Hoosier A7 Durability
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Hoosier A7 Durability
It's probably too early to ask, but has anyone put enough runs/laps on a set of A7's to find out if they're any more durable than the A6 like Hoosier claims???
If I don't get much response now I'll try to remember to bump this thread in a couple of months.
If I don't get much response now I'll try to remember to bump this thread in a couple of months.
#3
Safety Car
When they say more durable does that mean grip lasts longer or the tire construction is better? I found the A6 very durable from construction already. If they mean grip lasts longer does that mean over the course of a session, better heat cycling or better in hotter temps?
I have no problem with the A6 but improvement is always welcome.
I have no problem with the A6 but improvement is always welcome.
#4
Pro
Thread Starter
All good questions. I was assuming they meant longer life. Either wear and/or resistance to heat cycling. I mainly do autox and the #1 complaint I have is how fast they fall off in performance. Just curious if that has improved or not.
In full disclosure, I'm trying to decide what class I may run this year. Either choosing between street class (on 200TW tires) or going back to SSR if the A7 should happen to actually have better durability (resistance to heat cycling). Just weighing my options. I have several choices between the 2 classes and having a C5Z and C6Z.
In full disclosure, I'm trying to decide what class I may run this year. Either choosing between street class (on 200TW tires) or going back to SSR if the A7 should happen to actually have better durability (resistance to heat cycling). Just weighing my options. I have several choices between the 2 classes and having a C5Z and C6Z.
Last edited by talon95; 01-14-2015 at 02:44 PM.
#6
Supporting Vendor
I'll bite. I have not run A7's yet but will early in the year vs. A6's. I have them rims and the A6's, but not the A7's yet.
I expect better tread life because all of us would wear the centers out, and the new tread design won't have the issue with the buckling at the first groove the way it's designed.
As for the drop-off in performance. I've never had the issues that others claim. Sure I typically run newer tires at bigger events, but not all the time. Sometimes I'll run an older set at a Pro until the later sessions and more than once new tires didn't go faster. I've won more than a few National Tours with fronts that were road race take offs, or last year's Nationals set that I already had.
I can tell you this, SSR would love to have you back.
I expect better tread life because all of us would wear the centers out, and the new tread design won't have the issue with the buckling at the first groove the way it's designed.
As for the drop-off in performance. I've never had the issues that others claim. Sure I typically run newer tires at bigger events, but not all the time. Sometimes I'll run an older set at a Pro until the later sessions and more than once new tires didn't go faster. I've won more than a few National Tours with fronts that were road race take offs, or last year's Nationals set that I already had.
I can tell you this, SSR would love to have you back.
#7
Race Director
I'll bite. I have not run A7's yet but will early in the year vs. A6's. I have them rims and the A6's, but not the A7's yet.
I expect better tread life because all of us would wear the centers out, and the new tread design won't have the issue with the buckling at the first groove the way it's designed.
As for the drop-off in performance. I've never had the issues that others claim. Sure I typically run newer tires at bigger events, but not all the time. Sometimes I'll run an older set at a Pro until the later sessions and more than once new tires didn't go faster. I've won more than a few National Tours with fronts that were road race take offs, or last year's Nationals set that I already had.
I can tell you this, SSR would love to have you back.
I expect better tread life because all of us would wear the centers out, and the new tread design won't have the issue with the buckling at the first groove the way it's designed.
As for the drop-off in performance. I've never had the issues that others claim. Sure I typically run newer tires at bigger events, but not all the time. Sometimes I'll run an older set at a Pro until the later sessions and more than once new tires didn't go faster. I've won more than a few National Tours with fronts that were road race take offs, or last year's Nationals set that I already had.
I can tell you this, SSR would love to have you back.
#8
Supporting Vendor
It really pissed a bunch of us off one day two years ago when a person so hell bent on being the fastest guy at a local event actually bolted on sticker A6's for the second session of a day, late in the year. Mind you it was this guy who got himself on the Solo Events Board and wanted street tires rammed through because Hoosier's cost so much... meanwhile he's bolting on stickers for a local event at the end of the year.
I and another guy were there running on older tires, and didn't change. All 3 of us went about .5 faster in the afternoon. Mr. Sticker tires said that proved his point, he put on fresh tires and went faster. Didn't even register that Dan and I also went the same amount faster too. It's clear to me the course cleaned up, but sometimes people see what they want to see.
__________________
Sam Strano
Strano Performance Parts
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814-849-3450
More options than any other single company out there. More parts than any other single company I know: Brakes to Safety, Wheels to Exhaust. Suspension to Air Filters: Girodisc, Hawk, Raybestos, Essex Racing/AP, Ferodo, Wilwood, Penske, Koni, Borg Motorsport, Ridetech, Viking, After Dark Speed, Hotchkis, Bilstein, KW, Forgestar, BC Forged, Forgeline, MRR Wheels and on, and on, and on it goes.
Sam Strano
Strano Performance Parts
www.stranoparts.com
814-849-3450
More options than any other single company out there. More parts than any other single company I know: Brakes to Safety, Wheels to Exhaust. Suspension to Air Filters: Girodisc, Hawk, Raybestos, Essex Racing/AP, Ferodo, Wilwood, Penske, Koni, Borg Motorsport, Ridetech, Viking, After Dark Speed, Hotchkis, Bilstein, KW, Forgestar, BC Forged, Forgeline, MRR Wheels and on, and on, and on it goes.
#9
Race Director
Yep, I agree. There is some drop off, but that's the case with any tire. Rubber gets harder with age/use, even street tires.
It really pissed a bunch of us off one day two years ago when a person so hell bent on being the fastest guy at a local event actually bolted on sticker A6's for the second session of a day, late in the year. Mind you it was this guy who got himself on the Solo Events Board and wanted street tires rammed through because Hoosier's cost so much... meanwhile he's bolting on stickers for a local event at the end of the year.
I and another guy were there running on older tires, and didn't change. All 3 of us went about .5 faster in the afternoon. Mr. Sticker tires said that proved his point, he put on fresh tires and went faster. Didn't even register that Dan and I also went the same amount faster too. It's clear to me the course cleaned up, but sometimes people see what they want to see.
It really pissed a bunch of us off one day two years ago when a person so hell bent on being the fastest guy at a local event actually bolted on sticker A6's for the second session of a day, late in the year. Mind you it was this guy who got himself on the Solo Events Board and wanted street tires rammed through because Hoosier's cost so much... meanwhile he's bolting on stickers for a local event at the end of the year.
I and another guy were there running on older tires, and didn't change. All 3 of us went about .5 faster in the afternoon. Mr. Sticker tires said that proved his point, he put on fresh tires and went faster. Didn't even register that Dan and I also went the same amount faster too. It's clear to me the course cleaned up, but sometimes people see what they want to see.
Last edited by froggy47; 01-14-2015 at 06:52 PM.
#10
Conspiracy theorist here:
I ran the A7's in a race at the Runoffs in October 2014. They look mildly different in the tread. They have somewhat less groves. They feel exactly like A6's. There was no difference that I could tell in any way but I was racing and it was my 1st time on them. I guess the marketing guys at Hoosier need to find a way to justify the higher price!
I ran the A7's in a race at the Runoffs in October 2014. They look mildly different in the tread. They have somewhat less groves. They feel exactly like A6's. There was no difference that I could tell in any way but I was racing and it was my 1st time on them. I guess the marketing guys at Hoosier need to find a way to justify the higher price!
#11
Racer
Conspiracy theorist here:
I ran the A7's in a race at the Runoffs in October 2014. They look mildly different in the tread. They have somewhat less groves. They feel exactly like A6's. There was no difference that I could tell in any way but I was racing and it was my 1st time on them. I guess the marketing guys at Hoosier need to find a way to justify the higher price!
I ran the A7's in a race at the Runoffs in October 2014. They look mildly different in the tread. They have somewhat less groves. They feel exactly like A6's. There was no difference that I could tell in any way but I was racing and it was my 1st time on them. I guess the marketing guys at Hoosier need to find a way to justify the higher price!
#12
Melting Slicks
Conspiracy theorist here:
I ran the A7's in a race at the Runoffs in October 2014. They look mildly different in the tread. They have somewhat less groves. They feel exactly like A6's. There was no difference that I could tell in any way but I was racing and it was my 1st time on them. I guess the marketing guys at Hoosier need to find a way to justify the higher price!
I ran the A7's in a race at the Runoffs in October 2014. They look mildly different in the tread. They have somewhat less groves. They feel exactly like A6's. There was no difference that I could tell in any way but I was racing and it was my 1st time on them. I guess the marketing guys at Hoosier need to find a way to justify the higher price!
#13
Race Director
Conspiracy theorist here:
I ran the A7's in a race at the Runoffs in October 2014. They look mildly different in the tread. They have somewhat less groves. They feel exactly like A6's. There was no difference that I could tell in any way but I was racing and it was my 1st time on them. I guess the marketing guys at Hoosier need to find a way to justify the higher price!
I ran the A7's in a race at the Runoffs in October 2014. They look mildly different in the tread. They have somewhat less groves. They feel exactly like A6's. There was no difference that I could tell in any way but I was racing and it was my 1st time on them. I guess the marketing guys at Hoosier need to find a way to justify the higher price!
#15
Pro
Thread Starter
My experience with the A6 is that performance fall off is very dependent on how they're used. Some of which is under your control, some isn't. Storing them properly, not overheating them, etc... helps a lot. OTOH, the ambient temps you run them in is also a factor.
All of these different factors I think contribute to the somewhat varied opinions on how well they hold up to heat cycles. I've had sets that fell off a lot more than others, usually when I've run them in the hot summer months here in KS.
Because of this, I never feel like spending $$$$ on travel, etc... to go to bigger events on older tires which necessitates buying fresh sets. OTOH, buying fresh tires for local events is just silly IMO.
Unfortunately it doesn't sound like the tire has changed much.
All of these different factors I think contribute to the somewhat varied opinions on how well they hold up to heat cycles. I've had sets that fell off a lot more than others, usually when I've run them in the hot summer months here in KS.
Because of this, I never feel like spending $$$$ on travel, etc... to go to bigger events on older tires which necessitates buying fresh sets. OTOH, buying fresh tires for local events is just silly IMO.
Unfortunately it doesn't sound like the tire has changed much.
#16
LOL! I hope you are right. I paid the "new" hot tire "AT" the Runoffs price! I drained the bank account that week anyway what's another set of tires? A6/A7 it isn't going to matter because I'm sure soon enough A7 is all you are going to be able to buy. I'm just really glad Hoosier did not make the tire worse like they did with those terrible Aso4's. Man those things stunk.
#17
Pro
Thread Starter
With the sizes I compared, the price only went up $1 which is negligible obviously. Hoosier hasn't raised prices significantly for at least a couple of years.
#18
Supporting Vendor
My experience with the A6 is that performance fall off is very dependent on how they're used. Some of which is under your control, some isn't. Storing them properly, not overheating them, etc... helps a lot. OTOH, the ambient temps you run them in is also a factor.
All of these different factors I think contribute to the somewhat varied opinions on how well they hold up to heat cycles. I've had sets that fell off a lot more than others, usually when I've run them in the hot summer months here in KS.
Because of this, I never feel like spending $$$$ on travel, etc... to go to bigger events on older tires which necessitates buying fresh sets. OTOH, buying fresh tires for local events is just silly IMO.
Unfortunately it doesn't sound like the tire has changed much.
All of these different factors I think contribute to the somewhat varied opinions on how well they hold up to heat cycles. I've had sets that fell off a lot more than others, usually when I've run them in the hot summer months here in KS.
Because of this, I never feel like spending $$$$ on travel, etc... to go to bigger events on older tires which necessitates buying fresh sets. OTOH, buying fresh tires for local events is just silly IMO.
Unfortunately it doesn't sound like the tire has changed much.
Look I'm not saying that it's unwise to be on the best tires you can be for National events. I am saying that unless you are on junk the difference is within noise. And frankly I wear them out before I heat cycle them out and they just get hard.
#20
i farted around in ASP in 2013 a little, and my experience was about the same for autocross. sticker tires are consistently .2 on an autocross ahead of 3 run tires with a 24 hour busted cherry.
3 run tires with a 24 hour busted cherry are about .3 ahead of last weeks tires, which are .5 ahead of last months tires. which are 2 seconds ahead of last years tires. which are 3 seconds faster than 2 year old tires.
Not an exaggeration. last years tires were so bad that they were not even useful for practice or testing. literally.
however, on track or when really hot out, the differences are much less significant.
Now, if you run warm but not baking hot weather, and store properly, i expect your experience to differ quite a bit. not disputing sam's results, but just reporting what i see in texas in asp.
also, on track, you could get heat in the tires and the differences were much less significant.
i think the other top drivers in this area would agree.
people are not winning classes by bolting on a new set of stickers each day or even each run because they are stupid.
i personally resolved that i was not going to spend any more money on hoosiers, even though i was winning 2-4 tires every main event.
if the A7 is the same compound, i expect the same results.