Hoosier Tire R6 Life Span

[Shandon]

I have a set of R6's that are over a year old. Can I run on them again 1.5 years later and expect good grip or just toss em? I would rather use them but not at the expense of playing in the sandbox. I generally use a set or two up each year so I don't know what time can do to these and the softer rubber compunds?

 

[Fast Viper Dan]

1.5 years is ok. These tires have improved over the years as far as life and heat cycles.
Yes, nothing like a fresh set but at 1.5 years, I would run them. As always, run easy for the first lap.

 

[JonB]

I have a set of R6's that are over a year old. Can I run on them again 1.5 years later and expect good grip or just toss em? I would rather use them but not at the expense of playing in the sandbox. I generally use a set or two up each year so I don't know what time can do to these and the softer rubber compunds?

I have to ASSume they are USED? You said "again." If unused, stickered, NO PROBLEM. Duhh.

But if they have several uses (heat cycles) that begins to degrade the tire as oxygen-ozone enters the scuffed tire and it starts to harden. The softer the tire, the more rapid the degredation. R6 is VERY soft!

Would you win any qualifying lap fast times on these tires? NO! Are they absolutely OK to "burn up' for the rest of their useful life? HECK YES! But as Fast-Dan sez, be very patient and determined in getting 2-3 laps and some heat in these the first session. The "crust" on a seasoned-used track tire is hard. I even do a couple lock-to-lock, understeering-pushing Figure-8 scuff-out burnouts {parking lot concrete is best} to "scrub" the old 1/32 off ASAP before going full-speed.

Id Use Em.... be safe.

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Heck what was I thinking I go through 7-10 sets a summer usually only run the A6 or the 710's for 12-15 minutes (cycles) and toss them. You know autocrossing times down to the hundred thousandths.

But yea I have been known to "burn them up" at the track and on the street a bit.


Woodhouse Motorsports Division | Facebook

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Fine for practice. Get a fresh set for competition.

 

[Shandon]

Thanks everyone!! Great Info and so basically treat them like I do my wife......

"warm them up and ride'em hard"!

Thanks Again!

 

[CCBrian]

Last year in a pinch I ran a 2 year old set of R6's with 8 previous heat cycles (with 2 full races on them) in a race. Normally we would have tossed them long before but lack of funds can make you do stupid things...so we ran an SCCA race with them. Still lots of tread but we figured they would be junk. I ran the fastest time of my life at the track and set an SCCA race record in STO with them that day. Go to San Francisco SCCA and check out the time we ran at Thunderhill that May 09 day...with old R6's. I think I will start look in garbage cans for used R6's at the track now LOL!