which tire would be thegroup's choice to learn on; hooisers (s03 or s04); michelin pilot sport cup; kumho ecsta v700; ra1?

 

FYI - the 225/15 will not be available until late summer/ fall 2004.

 

So basically this tire is better in every way? I've never heard a marketing team say something like this before

 

Hey Jason,

Is this the tire you were running the other weekend at Gingerman? That car was wickedly stuck to the pavement...must be a good tire...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jason Saini &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I can't speak to Heat Cycling performance loss because we wore them out after only a few cycles.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's an improvement all by itself...I'd rather cord a tire than throw it away because it has plenty of rubber on it but no grip. That's been my problem with the 03 - they're great when new, and wear well, but after 2 weekends you might as well chuck em.

Thanks for posting Jason.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Krispy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So basically this tire is better in every way? I've never heard a marketing team say something like this before
</TD></TR></TABLE>

That would be excellent input if we were discussing statements made in marketing materials. But we're discussing comments made by drivers who have tested the tire and given feedback.

And if the tire stood up to 6 hours of track time on a stock suspension with minimal camber, that speaks volumes. Not only is the compound fairly stout, but the sidewall must be pretty hearty as well. And preliminary reports were that Hoosier was trying to do a compound that wouldn't cycle out like the 03. Based on the info I've seen so far, we haven't seen if they pulled this off yet (ie: nobody has used them for a weekend, stored them, used them, stored them, etc for multiple cycles).
Good info Jason, matches everything I've heard from other drivers. Thanks .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by J28S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">FYI - the 225/15 will not be available until late summer/ fall 2004.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Can anyone in the know confirm this (and are we referring specifically to the 225/45-15?)? This is going to really screw up my plans for next season.

 

Sure, call Hoosier 574-784-3152

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So, for someone just starting out on R compounds which tire would be thegroup's choice to learn on; hooisers (s03 or s04); michelin pilot sport cup; kumho ecsta v700; ra1?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you are just starting out stick with street tires for AX. After you run 1 season on street tires switch to v700s

For AX - V700 - cheaper. Longer lasting then everything but the Toyo. Better grip than the Toyo.

For HPDE - Toyos for long lasting and repeatable grip.

 

Come on 215/40/16!

Just to be clear, is the SM tire they refer to the same as the S04, or are we talking about two different compounds?


Matt

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jaker &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is going to really screw up my plans for next season.</TD></TR></TABLE>

don;t worry jake, i got you covered....

 

So... Who wants spec Toyos now???

AMEN- now lets go race....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by speedracer33 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Come on 215/40/16!
Just to be clear, is the SM tire they refer to the same as the S04, or are we talking about two different compounds?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Matt, this tire was discussed at specmiata.com a couple of weeks ago. ICBW but the "special" SM tire appears to be the S04 tire in SM spec size and the letters SM on the side.
Check these threads for more info

http://www.specmiata.com/cgi-b...01683
http://www.specmiata.com/ubb/u...01707