Can Hoosier Vintage T.D.S be used on the street?

Hello,
I have a replica Lola T70 that is rarely used and only driven on the street. I have been looking to replace the tires with something more appropriate for the car and found a great deal on a new set of Hoosier Vintage T.D.S tires. The model numbers are 44286 and 44316. I am a college student and I am trying to keep the Lola running on a very limited budget. There are few inexpensive tire options in these sizes so I am drawn to the option of using these racing tires.
What would be the downsides of using a tire like this? I assume that they wont last long but I drive the car only a few hundred miles a year.
Any advice is appreciated and if this is a stupid idea feel free to say so.
 

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I would say for your intended use they're OK. They at least have some tread pattern although I wouldn't get caught out in the rain. Assuming they are technically DOT approved, but may have 'for competition use only' on the sidewall ? Not sure about liability if you're involved in an accident. Wouldn't worry about wear with limited use.
 

Kim Haun

Supporter
I run Avon racing tires on the street, mostly to weekend cars and coffee events that are close by. I couldn't find suitable width and profile for my 15" diameter rims in a DOT approved tire. I drive very conservatively, constantly watch for road debris as they are more suseptable to puncture and never drive when its wet out or likely to get wet while I'm out. If you're getting a great deal make sure it isn't because the date of manufacture isn't from the stone age, these types of tires can dry out a bit quicker than street tires.
 
I would say for your intended use they're OK. They at least have some tread pattern although I wouldn't get caught out in the rain. Assuming they are technically DOT approved, but may have 'for competition use only' on the sidewall ? Not sure about liability if you're involved in an accident. Wouldn't worry about wear with limited use.

Thank you the liability is a concern and something important for me to consider. They do have that warning on the sidewall. That having been said, this car is terribly unsafe and I doubt I would survive most collisions.
 
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I run Avon racing tires on the street, mostly to weekend cars and coffee events that are close by. I couldn't find suitable width and profile for my 15" diameter rims in a DOT approved tire. I drive very conservatively, constantly watch for road debris as they are more suseptable to puncture and never drive when its wet out or likely to get wet while I'm out. If you're getting a great deal make sure it isn't because the date of manufacture isn't from the stone age, these types of tires can dry out a bit quicker than street tires.

I am glad to hear that you have had good experience with the Avon tires. I will be using my car for small short trips to car and coffee and the occasional longer weekend drive to nice roads. I don't ever drive this car in the wet so hopefully I will be okay. The seller is asking $550 for the set, which seems really cheap. I will check the production dates.
Do you have any issues with flat spotting?
I have been researching and it seems like it might be necessary to store my car on jack stands if I buy these tires.
 

Kim Haun

Supporter
I can't speak to the Hoosers but my Avons don't flat spot. I think the old style Goodyear Billboards have that issue, but once they warm up a bit they round out. I don't believe you'll need to store on stands unless youre looking at prolonged storage. At $550, I'd grab them...especially if they're not more than a couple years old.
 

Ian Anderson

Lifetime Supporter
Info here

 
Info here


Thank you Ian, the opinions in that thread are a bit worrisome! Especially the story that Stirling Moss called them undrivable! If he couldn't tame these tires I surely I wont be able to!
It sounds like these tires are much better suited for the track and struggle in the real world. I also learned that they are Bias Ply which I did not realize at first. I have never driven on bias ply tires before so I am unsure how confident they would feel on the road.
 

Larry L.

Lifetime Supporter
...the opinions in that thread are a bit worrisome...Moss called them undrivable...If he couldn't tame these tires I surely I wont be able to!
It sounds like these tires are much better suited for the track and struggle in the real world...I have never driven on bias ply tires before so I am unsure how confident they would feel on the road.

They do have that warning on the sidewall...this car is terribly unsafe and I doubt I would survive most collisions.

Given all that, I'd walk away, Elliot.
Those tires could very well end up costing you a whole heck of a lot more than $550 one day...if you get my drift. ;-)
 

Jim Albright

Supporter
I run Avon racing tires on the street, mostly to weekend cars and coffee events that are close by. I couldn't find suitable width and profile for my 15" diameter rims in a DOT approved tire. I drive very conservatively, constantly watch for road debris as they are more suseptable to puncture and never drive when its wet out or likely to get wet while I'm out. If you're getting a great deal make sure it isn't because the date of manufacture isn't from the stone age, these types of tires can dry out a bit quicker than street tires.
It would be wonderful if someone started making a 15" radial in the widths we need for street use - not holding my breath though:)
 
what size tires exactly are you looking for? What size rim are you mounting them on? We in the Pantera GP IV community have been over hill and dale regarding tires for the 15" x 13 or 14 inch wide rears.
 

Neil

Supporter
Hello,
I have a replica Lola T70 that is rarely used and only driven on the street. I have been looking to replace the tires with something more appropriate for the car and found a great deal on a new set of Hoosier Vintage T.D.S tires. The model numbers are 44286 and 44316. I am a college student and I am trying to keep the Lola running on a very limited budget. There are few inexpensive tire options in these sizes so I am drawn to the option of using these racing tires.
What would be the downsides of using a tire like this? I assume that they wont last long but I drive the car only a few hundred miles a year.
Any advice is appreciated and if this is a stupid idea feel free to say so.

Elliott;

I just ran 157.458 mph on the 27.5" x 11" Hoosiers that you posted a picture of. They are race tires so they are not good in a heavy rain and they are susceptible to damage from debris, potholes, curbs, etc. I wouldn't run them on the street. Where did you get that Stirling Moss quote?
 
It would be wonderful if someone started making a 15" radial in the widths we need for street use - not holding my breath though:)

One good option for radials that I have found are the Nitto nt555r2 in 325/50/15 they are about $270 each on eBay. Although narrower, they are half the price of the 345/35/15 Pirellis P7. The biggest issue would be the modern tread pattern but it’s not too ugly.
 
Elliott;

I just ran 157.458 mph on the 27.5" x 11" Hoosiers that you posted a picture of. They are race tires so they are not good in a heavy rain and they are susceptible to damage from debris, potholes, curbs, etc. I wouldn't run them on the street. Where did you get that Stirling Moss quote?

Hello Niel,
Wow that is some serious speed! Must have been quite exhilarating! I will never be reaching anywhere near those speeds in my replica it certainly is not built well enough for that.
Thank you for your advice, it’s good know that at least these tires would be a good option should I ever head to the track. It seems like the seller acquired them in some type of ‘fell off the back of a truck’ incident at Sonoma Raceway. So if anyone lost a set of these there... they do say GT40 in chalk on them...
The Stirling Moss anecdote was shared in a link that Ian posted above: https://www.gt40s.com/threads/hoosier-race-dot-legal-tires.15784/
 

Chris Kouba

Supporter
One good option for radials that I have found are the Nitto nt555r2 in 325/50/15 they are about $270 each on eBay. Although narrower, they are half the price of the 345/35/15 Pirellis P7. The biggest issue would be the modern tread pattern but it’s not too ugly.

And what goes on the front?
 
And what goes on the front?

That is a good question, I do think there are more options for the skinnier front tires in 15” but as far as Nitto goes I think the closest thing they do make is the NT01 in 225/45/15, possibly too small of a diameter for our purposes. The NT01 is a super sticky 100 tread wear semi-slick.
 
Hello,
Off subject a little want to see a picture of your Lola.
Thanks!
My Lola is not too much to look at right now, it’s been on jack stands for over a year. I have been doing some light repairs and servicing to it when I have free time. Unfortunately my progress on the repairs has been slower than I had hoped.
It is a Marauder car and if you aren’t familiar these are steel space frame cars that used a 351 Cleveland and the ZF 5DS-25-2. Although it was thoroughly enjoyed for many years by an engineer who took good care of it, there are many aspects of it that were not properly designed to begin with.
Before I got the car the owner moved on to other projects, and the Lola was moved outside where the weather took its toll on it. I have been cleaning up some light rust on the chassis and suspension and slowly replacing/repairing items. When I have the money and time, I would like to replace the chassis, either by building a chassis similar to the beautiful original chassis that Marcus is building in his Scratch build or purchase an aftermarket one such as the RCR chassis.
Here are a few pictures from last year before I began working on it


C974DD33-EE33-4726-9C48-2533144A7D0C.jpeg

1B341C61-52F2-409B-87FE-1D5E82008CC8.jpeg
EB5F69BA-3961-49D6-9127-E02E5A6C549B.jpeg
640510FF-7723-4D85-ADE9-E46257A458E9.jpeg
 
Looks great to me…
Gorgeous lines for certain.
Your passionate about working on it will all come together…
Cleveland’s are good bet it’s fun to drive.


Thanks for the picks will let you get back to tire solutions!
 

Ian Anderson

Lifetime Supporter
If cost was not a consideration Avons would be the go to tyres for street use.

I know BF Goodrich are now doing some wider format tyres in 15 inch rim sizes, that may be an option, although reports on here are the compounds are fairly hard so really only summer and dry.

I ran Khumo tyres on my GT40, but not as wide as you are looking at. They were v speed rated so good to 150mph but we’re really designed for SUV so possibly not a tread pattern that desirable. I do know when I bought them the set of 4 was the same price as a single Avon rear!

so compromises are possible.

ian
 
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