Hoosier TD

[Ron McCall]

Has anyone used Hoosier TD or Street TD tires for their car?? What did you think of them? How do they compare to ,say,a Michelin Pilot??? What size did you use?

Any opinions would be helpful.
Thanks,

 

[Randy V]

Ron - I responded to this question in another forum but maybe you didn't see it..

I used them a long time ago on my Corvette when we were autocrossing. They were the best thing going back then. There are a few cars in the area that use them roadracing in the Vintage / Historic groups as they are about the only thing in a 15" wheel that offers any bite. The cars times are pretty impressive though so I can't say that they're leaving a whole lot on the table.
It's one line of rubber that I'm considering for my upcoming build.

I can't compare them to the MPs but I can tell you that they offer 100% better traction than the old BFG T/A's do.. Not so sticky that they pickup every little spec of trash off the road and beat the heck out of your paint job either..

 

[Rob]

Hey Ron,
I have em. They seem to collect dust just as good as any other......

 

[flatchat(Chris)]

Don't waste any money on the pilot sports -- they're worse than the BFGs --Go with the Hoosier

 

[Andy Besic]

Ron
I used them on my GTD for track and street in 15" rim. Theyare bias ply tires with a more race type compund so they will heat up nicely on the track and pick up everything, but not in street driving. I also noticed if the car is parked for longer periods (days/weeks) the tires will get flat spots that will go away with driving, but those first few miles are like driving on railroad ties.
The street TDs have a very forgivable "slide" at the limit before letting go and tire pressure changes will make big changes in handeling. I liked that feature, because taking notes and observations and being able to tune for street and individual tracks with a pressure guage is cheap!

Andy

 

[Mark Charlton]

Nice to see Andy is still lurking here.

My experience with the very same tires (since I now own Andy's car...) has so far only been on the street. I can confirm that they are crap for street use as they only get hot enough when you smoke them—which is surprisingly easy. I have Pirelli P-Zeros on my Pantera and they offer a MUCH more satisfying street performance (although are not available in 15 inch sizes we all want and need).

One nice thing about the TDs is that the odd sizing looks great on the GT40. They (rears anyway) are slightly wider and lower profile than the Dunlop 295-50-15's I have on my Campys.

I was trying to decide what I will replace the TD's with after I melt what's left of them. Might need two sets of wheels to make things work properly.

 

[Andy Besic]

Mark

While they are a DOT rated tire, Hoosier says "not for street use". I found them to stick best around 22 psi hot. If you are running 32psi they are probably blown up like a balloon and your rear contact patch is only 1/4 the width of the cross section of the tire. Bias ply tires don't have steel belts wound in a way to keep the contact patch flat like radials do. I suspect if you drop the pressure to the high teens cold, do a burn out, and then do a crazy launch you will find they outstick any street tire.
I registered 1.04 G on a skid pad (parking lot) with my performance meter.

Andy

 

[Ron McCall]

Thanks for all of the great responses! You guys are the best!

 

[Chas]

I've had four sets on my ERA Cobra.
I agree with Andy's post, controllable breakaway on the track and tunable by pressure under controlled conditions. Zero traction for strip use however, even at 20psi hot.
They become square when the car sits on them for a week or more and it's worse in the cold weather on the coast where you and I are. They tramline like hell on the street, hot or cold, but are magic at 100 and above when warm and round. Good ol bias construction.
The most siginificant thing I learned about them is to change them after two seasons. They cycle-out about that time and become nearly dangerous when pushed. Of course you'll cycle them out much sooner for track only use. Keep looking for slim sidewall cracks about that time and don't go past it. Perfect balance is critical.
If you get them, ask for the same circumference on front set and rear set. You won't get them from the distributor any way but they'll be closer. Take the time to get them the same. Do this by inflating to 35psi and then inflate the smaller ones to 45 and leave in the hot sun three-four hours. Correct the pressures and measure again. This worked for me.
The new Avons may be much better from what I've read but cost nearly three times more.
Hope this helps.

 

"They tramline like hell on the street, hot or cold"

What is meant by "tramline" anyone care to enlighten me.

Thanks

 

[Andy Besic]

Tramline They will follow the contours of the road rather than hold a straight line. This is a bias ply type of tire phenomenon. Radials resist tramlining, but all wide tired lighter cars without power steering give some sensation of the road doing the steering.