A friend of mine is running a hill climb event in April on asphalt, usual times are in the 34-37s range, so a very brief run. Tire warm-up isn't much of a possibility as cars line up right behind each other. They do allow for a burn out though. My first thought was a Hoosier A6 as his scenario seems identical to autox. But tires don't have to be DOT approved, so is there anything out there that's grippier than an A6 and doesn't need much warmup time?

Here's a video from a few years back, as you can see the surface is far from smooth, but the camera was mounted loose so it looks worse that it really is.

 

Cut super soft tires for shorter, 4 or less mile climb. Colder it gets, you need a softer tire possible. Cut will help to warm up the tires faster. Longer runs the tires over heats easily, and start acting like a bubble gum.
tire type and size are all on him since his set up and he know the rules where he will run.

 

By cutting, Rob is referring to shaving tires.

Toyo RA1 or Nitto NT01 or Hankook RS3 or Dunlop ZII.

RA1 can be shaved to 4/32nds and are good until corded (spec tire for many of us that race).

 

WHich hill climb? Near the bay area? Do tell!!

 

Cutting tires is much different than shaving. Cutting tires is adding traction grooves / sipes for better traction.

Its an off road thing!

 

Run the A6.

 

^ Thats what I would suggest as well.

 

Rob - Did you mean cutting or shaving? For tire and wheel size and compound he's looking for advice as this is the first time he's running this car (Evo X RS). Previously ran a 235mm Potenza RE-55S on his Evo IX.

Smike - Why an RA1 or NT01 when an A6 is a softer compound?

chrisw - This is in Sri Lanka, not in the Bay Area (unfortunately).

 

Since the tires do NOT have to be DOT approved. I would look at any of the ultra sticky race slicks offered by Hoosier, Avon, Goodyear, etc. These all come in super soft compounds that will work just as good as the A6's cold. And provide superior grip. You'll just have to decide if you want bias ply or radial tires. Both have pros and cons.

 

These aren't even in the same league

 

A6 or racing slicks

 

To cut a tire is to make very shallow (side-to-side or diagonal) sipes in the tread. This adds a little squirm to the tread and helps them to heat up faster. A full-tread and cut tire is the fastest to heat up. This can be done to an A6, V710, or C91 'Kook, but not all vendors will do it for you. And it's an act that must be "tuned" to the pavement temp and run length. Too much cutting and you're greasy or chunking at the end of the run.

 

this^

 

Also adds to tread groove cracking and increases how the tires wear/chunk wear. If the tire didn't have that - I wont add it.

ZOMG a . How cool are you?

If its a mixed surface with pebbles and "typical" road features, the A6 or similar might not work as well as a more robust extreme summer tire.

See above.

Siping is a winter thing. Sipes in winter aid traction. For dry tarmac, you do not want them.

 

used the Hankook C71 last summer for a couple hillclimbs, one of which is on a pretty rough road. they held up very well and put up fast times. that would be my first choice