Streetable track tire test: Hoosier TrackAttack Pro

No, it’s not legal for SCCA competition.

Yes, it’s still fast.

After watching many other competitors jump into today’s market for streetable track tires–most of which fall under the 200tw heading–Hoosier finally has an offering with its new TrackAttack Pro.

While it carries that ever-popular 200tw rating, it still doesn’t meet the current SCCA regulations. How’s that? This tire’s 5/32-inch …

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Awesome, looks like a solid tire. Looking forward to wear and heat cycling. Also any comments on autox warmup? I know its not scca legal, but there are other orgs out there without the 7/32 rule.

Warmup is quicker than SC3R but slower than RE71RS.  Kinda like CRS V2.  But, it's not no grip when cool like SC3R, which will try to kill you (and did so during our testing when asked to perform before it was ready).

Looks like I'll continue to use RE71RS's considering they're $500 cheaper per set for my vehicle. 

Isn't the Supercar 3R a 100tw tire? The regular 3 is the 200/220tw, right?

Off-topic, but I've always been skeptical about how effective a rear wing can be on an open-top car.

bojangles said:

Isn't the Supercar 3R a 100tw tire? The regular 3 is the 200/220tw, right?

Correct - SC3R is a 100, SC3 is 220.

The comparison chart incorrectly lists all three tires in this test as 200.

Curious how this then stacks to the pirelli trofeo RS.  I saw TyreReviews showed a test where the RS was faster than the Cup 2 R, and unlike the Cup 2 R where it only has 1 flyer lap, the RS was more like the SC3R and Track Attack Pro where it kept its pace the entire session.

Not like i'm running any of those tires (on V730s), but originally the press reviews made it sound like Hoosier was claiming it'd be faster than any of the road suited tires out there, whereas it seems like its just as good, but not necessarily better. 

My question is if Hoosier wanted you to test these tires on the McLaren for those Supercar drivers, why create sizes aimed at 17's and lower? I'm guessing that market is considerably smaller but I don't have that data on hand. 🤷‍♂️ 

In reply to kb58 :

It was definitely needed. You can read about why we added the rear wing and how we added it here:

Designing and building a wing for an ND Miata with Nine Lives Racing

It's still a GRM+ Exclusive, but here's the key snippet:

...one thing still troubled us, sometimes causing an off or spin during testing: high-speed corner entry instability around the 90 to 100 mph mark. Fore-aft weight transfer wasn’t the primary culprit, as there was little braking going on–just a minor lift or slight squeeze.

Similarly, in heavy braking zones at the end of the straights, the car would get nervous under trail braking, throwing consistency out the window. In this case, heavy weight transfer to the front caused the rear to get light and lose traction.

Andy Hollis said:

Warmup is quicker than SC3R but slower than RE71RS.  Kinda like CRS V2.  But, it's not no grip when cool like SC3R, which will try to kill you (and did so during our testing when asked to perform before it was ready).

We ran the second test with the top down for photo aesthetics :)

Normally, the top is up for better aero.  And it really does work well with the top up. 

Down is a little better than no wing, but the car was definitely not as planted as top-up.

collinskl1 said:

bojangles said:

Isn't the Supercar 3R a 100tw tire? The regular 3 is the 200/220tw, right?

Correct - SC3R is a 100, SC3 is 220.

The comparison chart incorrectly lists all three tires in this test as 200.

Not my fault!  Not my fault! 

Somebody added tw info after i submitted the story...oops.

Though I'll admit to not catching it in proof stage. 

Andy Hollis said:

collinskl1 said:

bojangles said:

Isn't the Supercar 3R a 100tw tire? The regular 3 is the 200/220tw, right?

Correct - SC3R is a 100, SC3 is 220.

The comparison chart incorrectly lists all three tires in this test as 200.

Not my fault!  Not my fault! 

Somebody added tw info after i submitted the story...oops.

Though I'll admit to not catching it in proof stage. 

Thank you for catching the mistake, I always appreciate the assistance. 

Chart has been updated to correctly show the Supercar 3R as a 100tw tire.

bladebrakers101 said:

My question is if Hoosier wanted you to test these tires on the McLaren for those Supercar drivers, why create sizes aimed at 17's and lower? I'm guessing that market is considerably smaller but I don't have that data on hand. 🤷‍♂️ 

All of the initial sizes were 19-21" diameters to supply that larger market.  They are now backfilling with smaller sizes.  By the time they are done, they will have the widest fitment coverage of any tire in this segment.  And likely, the most available in stock.  I see no problem with that.

As for using the orange car as a test mule, it's not my favorite tool for the job.  Larger performance envelope is harder to be consistent, especially on a small track like Harris Hill.  I have several stories...

That said, one of the key strengths of the SC3R (and likely the TAP) is ability to put down power off the corner, which is a big deal for excess power cars.  But doesn't show up much in the data for the ND.  So it's quite possible that we'd see a bigger gap between the some of these tires on that platform.

At the end of the day, ours is but one data point (or in this case, two).  Not a be-all, end-all definitive quantitative judgment for all applications/situations.  Once we get results from Tire Rack's testing and TyreReviews, both of whom are using larger cars, we'll have a more complete picture.  Sadly, it will be spring before either of them can do their work on this one...or so I am told.

Davidlu03 said:

Curious how this then stacks to the pirelli trofeo RS.  I saw TyreReviews showed a test where the RS was faster than the Cup 2 R, and unlike the Cup 2 R where it only has 1 flyer lap, the RS was more like the SC3R and Track Attack Pro where it kept its pace the entire session.

Trofeo RS is only available in a handful of sizes, most of which are OE fitments for Porsches.  So any overall performance analysis using anything other than the built-for vehicle is not necessarily applicable to all versions.

We ran into this with the Trofeo R, having to make sure we picked "generic" sizes.

I find the RE71RS to be the best option for good, but not great, drivers. I can wring 100% of the potential from a set of REs, I don't gain more by going to a tire with 5% more performance on the same car. 

Can't wait for these to be avail. in OEM 718 GT4 sizes.

I finally got my hands on the GY SC3's (always on back order for last 2 years in my sizes) after running the AD09's.    

Sounds like the Hoosiers will be a good spring/summer option if the GYSC3's are not avail.     Although all my driving is street and canyons.   I LOVE the feel of the stiff sidewalled SC3's (same as SC3 R's for sidewall stiffness) as they really compliment the Cayman chassis.

Weirdest decision to not have it be scca legal.   Seems contradictory to what the market would want.  

Thanks for the in-depth testing and review, Andy- def comes into play when making decisions on my next set of HPDE tires.  Looking forward to reading about how durable these new Hoosiers are and if you will be able to run them to the cords like other Super 200s!

In reply to Andy Hollis :

Ahh good point! Yea cuz the dark horse is also an OE fitment for the Pirelli trofeo RS huh.

Great stuff as always. Unfortunately the season is over for me this year, but I'll return here with some cool A/B data next Spring. I'll have both a set of 275/35/18 Front, 295/35/18 Rear on a CT4-V Blackwing on an identical wheel. Hoosier TA Pro's on one set (for Gridlife and normal lapping), and the RE71RS on another set (SCCA TT & street driving).

How are the Hoosiers for actual street use? Do they require heat to work such that they are actually worse than a true street tire (like a Pilot 4S) in dry street conditions, or are they truly usable? I understand they'll be poor in the wet, but in dry are they similar to RE71RS?

ptrhahn said:

How are the Hoosiers for actual street use? Do they require heat to work such that they are actually worse than a true street tire (like a Pilot 4S) in dry street conditions, or are they truly usable? I understand they'll be poor in the wet, but in dry are they similar to RE71RS?

I've been doing a long-term study on all of the tires in that test above.  This involves driving to/from the track, plus three 10-lap sessions.  Mornings have gotten pretty chilly of late (40's) and I can tell you that the SC3R wants to kill you just leaving the driveway and is sketchy until a fair bit of highway driving works them.

By contrast, the TAP has never gotten me sideways under normal street driving, even when cold.  It's certainly not yet optimal until pressed hard on track, but the nominal cool ambient condition has higher grip than a cold SC3R.  The Goodyear is more like a light switch, where the TAP is a dimmer.

The full tread RE71RS is perfectly fine straight outta the box, but the worn set (now down to 2/32) is also a bit sketchy first thing.

PS: I really need to get a life... 

Andy Hollis said:

ptrhahn said:

How are the Hoosiers for actual street use? Do they require heat to work such that they are actually worse than a true street tire (like a Pilot 4S) in dry street conditions, or are they truly usable? I understand they'll be poor in the wet, but in dry are they similar to RE71RS?

I've been doing a long-term study on all of the tires in that test above.  This involves driving to/from the track, plus three 10-lap sessions.  Mornings have gotten pretty chilly of late (40's) and I can tell you that the SC3R wants to kill you just leaving the driveway and is sketchy until a fair bit of highway driving works them.

By contrast, the TAP has never gotten me sideways under normal street driving, even when cold.  It's certainly not yet optimal until pressed hard on track, but the nominal cool ambient condition has higher grip than a cold SC3R.  The Goodyear is more like a light switch, where the TAP is a dimmer.

The full tread RE71RS is perfectly fine straight outta the box, but the worn set (now down to 2/32) is also a bit sketchy first thing.

PS: I really need to get a life... 

My cousin had a moment in his Camaro ZL1 1LE on the SC3R on a cooler fall track night, he came out of the pits after the sun had set and found himself facing the wrong way after turning into T1 lol.

Andy Hollis said:

bladebrakers101 said:

My question is if Hoosier wanted you to test these tires on the McLaren for those Supercar drivers, why create sizes aimed at 17's and lower? I'm guessing that market is considerably smaller but I don't have that data on hand. 🤷‍♂️ 

All of the initial sizes were 19-21" diameters to supply that larger market.  They are now backfilling with smaller sizes.  By the time they are done, they will have the widest fitment coverage of any tire in this segment. 

Pretty sure these won't be offered on the 13" size I run. LOL

Off course even if they were I'm not going to stop using the Hoosier vintage tires I run now.