Hoosier Speedster new sizes Options

[BlueRidge914]

With Hoosier now selling the Speedster in 205/50x15, I was wondering if anyone has a view on these tires on a vintage racer? I currently use Toyo R88R’s, which I’m generally happy with on track, and they wear well. I’m guessing the Hoosiers are a little stickier and maybe faster. But they are far more expensive. Anyone use the 60 aspect Speedsters?
Thanks!
Gavin

[GregAmy]

Yup, been running them a few years.

I swapped to them from Nitto NT-01s, which are really damned good 100TW tires and, I'm told, effectively the same thing as Toyo RA1s.

I was very happy with the Nittos, and would run them again under other similar circumstances. But I'm a supported Hoosier driver in SCCA racing so wanted to go with one of their products and the Speedster was the only approved option (at the time).

It's rumored (but unconfirmed) that Speedsters are basically comparable to R7s with vintage tread. My initial experience was good and they are a sticky compound. The only downside was that I found the deep tread "squirmy", reminding me of my old Showroom Stock days before we had the money to pay the tire guy to shave 'em (and WELL before tire companies were molding tires with no tread.) So turn-in was delayed, as well as changes to lateral load. Tread wear was very good for such a sticky tires on a ~2000# car.

The Speedsters are assuredly faster lap times than the Nittos, but the "squirminess" is not as confidence-inspiring as the treadless NT-01 (or the R7/A7 line that I run with SCCA). In the rain they're definitely not as good as "these tires make you feel like a hero" Hoosier H20 or even the Continental ExtremeContact DWS street tire (I run the latter on my street GTI).

In 2022 I decided to try another tire. Staying within the family, I got a set of Continental ExtremeContact Force 200TW tires (Hoosier is owned by Continental now). These tires are a participant in the autocross and enduro "200TW tire wars" and had good reviews.

I really like them. Snappy response like the R7/A7 and impressive grip for a 200TW compound. I set my fastest laps at Lime Rock on them and the wear was almost nil. I have not tried them in the rain but the tread pattern does not visually lend itself to confidence in that arena.

I've run the Hankooks in enduro racing and I'd absolutely recommend the Continental.

And given my cynical attitude with vintage/historics is that it's a financial arms race that I cannot win, and my reason for being there is to have a buttload of fun, the Speedsters or the Continental 200TW tires is decisively my recommendation. - GA

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/...00tw-tire-test/

[BlueRidge914]

Thanks for the most useful review Greg … I will look into the Contis. I hadn’t thought about 200TW tires, but it sounds like the new 200s are more like the 100s in some cases.