I've heard some "trustworhty" rumors that we will be seeing some new purple donuts out at the autocross soon.

The A3S04 is alive and kicking
(yes the A compound not the R)

The highlights:
Same compound
Same tread pattern
New Steel Belts

Should stick as good as the old Hoosiers but last longer.

Rumor has it: The tire will have 1 steel belt layer going longitudinally around the tire. It will help to dissipate heat, which in turn will give it about 1/3 of extra life over the curent A3S03. They will weigh about a pound more than the current tire, but you will be able to run lower pressure due to the steel belt, and they should hookup better on the launch. Prices will be about 3% more than the current tire, and there will be closeout prices on the A3S03's in Kuhmo Tire ranges.

Sounds promissing.

 

I have heard that R3S04 is in current production in 205/50/15, and 225/50/16.
We've yet to get a delivery date. I will post as soon as tirerack knows.
Dan

 

Dan,
Is the R3S04 the roadracing version of the new tire or is their a new A3S04 expected as well?

Thanks!

Mark

 

My error, R is still in R&D, and A is in production

 

<---- autocross newbie

can someone give me a brief summation of the differences/benefits of an A compound tire vs an R compound?

Thanks in advance.

 

>><---- autocross newbie
>>
>>can someone give me a brief summation of the differences/benefits of an A compound tire vs an R compound?
>>
>>Thanks in advance.

Sure, "A" compounded tires heat up much more quickly, and tend to offer more grip, and operate at lower surface temperatures. Their nitche is autocross where short runs, need instanatious grip. We'll say for comparisons sake they last X.

"R" compounding takes a bit longer to heat up, and gives up a bit of grip untill thuroughly warmed. Their sweet spot is reatched at higher surface temperatures. Their nitche is lapping, were burst last 20-30 minutes, and conciderably more heat is generated. They would last 4x.

A compounded tires would blister and chunk under lapping conditions. R tires would not heat up, and grip as effectivley in autocross.

dan

 

Thanks Dan!

 

To add a bit of additional confusion to the discussion, DOT approved racing tires are often referred to as R Compound tires. In the case of Hoosier A3S03 and R3S03 tires, the A model is geared toward autocrossing while R is road racing. Both are considered DOT-approved tires. For autocross, A3S03 has typically been the tire of choice for stock classes due to its light weight and stickiness over the Kumo V700 Victoracer. That said, there have been numerous national champions in stock classes that have one on Kumhos.

Mark