I need to get auto-x tires for my 18's and the Ecstas are the only one of the two that come in the sizes I need.

I've heard that recent compound changes of the Ecstas have made them more competive and want to know if they are decently fast or if I should look else where. I could run hooisers, but I'm not going to nationals by any means, so I'd like something w/ decent life.

-Ry

 

A friend of mine (TypeSH) has been using Victoracers on the track for quite some time, but recently tried the Ecstas. I think he said that the Ecstas performed similarly to the Victoracers, but didn't get so greezy at the end of the run groups.

 

Why not just use your slicks for autocrossing?

I only have had one track weekend with the Ecstas but I was surprised how good they were on my Prelude. As Gernby mentioned, I feel they grip about the same as the Victoracers. One downside is that they seem to wear funny if you don't get them shaved or if you don't have enough camber. They heat up pretty quickly but I think the Victoracers heat up faster which is very important with short autocrosses. One upside is that seem not to get as greasy as the Victoracers if you push them hard which is not a problem with autocrossing but more of a track issue.
If you can wait a few months, Hoosier is coming out with a A3S04 and a R3S04 this summer which are suppose to equal the grip of the A3S03/R3S03 respectively but last much longer.

 

my track slicks aren't going to heat up quick enuf and I want to run DOT tires so I stay in OSP

 

Rylan,

The ones having the most success running the ECSTAs are usually SP cars in large sizes. I still don't think they have the responsiveness of a Hoosier, but they should last longer and grip well. The only place they seem to be having trouble finding acceptance is in Stock class cars which are typically wheel size limited. I'd think you do as well on them as a Victoracer and pretty close to a Hoosier. The Ecstas are significantly lighter than a Victo. For your wheel sizes, I would assume you are thinking 265F/285R? I don't think the 265's are wide for the size so they might fit OK.

TypeSH,

The 04 compounds from Hoosier will represent a switch to steel belts in construction. So, they should be heavier but at the same time possibly more consistent with the (I assume) stronger build. I wouldn't expect significantly different longevity over an 03.

-Andy

 

Andy, some of our region members got to grill a couple of the Hoosier engineers a couple weeks ago, and they had said that thru the testing they found the S04s to have twice the useful life of the S03, the same grip, and just slightly heavier than the S03. Unfortunately, they are not going to get al the federal DOT testing done until after Nationals, so I guess technically they are not legal for stock class.

James

 

Yeah, I'd heard that as well. However "twice the useful life" is the type of claim usually made with a new change. I'll reserve my skepticism until proven wrong (and I would like to be). Anytime someone brings out the "just as much grip but lasts twice as long" line I start looking for the physics police. I'm happy they are saying the new design should last longer, but that won't be the reason I run Hoosiers. They are simply the best DOT-r tire when it comes to concrete.

They won't be legal for Nationals this year because they will miss (missed?) the April date. Hoosier has stated there won't be any availability problems for 03s as they convert.

-Andy

 

The reason I am looking at the Kuhmo's is as Andy knows I run with a local Nasa Auto-x and last year I ran my car (much heavier) on RA1s and won the class pretty much every time. Now I am 400lbs lighter with bigger wheels and better shocks. I'd probably be able to be faster than everyone in the class on street tires. But I can't -not- run r-compounds Besides I'd like to see how I can stack up over-all.

But 98% of my race $ goes to the track.

-Ry