24 replies to this topic

[Zauskycop]

Hoosier tires remarked AS Continental tires for SM next year...???

...yes I heard this

Discuss...

...thank you for clarification Jim

[Jim Boemler]

What did they remark? Or did you mean "remarked as Continental"? If so, then we should wait 'til you hear they're remarked as Toyos, then worry about it.

[JayF]

Hoosier tires remarked AS Continental tires for SM next year...???

...yes I heard this

Discuss...

...thank you for clarification Jim

Would be very cool. Likely hood of your rumor being the truth???

[Dave Metz]

Could be. Grand Am is running 'Continental' Hoosiers right now...

[Jim Drago]

The official tire announcement will not be out until sometime in August.
Jim

[wheel]

This is an old rumor. No contracts have been signed. Like Jim said, there won't be any word until that happens. That will, most likely, be next month.

[KentCarter]

Given the energy shortages in Japan right now, it wouldn't surprise me if the costs of making the RA-1 are unsustainable.

However, think about all the money BFG is throwing at the SCCA right now......

[dstevens]

Just got the wife a set of top of the line Michelin's today and there was a full sized stand up of Shaun White in a driving suit with BFG livery saying BFG was the "Official Tire of SCCA". I didn't know snowboards had tires...

[chris haldeman]

do we as racers get any say in this decision?

[dmathias]

No.

[wheel]

That is not entirely true. SM drivers were asked to take a poll about what they wanted in a spec tire. Also included was whether a spec tire was important, or not. I don't remember exactly what the questions were, but they did include something like: How important is having a molded race tire, rather than a shaved street tire? How important is track support? How important is contingency money/tires? etc. The poll was very extensive. SCCA Club Racing used those poll results to ask for presentations from any tire manufacturers who might be interested in participating. Negotiations are still going on, and no contract has been signed.

So, yes the SM racers did have a say.

wheel

[dmathias]

Call me cynical, but the spec tire decision comes down to $$$, as in who will write the biggest check to the SCCA.

When was the poll? I don't recall ever being asked my opinion on tires. (Of course, I have a hard time remembering last week.)

[fishguyaz]

wheel, that seems to confirm that this is the secret car club of america.

i never recall having seen or knowing about any poll. something important like racer having input on the tire choice should be very easy to find/be exposed to.

tire are one of the bigger expenses, and i know that we all want(ed) input.
that said, and having missed this poll, if there is to be a change in tires for SM, and BFG makes a tires that will not let us down like the toyo R888; then i think BFG should be strongly considered.
if they are teaming up with SCCA doing the super tour, then they should be rewarded provied the tires are priced the same or less than what the other options are. also, the contingency MUST be the same, or better, than it currently is with our Toyos

support those who support the club

[HoneyBadger - BrianW]

Whatever the outcome here, I sure hope that NASA and SCCA can both agree and we don't have 2 spec tires. That will pretty much be the nail in the coffin for racing both groups.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

I am holding my breath!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[davew]

A couple quick points,

I am no longer on any SCCA committee, so I do not have any inside info. But, I have also heard the Conti/Hoosier rumor from several sources.

I have run the BFG tire the last couple races. I now have 7 heat cycles and the tire still feels great. It is basicly a slick with 2 grooves. I would be happy with this tire.

I have not driven a Hoosier tire in so long, I can not give an accurate opinion.

When I was on the SMAC, I suggested that any tire company that wanted to be in the running, provide 2 sets of tires to each of the SMAC members. Let us do some real world testing. Hot days, cool days, fresh tires, 10 heat cycles, sat for 2 months between uses, fast drivers, slow drivers..... This is one way to make sure, that the R888 problem does not surface again.

Trackside support, what a joke. Is Hoosier or BFG or any tire company going to go to Blackhawk Farms for a Regional, Or CMP or Nelsen Ledges. NO Frickin' way. The local dealer will be there. Frisby, Appilacian, Phil's etc. Any tire brand chosen will have the exact same amount of trackside support at 95% of the races that we currently enjoy.

What I hope does not happen, is what the SRF tire deal is. This is what I have been told by my local dealer. There is no profit for the local distributer, tires are ordered directly through the factory and are mounted for free by the local distributer. This takes a big bite out of the profits for a small business that all us racers count on. This program also means no profits on tires for anyone who runs through a prep shop. It's not much per tire, but I sold over 600 Toyo's last year. 600 times not much adds up to something.

Hopefully, what ever tire is picked, the SCCA powers to be will chose a tire that is good for the competitors and not the one best for the SCCA pocket book.

Dave

[chris haldeman]

Thanks for jogging my memory wheel. I do remember that survey now. I did fill it out and have voiced my opinion

[dstevens]

Trackside support, what a joke. Is Hoosier or BFG or any tire company going to go to Blackhawk Farms for a Regional, Or CMP or Nelsen Ledges. NO Frickin' way. The local dealer will be there. Frisby, Appilacian, Phil's etc. Any tire brand chosen will have the exact same amount of trackside support at 95% of the races that we currently enjoy.

I think that's how it should be for most races, local support. Have factory support for the big dog races. Some manufacturers have incentives to the local provider. Hoosier did this when I ran short track. MG and Bridgestone did it in karting. Even in Cup Goodyear isn't transporting or servicing the tires. They have engineering support for sure but aren't hands on on the distribution or installation. That's Champion Tires gig. http://champtire.com/index2.html

[john mueller]

Whatever the outcome here, I sure hope that NASA and SCCA can both agree and we don't have 2 spec tires. That will pretty much be the nail in the coffin for racing both groups.

Not sure if the current issues in Japan lead to a breach, but the current NASA / Toyo contract extends through to the end of 2013

http://www.nasaprora...ngtime-spo.html

[NigelStu]

Rumor no more. Hoosiers it is!

http://www.scca.org/...hub=1&news=4141