Hoosier Tires

[Jim Crate]

>> Everyone should check out this link.  It is very important for the survival
>> of DOT Race tires.  Or at least it appears to be.

>> http://www.hoosiertire.com/fmvsshlp.HTM

> So what?  Oh God, what did people do before R compound tires?  It will
> certainly not mean the end of racing on DOT tires.  It may mean the end of
> Hoosier DOT R compounds.  At most it may mean the end of R compounds with
> special carcasses.  Big deal.  If everyone loses a second a lap, is anyone
> going to notice?

> More likely than not, R compounds will survive, but what we'll most likely
> have is R compounds of real street tires like the original R compound
> tires, the Yokohama A008R.  I think this is being blown way out of
> proportion.  I could argue that with Hoosier out of the picture the price
> of R compound tires would go down since the manufacturers wouldn't need to
> develop specialty carcasses for their R compound tires.

> Just IMHO.  I think this is being overdone.  No big deal.

George is probably correct about this.  This was pulled from another list,
although by now it is third-hand info.  FWIW:

> before everyone jumps on the hoosier bandwagon... here is a reply from a
> kumho rep pulled from a racing list;

> - -quote-
The new FMVSS standards will require DOT tires to not only comply
with current standards, but to also pass a low inflation endurance test at
the end of the current DOT test sequence.  The original DOT test sequence
was created back in the bias tire days of the 60's. (Yes, that's how old the
test is and it needs to be updated.)  The current test sequence is a bit of
a joke.  As long as the tire holds air, it will pass the test.

It is my personal belief (not Kumho's) that all of our competition tires
will pass this new test sequence.  Kumho's DOT competition tires are
engineered similarly to our regular passenger tire lines.  They use a fabric
for the body plies and steel for the belts.  Hoosier and Goodyear use fabric
for the body plies but fiberglass for the belt material.  Fiberglass does
not lend itself to long term durability.  The failure mode is usually belt
edge separation. Hoosier knows their tires won't pass the new DOT test
sequence.  They also do not want to re-engineer their tires because it will
cost money to do this.

I believe that the current rules of Touring, Showroom Stock, American Sedan,
and Solo should continue to require DOT legal tires now and in the future.
I am afraid that relaxing the DOT rule will allow tire companies to design
even more exotic race tire constructions in the future.  It also takes away
from the spirit of the rules.  It'll end up pushing the little guys, like
Kumho, out of amateur racing because we won't be able to keep up with the
competition's technology.  This will lead to no one buying our tires because
no one will be able to win on them and will eventually lead to Kumho pulling
out of SCCA racing.

It's sad that Hoosier is putting the fear of increased cost to the end
consumer as a means to getting the racing community to change the current
GCR.  Why is it that Kumho can offer DOT legal tires that are competitive,
have a lower price and that can possibly pass the newly proposed test
sequence?  I'm sure the competition is also wondering.

Anyway, I'm just adding to the debate.  The newly proposed test will be open
for comment until early June.  Then the feds will come up with a decision
sometime in September and will make it effective in the next two or three
years. There's plenty of time to worry (and plenty of time for the other
tire companies to get their act together and comply).
--
Rudy Consolacion
Motorsports Kumho Technical Center
711 S. Cleveland-Massillon Rd.
Akron, OH 44333
> - -quote-

Jim