Best rain tires for IT7

jwasilko said:
Are those legal?
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Yup. I questioned their DOT status many, many moons ago but last I recall - and unless they've stopped certifying them - they're DOT-legal. Only thing they're made for now is smaller-size dirt track cars, and only in 13". Wouldn't hurt to check on their DOT status before buying.

Now, they ABSOLUTELY SUCK as an intermediate tires. Won't last but a few laps. Truly the suck. But if it's pouring buckets, ain't nothing better.

- GA
 
mossaidis said:
If there's a DOT number on them, then they are DOT legal.
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Correct. However, it is illegal to mold tires with a DOT insert if they are no longer DOT-approved. One cannot assume that since they "used to be" DOT-approved that they automatically still are...and unless that DOT-cert carries for life, I can't imagine Hoosier spending the time and money to continue certification on a tire used for dirt track roundy-round...

Edit: here ya go. Hoosier "Oval Track D.O.T. Dirt" tires.

Edit, Part Deux: BTW, they're bias-ply tires. If you're never raced on bias you're in for a surprise... ;)
 
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Ed - I'm pretty sure the 13 inch Dirt Stockers still use the old "good" open tread pattern that you and I love. The Hoosier catalog has for several years listed the Dirt Stockers as having the L pattern tread described as Super Chain Link. That pattern is indeed inferior to the old Chain Link pattern for rain use. However, despite what the catalog shows, every set of 13" Dirt Stockers I've bought has the "good" pattern. The last set I bought early this year was the same.

I think the newer pattern is used on 15" Dirt Stockers, but they've never updated the 13 inchers to it - thank goodness.
 
And that style is the same forever.

They tend to dry rot/ crack with age; they will burn-off on a damp track, but were better than the new Hoosier Wets in a deluge.

Since they do not last in storage, I would go with the new Wets--better overall in damp/ wet conditions.
 
I agree that the Hoosier Wets are better overall than Dirt Stockers (except the price!!). They work about as well in very wet conditions and are better in light to moderate. However, if we're talking IT7, at least in the SE division, Dirt Stockers are the only allowed wet tire (besides the Toyo RA1 or 888). Hoosier Wets wouldn't be legal.
 
I can't say that I have ever raced let alone driven on Bias Ply tires (perhaps when I first started driving in the late 70's). What kind of changes to the Alignment are needed?

What kind of shelf life do the Hoosiers have if they are stored properly?

My car came with a set of stock wheels with 185/70-13 Bridgestone RE-71S that were date stamped 1999! Obviously these were dumped.
 
I bought my Hoosier radial wets in 2007. I think they are far more versatile that the dirt stockers and far more durable. I have not used them a lot maybe 3 or 4 sessions a year but they are still good. I got a pole in wet qualifying last Memorial Day against 6 or 7 competitors on them.
Of course that might have been because of my awesomeness and not the tires.
 
Last time I checked, that is also illegal. Section 9.3.45 - IT tires may not be regrooved once they leave the manufacturer.
 
Considering the weather we have in the southeast, I probably need to pickup a set of Hoosiers.

For light rain conditions, which Toyo is best?
 
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