GS023

Looking at the Hoosier A6 and R6 and have a question. The way I understand it the A's are for autocross and R's for track duty. With that would you expect the R's to net equal track performance to the A's after they attain optimum temp? I would expect the R's to be more durable but maybe have less adhesion?

Thx for the input in advance

travisnd

That's incorrect... people assumed that's what they stand for, but according to the folks at Hoosier they don't.

All of us run As on track... they're a good 2 seconds a lap faster than Rs at places like VIR and Road Atlanta.

I worn out A is still better than an R.

96CollectorSport

If you are completing for fast laps then A's are for you - if you are just out doing track days then the R's would be more cost benificial. The R's rubber will last 3x as long as the A's - however the A's will grip until they cord, the R's will heat cycle out before the rubber is gone. So longevity vs grip is what you have to decide.

RX-Ben

FWIW, A's are described as "autocross" in the Hoosier catalog, but as Travis said, A's are awesome on the track.
Don't use A's unless you are competing.

travisnd

Hmmm... you're right. I remember a long thread where a Hoosier rep had said that wasn't the case.

PushinTheLimit

There's been many threads about this same topic over the past few years that I've been on this forum and the guys above me have it right.

A6's are great for autox and for open track racing. In classes like SCCA T1 and Nasa ST1, ST2, PTA, etc that corvettes compete in... many will favor the Hoosier A6 over the R6. Also in Nasa, Hoosier has a good contingency going so that's another factor in using Hoosier tires in that series.

R6's would be just fine for HPDE... but A6's are hard to beat grip wise for competing.

GS023

Great input.

Thanks for all your help.

Everett Ogilvie

Every time this comes up the majority of guys in this section continually state that the A6 has more grip AND lasts longer (more heat cycles) than the R6.

I use the A6 for track days myself and I have never even considered using R's based on inputs from many people in this section whom I trust implicitly.

Sidney004

I spoke to a Hoosier Rep at the GrandAm race this last summer; he told me that the internal construction of the A6 and R6 are identical, only the rubber compound is different.

jaa1992

I just use whichever I can get a good deal on. My R6's lasted a good year + of time trials before they got to the cord. Was looking to replace them with A's but they were on back order. Then I found 5 R6's for $1000 new and those will be the ones I run until they cord.

I am not the fast guy out there though.

ZoomFreakinZoom

I've used both and for me, the A6's are about 2 seconds faster on a track like Road Atlanta. Probably due to the fact that the A6's have more grip through a heat cycle than an R6. For normal types of racing I would suggest an A6. For Enduro's aka anything over about 1 hour I would go with an R6. The A6's will get too hot after sustained running, regardless of starting pressure (within reason). For reference, my car is 2600 lbs with around 285 hp. A heavier car would use tires differently so it's all relative. I have talked to a lot of the Hoosier and Conti tire guys at the Grand-Am weekends, and the structural build of the A6/R6 is the same, but the tire compound is different.

brkntrxn

A6 -- Sprint Racing, Time Trials and Autocross
R6 -- Endurance Racing
NT01 -- HPDE Advanced levels
Street Tire -- HPDE Intermediate and below

AU N EGL

the old Hoosier VRLs and the newer Continental Grand AM tires are Hoosier with the"R" rubber compound but different sidewalls. These are great scrubs for HPDEs. But not NASA races.

NASA does not give Non-DOT penalty points for using the VRLs or the Grand Am tires. cause these tires are slower then As

drivinhard

Very true. And in reality, it's "useful speed" that we are after. The R6's may not show cords but they'll be so sorry towards the end, they'll be better off as tire swings.

JeremyGSU

I've see a lot of people run R's at DE's. I've driven with them and thought they gripped great.

RX-Ben

Aha! Someone that hasn't used As?! Just say no - never use them. Your bank account/loved ones will thank you.

96CollectorSport

Coming from someone who is addicted to the purple crack!!!

A's make you feel like superman and you're never quite the same afterwards - like Ben said, just say no!

Olitho

One hit and you can't get enough of them. Every new delivery of A's feels like the anticipation of a hot date!

JeremyGSU

Ha. I track with Nitto 555R II Extreme's. lol I'm not even close to the R6's, let alone the A6's.

drivinhard

had to dig out my old picture for this