Any issues with Hoosiers on a completely stock BRZ for autocross?

[Thrustin]

Originally Posted by blkwrxwag

OP - it is very likely that the tires you have bought are complete crap at this point, and they will be worse than decent street tires. If they are ok, your car will be fine and you will not die a horrible death.

How could I tell if they are crap? Would they be hard? Is it possible for the tires to be soft, but still be crap? These tires seem quite soft.

[blkwrxwag]

Originally Posted by Thrustin

How could I tell if they are crap? Would they be hard? Is it possible for the tires to be soft, but still be crap? These tires seem quite soft.

Well, experience mostly. How does you car normally feel on good tires? How is the surface? An abrasive surface can help scrub off the harder outside and get back down to the good stuff. Heat will help as well. However, those tires must be years old, so it will also depend on how they were stored.

[Thrustin]

Originally Posted by blkwrxwag

Well, experience mostly. How does you car normally feel on good tires? How is the surface? An abrasive surface can help scrub off the harder outside and get back down to the good stuff. Heat will help as well. However, those tires must be years old, so it will also depend on how they were stored.

I meant, how can I tell before I drive on them? The guy I got them from was an autocross guy, and had them in storage while he was overseas (military). They don't seem at all like they sat outside, or in a cold garage.

[TrqlessWonder]

Originally Posted by Thrustin

I meant, how can I tell before I drive on them? The guy I got them from was an autocross guy, and had them in storage while he was overseas (military). They don't seem at all like they sat outside, or in a cold garage.

With certainty? I'm not sure you can tell before taking a run. The fingernail test and/or durometer gauge are still only approximate at best. I suppose you could additionally just leave them in the sun for a 10-20 minutes and see if the surface gets a little tacky, but at that age, I'm not sure that'd be a very accurate indicator, either.

You bought 'em, may as well learn something by using them. Take a brave pill and give it a shot. Or, have a local instructor take the car out, and that'll do a better job of answering your question than any of this interweb chatter can.

[Thrustin]

Originally Posted by TrqlessWonder

With certainty? I'm not sure you can tell before taking a run. The fingernail test and/or durometer gauge are still only approximate at best. I suppose you could additionally just leave them in the sun for a 10-20 minutes and see if the surface gets a little tacky, but at that age, I'm not sure that'd be a very accurate indicator, either.

You bought 'em, may as well learn something by using them. Take a brave pill and give it a shot. Or, have a local instructor take the car out, and that'll do a better job of answering your question than any of this interweb chatter can.

I think I'll take a brave pill, lol.

[blkwrxwag]

Originally Posted by Thrustin

I think I'll take a brave pill, lol.

That's pretty much the thing to do

Good luck - I hope they are ok for you.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by SeanRTR

FYI, several people run A6's in road racing, and they work quite well. Is it cost effective? Not really, but...

A friend running NASA Northeast in an ST2 Corvette runs A6s. According to him, it goes like this: he races off and leaves his competitors in the first few laps, maintains that lead for awhile, and then hangs on for dear life in the last few laps. After the win (~70% of his races), Hoosier awards him...yes, you guessed it: four more A6s.

Originally Posted by Thrustin

I think I'll take a brave pill, lol.

That's the spirit - nothing ventured, nothing gained. You say they're still soft, I say you'll have a ball on them.

[Element Tuning]

Originally Posted by dradernh

No, no, no!!! Some of us would dearly love to hear what a hotshot like yourself thinks about this subject. Seriously.

What my video wasn't evidence enough that it's a kick ass idea? Ha ha

[Element Tuning]

Ok since this thread has moved so far away from the original question I'm just going to share my experience with the FRS exclusively on a few track tires. In his case its not about what will net me the fastest lap for a given class or the fastest average lap for an entire race.

This car is light and the rear end is extremely light. The biggest problem most of us have had racing the car is getting heat into the rear tires. It is so difficult I wouldn't even entertain running anything but an "A" comp equivalent even for track days. I really struggled when I raced the car in a "140" wear rating tire class until I ignored everything everyone told me about the correct pressures for Hankook RS3s. I ran the rears super low on pressure so I could accelerate heating the tires up so they were at a better working temp.

This where the debate starts with tire width, diameter, and compounds. Most class regulated racers are going to keep the diameter small so they have better/quicker gearing, and they will settle on a width and compound that will get enough heat so the tire performs as it should.

While its easy to get A6s greasy on a 3400 lbs STi running 4 qualifying laps the is not the case on the FRS.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Element Tuning

What my video wasn't evidence enough that it's a kick ass idea? Ha ha

Ahh...missed it. That's quick for a car with these specs, and makes this prospective buyer even more inclined to pick one up.

Nice use of all the curb in T5, BTW!

[MTCRX]

I bought some of these tires a couple of years ago for my CRX, they were old tires then too. They still have grip but are harder than they would have been new. They will give you some idea of what sticky tires feel like but not totally. Mine seemed to heat cycle out quickly too. That is the tires get harder as they are heated and cooled after each run. Just keep in mind that new A6's will be much stickier than what you have, but these will still be fun to get a feel for things. They are old purple crack, but they are still purple crack! Be warned, you may not be able to stop yourself from buying a new set of Hoosiers after your experience.