[McGuireV10]

I have the opportunity to get a freebie set of new barely-used Michelin Pilot Sports, or a set of never used Hoosier slicks. I have fairly new street tires on my Viper now, so it'll be awhile before I need some again, so that isn't a concern.

Basically I'm wondering if a relative newbie like me will see big benefits from Hoosiers, or if I'll just be wasting a good set of slicks.

Also, since I haven't ever used them, is there anything else I should know or think about when switching to slicks?

 

[Smackie]

First of all, are they Hoosier DOT tires. People always call these slicks due to the minimal tread. There's a huge difference between these and the actual Hoosier slicks that you see on something like the Comp Coupe package.

Secondly, I think you'd enjoy the novelty of the newfound grip, but I don't think it'll do anything but slow down or taint your learning curve. You learn a lot more about vehicle dynamics trying to go fast on street tires than with the addition of Hoosier grip. That increase in grip will hide lots of little mistakes which will inevitably make you slower than somebody with better fundamentals.

If it's a budget thing, cheap tires are cheap tires.

Hoosiers break away really fast. Real slicks break away even faster. Grip, grip, grip, no grip. Street tires are linear and may keep your ass out of the Armco.

How many events have you done, anyways? If I recall correctly, you've been tracking for about six months. I'd do another six months then move to something like the Pilot Cup Sports and then onto slicks when you are ready to drop a grand or two a weekend to win trophies.

 

[McGuireV10]

Thanks. I was working my way towards many of those same conclusions. Earlier this afternoon I opted for the street tires.

I think mainly I don't want something that will hide mistakes at this stage. Also, it'll be nice to be able to continue driving if the weather turns wet (as it does almost daily this time of year in "sunny" Florida).

P.S. Your new sig kicks ass.

 

[Chuck 98 RT10]

As usual Smack is right on. I've never run on Hoosiers but I'm about to make the move this year after I get the steering rack recall done this weekend. I like the sound of hearing the Michelins breaking lose. It's a warning sign. The grip, grip, grip, no grip thing with Hoosiers as stuck in my mind since I first heard that about them so I've been in no hurry to make the move.

I suppose the Hoosiers you've found are 18s? I'm looking for 17s if anyone knows of any.

 

[McGuireV10]

Yeah, 18s. I don't know which category they fall into regarding BP's DOT question. I think they're the RSO03's.

 

[Smackie]

RS303's are DOT tires, not slicks. The actual Hoosier slicks as found on the Comp Coupe are the stickiest tires I've ever seen and make regular Hoosiers feel like street tires.

 

[McGuireV10]

Cool. Thanks.

 

[_Mark_]

Just $.02 for future info-

Switching to stickier tires can also have some profound effects on the performance of your car as well. For instance, you can get much higher lateral g's - which can cause oil starvation on a stock viper. (You may already know all this, but if somebody who didn't decided to slap some stickies on and haul ass for the day - they may end up trailering home).

 

[RCViper]

I agree with Mark. If you are going to run them you need the baffled oil pan. Slicks are great, but it also does you a lot of good to switch back to street tires once in a while to identify the bad habits you have picked up.

 

[KosherBenz]

Id get the Hoosiers of those two options, but I would learn to RR first on street tires before you jump into the Hoosiers. Good luck with them..

Evan

 

[McGuireV10]

I went with the street tires instead, and boy am I glad, as I thoroughly FRIED my current street tires at Sebring this past weekend. Tire pressures were all wrong. It was still a lot of fun though.

 

[Thin Man]

I went with the street tires instead, and boy am I glad, as I thoroughly FRIED my current street tires at Sebring this past weekend. Tire pressures were all wrong. It was still a lot of fun though.

Did you get your brakes sorted out yet? Hopefully it was just a fluid problem!

Lance

 

[McGuireV10]

Yeah, it was just fluid. So much for buying brake fluid on the cheap. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

And now to hijack my own topic: that's a cool picture in your avatar... do you have a large version? My father was on a bunch of nuke carriers and he mentioned the occasional hard manuvering (and the resulting catastrophes below decks). I've never actually seen a photo or video of it though...