Tire treatment products- PJ-1 TrackBite Compound SP-162

[racer_951]

Any experience using tire softener or treatment like PJ-1 TrackBite Compound SP-162 for road course racing or track days?

[dparm]

I've never seen anyone at HPDE, time trial, or wheel-to-wheel racing use a tire softener, and I've been doing this for over 10 years.

[tsk94]

I have seen it, albeit not often. Used it myself a few times on older tires and it seemed to work decently well.

[butte2butte]

Originally Posted by dparm

I've never seen anyone at HPDE, time trial, or wheel-to-wheel racing use a tire softener, and I've been doing this for over 10 years.

Using a tire softener isn't usually something that's done trackside, instead it's usually done a few days beforehand so you wouldn't know who has softened their tires and who hasn't. Of course you could ask, but even then you might not always get the truth since it's a cheat code of sorts.

If it did nothing but make expensive slick tires last just a little longer, I can't see how it wouldn't be worth it if you possess more time than money.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by butte2butte

Using a tire softener isn't usually something that's done trackside, instead it's usually done a few days beforehand so you wouldn't know who has softened their tires and who hasn't. Of course you could ask, but even then you might not always get the truth since it's a cheat code of sorts.

If it did nothing but make expensive slick tires last just a little longer, I can't see how it wouldn't be worth it if you possess more time than money.

Good to know. I've never heard anyone mention it, but I've not really asked.

Hoosier explicitly says NOT to use these products, FWIW.

[butte2butte]

Hoosier could have a very good reason why it's not recommended (maybe they haven't extensively tested the products and therefore cannot endorse them) and then again they could also just not want their fastest wearing slick tires to last longer. Idk.

Those with more experience using these products could shine some light on this topic.

[racer_951]

I have done track events for over 20 years and club racing with PCA over 10 years. I’ve never seen anyone used or heard anyone mentioned this kind of tire treatment products. That’s why I’m curious. I know these products are used by people doing drag racing and they claim they really help. I have a set of 2 year old Hoosier R7 for my Cayman S and a couple of sets of Toyo RR for my Spec Boxster. Due to COVID, these tires have sitting in my garage for a couple of years. I did a track day with my Cayman 2 weeks ago and the tires weren’t hooking up. There is still plenty of tread left on the R7 (10 heat cycles). I guess I’ll spend $55 and give it a try. I’ll keep you guys posted

[racer_951]

I think Hoosier just want us to buy more of their expensive tires. They are great tires when new but still heat cycle out quickly. I usually don’t buy Hoosiers. They came with the Cayman S I bought last year.

[Kelse92]

They say a Hoosier is bad about 18mos after the date codes stamped on the side.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

They say a Hoosier is bad about 18mos after the date codes stamped on the side.

Define "bad". I have a set of sticker R7s that are way more than 18 months.

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

They say a Hoosier is bad about 18mos after the date codes stamped on the side.

they on crack

I suppose if they've been stored in the sun and cold for 18 months that could happen, but not true in my experrience. Just give older Hoosiers a little more time to come in on the first out lap and they're fine. Not going to be quite as fast as new ones, but fine

[Kelse92]

Originally Posted by Richbot

they on crack

I suppose if they've been stored in the sun and cold for 18 months that could happen, but not true in my experrience. Just give older Hoosiers a little more time to come in on the first out lap and they're fine. Not going to be quite as fast as new ones, but fine

Lol Probably. I have one data point below, but it's not great.
I do wonder if that softener stuff would help at all. I found a set of literal 2017 Sticker R7's in my friends garage when we were cleaning it out last week. I wonder what those might be like...

Originally Posted by dparm

Define "bad". I have a set of sticker R7s that are way more than 18 months.

My only experience with a set of older Hoosiers recently was riding along when some some late-2018 ones were on the BRZ and they must have lived outside or something for some time because they literally had lower peak G's than Flaken 615's on data and lap times were the same pace as the 615's and could not go faster.

[dparm]

FWIW, the Hoosier Tire Care & Safety Guidelines document only says this:


Service Life for Race Tires: Old tires can fail in use, causing loss of vehicle control and personal injury. Environmental conditions like temperature extremes, exposure to sunlight, electric arc, solvents, automotive fluids, and atmospheric pollutants accelerate the aging process. Hoosier Racing Tire strongly recommends that new (sticker) tires should be put in service within 2 years of date of purchase. Used (scuffed) tires have a shorter service life than new (sticker) tires. Poor storage and infrequent use accelerate the aging process.

[Richbot]

Also, who are these monsters allowing Hoosiers to age out that's against the law all tires must die

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Also, who are these monsters allowing Hoosiers to age out that's against the law all tires must die

Meh, I got mine from someone who bought them for a car they ended up selling. They forgot the shop was storing them.

[Kelse92]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Also, who are these monsters allowing Hoosiers to age out that's against the law all tires must die

In the case of the set I'm trying to sell right now, the lady I got them from has so much money she doesn't care. She also frequently throws out 4 HC Pirelli's that I use as hand-me-downs lol.

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

They say a Hoosier is bad about 18mos after the date codes stamped on the side.

I have a set from 2017 and another from 2018. I won National championship last year with those tires. I ran a 2:03 at ECR this year with the 2018 set. They sit in the back of my camper cab most of the year.

[LeveragedTiger]

Originally Posted by dparm

FWIW, the Hoosier Tire Care & Safety Guidelines document only says this:


Service Life for Race Tires: Old tires can fail in use, causing loss of vehicle control and personal injury. Environmental conditions like temperature extremes, exposure to sunlight, electric arc, solvents, automotive fluids, and atmospheric pollutants accelerate the aging process. Hoosier Racing Tire strongly recommends that new (sticker) tires should be put in service within 2 years of date of purchase. Used (scuffed) tires have a shorter service life than new (sticker) tires. Poor storage and infrequent use accelerate the aging process.

That sounds like a statement written by a lawyer more than anything else.

[racer_951]

Sure sounds like a statement from the lawyer.

[roastbeef]

anyone ever use it for a set of clapped out pirelli dh's?

[butte2butte]

I've got a set of DHB's with just 4 HC. When my RR's are done after 2 (hopefully) more track days, I'll be moving to them, and they will be cleaned and prepped with Keyser tire cleaner and then Hot Lap.

I'll keep documentation, as I usually do, on track conditions and longevity.

I won't have a baseline to tell you how much further the same set would have gone without cleaning and prep, but maybe posting pace, track, conditions and total laps will be worth something against the standard use consensus if there is one.

[Kelse92]

Originally Posted by butte2butte

I've got a set of DHB's with just 4 HC. When my RR's are done after 2 (hopefully) more track days, I'll be moving to them, and they will be cleaned and prepped with Keyser tire cleaner and then Hot Lap.

I'll keep documentation, as I usually do, on track conditions and longevity.

I won't have a baseline to tell you how much further the same set would have gone without cleaning and prep, but maybe posting pace, track, conditions and total laps will be worth something against the standard use consensus if there is one.

If you want a reference. I frequently use 265 Pirelli DH/DHB 4-5HC scrubs and get 4-5 days out of them