Interest in Hoosier Re-Making the Front Tri-Trac

[bkm]

I know this is a long shot, but I've contacted Hoosier and asked them to reconsider re-making the front Tri-Trac tire. Is there as much of a demand for this tire as I think there is, or is it wishful thinking on my part? With anything in business, the juice has to be worth the squeeze. Hoosier seems to be very receptive in helping the trike scene once again, but we need to show them if they build it, we will buy it.

I have been contacted by a Hoosier employee and they are not against exploring this, but it has to make $. I posted this on Facebook, so if you are not on there, please express your interest in here. Thanks

[DohcBikes]

Can you post a pic of the exact tire? I'll be gathering parts for a dirt track setup for my Yamaha next season and I could probably commit to one or two. Also will they be only available in 10"?

[bkm]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php?t=180371

Jason has some great pics and big spect's tire is ungrooved. This is the tire every big dog (besides factory honda because the ran ohtsu tires) ran back in the day. It could be grooved and siped in any tread pattern desired. I think they were 21 or 20 inches tall and could be bought in 6 or 8 inch widths. They were offered in 5 or 20 coumpound.

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[big specht]

It would be nice to have a new one with the dry cracks

[xrider]

They were 21"

[Mickey Dunlap]

I ran them when I went to Kawasaki for the first time, they were night and day better then anything we had at Honda. They kind of started out backwards at Hoosier because they are building harder tires for the rear because that's what the riders today are looking for because they don't have front tires that really work where you can really drive it in to the corner. We would run front 5's or 10's depending on how hard (blue groove) the track was on the front, most of the time 10's worked good. But then we would run 10's in the short heat races, and 20's in the longer main events on the rear. Now they are running 30's. The lack of corner speed is what I see wrong with the style the racers are running now. When they start backing it in on the blue groove and able to hold their line coming out of the corner then they will go faster. Right now I see letting off too early holding the inside or sliding too much out in the dusty slick parts of the track and they are not going as fast as they could with the right tires. I was told to stay out of it because the riders that are out there helping Hoosier are taking care of it. Well they started going in the wrong direction IMO.

[bkm]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160729/248b7f9dc96f1aff194204f5c7db392c.jpg

IMO, this is the baddest looking 250r ever. This gives a great look at the front tire and how it can be grooved.

[bkm]

They were 21"
I couldn't remember the exact size. I don't think the one I got from you had any size at all on it that I can remember. I think it just said "Tri-Trac Front" on it.

[Mickey Dunlap]

I think they will just use the quad front tires for now, people seem to like them. I don't know if they work better or not.

[DohcBikes]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php?t=180371

Jason has some great pics and big spect's tire is ungrooved. This is the tire every big dog (besides factory honda because the ran ohtsu tires) ran back in the day. It could be grooved and siped in any tread pattern desired. I think they were 21 or 20 inches tall and could be bought in 6 or 8 inch widths. They were offered in 5 or 20 coumpound.

Sent from my SM-G900V using TapatalkOk what rim diameter is most common? That will make a big differnece in interest.

Looks like an agricultural tire to me. Is there no viable substitute? Or is this something more geared toward nostalgia?

[christph]

I've never ridden Hoosier flat track tires but I'm interested. I was thinking about getting their new Tri-Trac rears and a front would be a nice compliment.

[bkm]

Ok what rim diameter is most common? That will make a big differnece in interest.

Looks like an agricultural tire to me. Is there no viable substitute? Or is this something more geared toward nostalgia?
It's a 10 inch wheel. For me it's nostalgia, because I don't race anymore. I bet it would be equal to or better than any tire currently being used.

[kiser]

I think it's a good idea and worth a try. Always wondered how they would work, so I would buy one to try it out. I have heard several people say they want one so here is your chance to speak up!

[Mr. Clean]

Yes. I would take at least one for my 200r and maybe my 200x racer...Just when I think there is nothing else I can acquire for the 200r something new pops up. The latest item was a set of Westcoast hubs.

[fieldy]

Interested in them.

[86T3]

I ran them when I went to Kawasaki for the first time, they were night and day better then anything we had at Honda. They kind of started out backwards at Hoosier because they are building harder tires for the rear because that's what the riders today are looking for because they don't have front tires that really work where you can really drive it in to the corner. We would run front 5's or 10's depending on how hard (blue groove) the track was on the front, most of the time 10's worked good. But then we would run 10's in the short heat races, and 20's in the longer main events on the rear. Now they are running 30's. The lack of corner speed is what I see wrong with the style the racers are running now. When they start backing it in on the blue groove and able to hold their line coming out of the corner then they will go faster. Right now I see letting off too early holding the inside or sliding too much out in the dusty slick parts of the track and they are not going as fast as they could with the right tires. I was told to stay out of it because the riders that are out there helping Hoosier are taking care of it. Well they started going in the wrong direction IMO.

Mickey, you do realise that we as a group are on average old, overweight, and have to go to work on Monday? The new Hoosier tires they made specifically for trikes we're incredible. IMHO, I have never had a front tire push so I don't need to upgrade my front. But there are people who do have soft flat track fronts that also love the new rear tire. Please don't put down something that is a huge step in our sport. And a little FYI, I showed up at the Hoosier trailer at 9am Friday morning to pick up my set of T30 tires. I talked with Mike for a while, he had brought 7 sets with him and had 8 more coming the next day. He was very worried about sales as I was the only person to pre purchase. Guess what?I showed my tires to a couple people, ran a bit on them and was instantly 100% more comfortable than I had ever been on that track, and come Saturday night he was sold out! Thanks to Hoosier, hopefully this experience they had will make them more eager to work with BKM on the fronts

[Mickey Dunlap]

Mickey, you do realise that we as a group are on average old, overweight, and have to go to work on Monday? The new Hoosier tires they made specifically for trikes we're incredible. IMHO, I have never had a front tire push so I don't need to upgrade my front. But there are people who do have soft flat track fronts that also love the new rear tire. Please don't put down something that is a huge step in our sport. And a little FYI, I showed up at the Hoosier trailer at 9am Friday morning to pick up my set of T30 tires. I talked with Mike for a while, he had brought 7 sets with him and had 8 more coming the next day. He was very worried about sales as I was the only person to pre purchase. Guess what?I showed my tires to a couple people, ran a bit on them and was instantly 100% more comfortable than I had ever been on that track, and come Saturday night he was sold out! Thanks to Hoosier, hopefully this experience they had will make them more eager to work with BKM on the fronts

I have been watching how much faster the racers (more of the top 5 or so) are getting over the past 3 years at Pine Lake. So for the real fast guys I see the tire needing to be better, and as a ex Pro racer I think I know a little more about what's needed for more controlled corner speed, that's all I was saying. The rest of the racers are going to want what the Pros race with. Right now they are happy with the quad front tire because they don't run a real sticky tire on the rear. If you look at how much tire is on the ground with there quad fronts it isn't much because they are square on top, not rounded like our old tires. That old tire put a lot on the ground being wider and rounded. If you don't like hearing it from me, ask Jimmy White. When he first got these tire he left Marty so bad it left Honda scrambling to the point Marty had to go to Hoosier too, it's night and day different from the way the pros of today are running the corners. But you are right, most racers today like the tires we ran in 83' and 84', But even then when I switched to the Carlisle tires it killed everyone, and soon after that everyone was running them. I'm not trying to put people down, just telling you what works and why. And again I'm talking to the racers that are going faster and faster, but are not there quite yet.

[86T3]

I'm all for having a conversation and I will listen to you and trust what you have to say Mickey, I just don't want you to put down Hoosier. They really went out on a limb and it looks like it is going to work out. I looked through the open class photos and it seems that about a 1/4 to a 1/3rd are using flat track front tires. I've heard good and bad about then. I can't remember who it was but they said it made a huge difference by planting the front tire. I also talked to someone (a super fast guy) who didn't notice a difference in it. I just don't think that sliding some of these corners, like turn 1 at pine lake, is the fastest way around it. I quit trying to slide into it and I passed a bunch of people there.

[Mickey Dunlap]

I'm all for having a conversation and I will listen to you and trust what you have to say Mickey, I just don't want you to put down Hoosier. They really went out on a limb and it looks like it is going to work out. I looked through the open class photos and it seems that about a 1/4 to a 1/3rd are using flat track front tires. I've heard good and bad about then. I can't remember who it was but they said it made a huge difference by planting the front tire. I also talked to someone (a super fast guy) who didn't notice a difference in it. I just don't think that sliding some of these corners, like turn 1 at pine lake, is the fastest way around it. I quit trying to slide into it and I passed a bunch of people there.

I'm not putting down Hoosier, I'm saying they need to not only rely only on the fast guys today, and go back to the Pro's that made their tire the best back in the day. Those pros were faster! And I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about Team Green and more so JW.

[86T3]

I'm not saying that Jacob is more talented than JW, you, or any of the racers back in the day but IMHO him on a his 450 would be very hard to beat by you guys in the 80s. The game has changed a lot in 30 years, and the biggest change is the 450 motors. They don't need the same tires as the pros in the 80s, and they certainly don't have to get as sideways to get around the track fast. I think we can both agree that this can never be proven by either of us so its better if we just agree to disagree on this one.

[poohbee1]

I will buy one if you can get it done

[Mickey Dunlap]

I'm not saying that Jacob is more talented than JW, you, or any of the racers back in the day but IMHO him on a his 450 would be very hard to beat by you guys in the 80s. The game has changed a lot in 30 years, and the biggest change is the 450 motors. They don't need the same tires as the pros in the 80s, and they certainly don't have to get as sideways to get around the track fast. I think we can both agree that this can never be proven by either of us so its better if we just agree to disagree on this one.

I agree, I see too much going side ways, and that's the point, they need to hook up better at a faster speed, and right now they are building tires that doesn't hook up as much. The point of this thread is to give them a reason to bring back that tire, with the facts. If the old guys were still there that worked with JW they would already know this.


I think the 450's are faster for sure, and all the more reason to increase the corner speed. Right now they drive them in the corner, but because they take longer to stop and longer to get going again because of the 20-30 pounds heavier. Getting corner speed up is more important thenHP. HP is good, if you can ride it just as hard. Case and point, I could set faster lap times on my 200r over my Team Honda team mates on 250's because I could go into the corner faster and get back on it sooner while turning quicker on one of the biggest fastest ovals , Boyd TX.

[DohcBikes]

Please god don't let this turn into what it's turning into.

Yes the tires are cool. Yes, Hoosier, people will buy them. I searched and search and found absolutely no viable option. Cut right, they'd even work as pairs for quads in certain riding conditions.

[86T3]

The T30 tire they made for us is just a harder version of a tire they make already. Jacob has a d20 set he's used at all the needt races prior to Pine lake (I'm not sure if he ran the 20 or 30 there) and they have softer ones also. Its very hard to get those soft tires spinning though, which is why we wanted the harder tire. I think the controlavility of the t30 will increase your average speed vs fighting to get that soft tire sliding. I really like this conversation, I hope you aren't put off about it. I'm definitely learning and understanding more from the back and forth.

[86T3]

I hope I'm not putting anyone off either, I was typing that out before I saw Damon's post. This is interesting to me, I've been traveling the east coast racing almost every weekend for 2 months and fighting rear tires the whole way. I finally got a set I like, this conversation is giving me more to think about.

[DohcBikes]

The tire discussion is great. The "I, I, I, me, me, me," is what I'm worried about getting out of hand. So far we know that Mickey can take corners faster than anyone in the universe and that the general public will buy whichever tire he has on his trike, because ex pro racer. It's not 1983, and 450's arent 250's. No reason to even compare. Bench racing really grinds my gears.

Let's not forget that no matter what, a small group won't make this profitable. There needs to be a market. Quads could use this tire as well. I think Hoosier should make it.

[bkm]

I've come across some old quad pics from around 86-88 and they were using the tri trac on the front grooved for the quad. My theory as to why they stopped, is when quads first came out guys were still riding them like 4 wheeled trikes sliding them around, but as time went on, they started setting them up to handle like formula one cars so they went to the squared off profile tires and the rounded Tri Trac's days were numbered.

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[DohcBikes]

I see them potentially being used more for certain drag racing conditions, and possibly sand, but I also see some flat track quads using tires that aren't as square as others. Flat tracking on snow also comes to mind.



http://ltr450.theatvchannel.com/invision/uploads/post-627-1167739039.jpg

[86T3]

This are definitely rounded. Probably as much as a tri Trac.

[The_Steve_Man]

This tire works pretty well.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160730/cd5c8f5fbe73ebdd9ed13ccdaf48a60f.jpg

[bkm]

This are definitely rounded. Probably as much as a tri Trac.
I think it's probably the sidewall stiffness that makes them a good quad tire. This tire is an 18.5" tire compared to a 21" tire. I had one of those tires I was going to run with my kart setup and the tread depth was a 1/4 of the old Tri-Trac.

[jrush]

233749233750THE tire.

[The_Steve_Man]

I would love to have this tire in 18" tall.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160801/20b635e2dc6f2186bdb28ab6239199a4.jpg

[The_Steve_Man]

And the money shot!
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160801/8bc31fcf5fa9250aec2acfc5dab05f28.jpg

[Mickey Dunlap]

Got my solution for the old style Hoosier back from the buffer today. Have a little more grooving to do but I'm liking is so far. 21x8.75x10.

235383

[atctim]

I would be interested in purchasing a new Tri Trac for the front of at least 2 of my bikes. Hey Hoosier - Mark me down for two!

[bkm]

I need to do a follow-up and see if there is any news from Hoosier. Mickey is that a Goldspeed tire?

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[big specht]

Has any body used the 15 tire they make that takes a 8" wheel ? I've been looking at that for when you run cart tires

[Mickey Dunlap]

I need to do a follow-up and see if there is any news from Hoosier. Mickey is that a Goldspeed tire?

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No it's a Duro that I had buffed way down, took 5 lbs off it, and after I groove it some more I should get 1-2 more pounds off it so it will be super light. The old Hoosiers were way too heavy. The bad news is I have almost $200 into this one.

[Mickey Dunlap]

Side by side pic.

235406235407

[DohcBikes]

That's why I use oem takeoffs from 450's for rears. One burn out on asphalt will shave 3lbs each on a set of Dunlop kt355's. Saves a ton of money, New tires are a waste on a trike imo. Puts a nice cut edge on the lugs as well.

[Mickey Dunlap]

That's why I use oem takeoffs from 450's for rears. One burn out on asphalt will shave 3lbs each on a set of Dunlop kt355's. Saves a ton of money, New tires are a waste on a trike imo. Puts a nice cut edge on the lugs as well.


Well it would be a little hard to get the roundness I wanted plus getting buffed all the way around the side walls, so if you are going to build a custom tire you have to pay.

And good luck getting Hoosier doing anything new, they sold the company.

[DohcBikes]

Hoosier was aquired by continental, and will remain in business with the same name, same president, same management, and same employees. There's no reason they won't be interested in the flat track market.

Guys, if you don't pitch the fact that they could be sold to quad racers, you're dead in the water. The trike market won't support it, even theoretically.

[86T3]

They are heavy in the flat track market, 90% of the quads in the NEEDT run hoosiers. The problem is that this will be a trike only tire, I doubt the quad guys would want such a tall tire.

[Mickey Dunlap]

They are heavy in the flat track market, 90% of the quads in the NEEDT run hoosiers. The problem is that this will be a trike only tire, I doubt the quad guys would want such a tall tire.


You have to sell them on it by telling them the more the front tire sticks the more they need rear tires that match that front tire, but no one is doing it, and I was told to stay out of it they could handle it. Well how is that going? The same people said they needed a harder tire for the rear end so they ran 30's, where I'm running 20's on Ditches 350x on the same track and was working perfect, they would hook up off the line, slide when you needed in the corners but hook up coming out of the corners. As short as these races are now I built this front tire so I can make it like a 5 compound and groove it more and run 10 compound on the rear or more grip on the blue groove tracks, not less. JMO.

235446235447235448235449

[86T3]

It's going great. I'm not sure if Jacob was running 20s or 30s but he won, didn't he? I know Dwight runs 30s and he took the holeshot, didn't he? 30s werent an ideal tire for a dusty track like this. There is no tire that would be ideal for every track. Run 20s at a track where theres blue groove and see how well they do. Watch the quads sometime, the front doesn't move at all and they are super low, how are you going to sell them on a tire that will raise their front end? Or is slightly rounded so they don't have as much contact patch? BTW, the quad guys run 12 compounds a lot. Apples to oranges is an understatement

[Mickey Dunlap]

It's going great. I'm not sure if Jacob was running 20s or 30s but he won, didn't he? I know Dwight runs 30s and he took the holeshot, didn't he? 30s werent an ideal tire for a dusty track like this. There is no tire that would be ideal for every track. Run 20s at a track where theres blue groove and see how well they do. Watch the quads sometime, the front doesn't move at all and they are super low, how are you going to sell them on a tire that will raise their front end? Or is slightly rounded so they don't have as much contact patch? BTW, the quad guys run 12 compounds a lot. Apples to oranges is an understatement


I wasn't talking about quads at all, nor was I saying to run those tires on the front of quads. Jacob ran 30 and was all over the place sliding out in practice, I don't know what they ran in the race, but Dwight lost the lead in the pro lights class because slid out with his 30's. Bryan had the hole shot, but messed up in the first corner and let 5 guys get by, then hit a big tire and went back to almost last, and in less then 3 min. worked back up to 3rd and only needed one more lap and wound have got 2nd. His bike was way better then any in that class to the point the rumors are he's running a big bore (lol), not just the .080 over it is. I love when people say stuff like that! Then come Monday I had two customers wanting that motor, one is here now and the other is coming. Didn't win the race, but those that seen it pull right with Jacob's 450 down the straights know it's a runner, and that isn't because of the motor only , it's because it was working, hooking coming out of the corners in the blue groove. As far as being wide and round put's more on the ground on a 3 wheeler when turning, on a quad they get away with more of a flat tire. A 3 wheeler needs more of a round tire, even the knobby tire I had on Bryans hooked up pretty good, but the faster he gets the more bite he's going to need.

235451

[86T3]

You have to sell them on it by telling them the more the front tire sticks the more they need rear tires that match that front tire, but no one is doing it, and I was told to stay out of it they could handle it. Well how is that going? The same people said they needed a harder tire for the rear end so they ran 30's, where I'm running 20's on Ditches 350x on the same track and was working perfect, they would hook up off the line, slide when you needed in the corners but hook up coming out of the corners. As short as these races are now I built this front tire so I can make it like a 5 compound and groove it more and run 10 compound on the rear or more grip on the blue groove tracks, not less. JMO.

235446235447235448235449

I was talking about marketing the front tire to quads, you responded and said we have to sell them on it. Dont blame other's mishaps on their tires, then make an excuse that your trike messed up. Bryan's trike ran great, it was very impressive.if I had a 350x that's the motor I'd want, but there is no way in hell it kept up with the Hall's 450. That's a 200 in the picture you posted.

[Mickey Dunlap]

I was talking about marketing the front tire to quads, you responded and said we have to sell them on it. Dont blame other's mishaps on their tires, then make an excuse that your trike messed up. Bryan's trike ran great, it was very impressive.if I had a 350x that's the motor I'd want, but there is no way in hell it kept up with the Hall's 450. That's a 200 in the picture you posted.

Well as always there is a misunderstanding on what I was saying, I wasn't talking about quads, I said "You have to sell them on it by telling them the more the front tire sticks the more they need rear tires that match that front tire, but no one is doing it," I was taking about the front tire on the 3 wheeler has to stick better and what that happens it needs to stick in the rear like the 20 compound or even 10's.

And in Fridays practice Bryan was staying right with Jacob's 450 down the back straight because he was hooking up out of the sweeper, I watch this stuff very close, I know what I seen. Now maybe Jacob was over powering the track so that's why I seen what I did. Just goes to show you how the right set up makes all the difference. That's why I build things the way I do. That was our first time on that trike, I learned a lot and that's why I spent close to $200 on a R&D tire.

[RamsesRibb]

Why do people always try to contradict Mickey? I understood exactly what he meant. If you want something made you have to be able to sell them on the idea. That's business.
It's a forum where everyone gets their opinion. If you don't like what someone says then ignore it. I don't personally know him but this isn't the place for a pissing contest.

(And I know if Fabio reads this he will tell me how lucky I am. And then Glamy will sing a song about me like a Middle Ages bard. [emoji847])
https://youtu.be/ym6hbRhteCc

[fabiodriven]

Nooo! RamsesRibb, don't even suggest such things! They somehow managed to keep this thread informative and drama free, it's best off left unsaid as they continue to navigate in an educational and informative fashion! These guys swap paint Ramses, let their experience speak, just listen!

What I've taken away from this thread is I know nothing about tires and thanks for sharing such experiences! What's the 10/20/30 horse shite? Hardness of the compound I'm guessing?

[Mickey Dunlap]

Why do people always try to contradict Mickey? I understood exactly what he meant. If you want something made you have to be able to sell them on the idea. That's business.
It's a forum where everyone gets their opinion. If you don't like what someone says then ignore it. I don't personally know him but this isn't the place for a pissing contest.

(And I know if Fabio reads this he will tell me how lucky I am. And then Glamy will sing a song about me like a Middle Ages bard. [emoji847])
https://youtu.be/ym6hbRhteCc


It's just the way it is here. People read into what they want to hear or what they think, but miss the facts. I thought I was clear, but it's just a misunderstanding.

[bkm]

Mickey, who told you to stay out of it? If you have contacts at Hoosier, then by all means try and sell them on it. They don't know who some guy who goes by "bkm" on 3ww is nor do they care. I think the ship has sailed for the original tri trac, so we can get that out of our heads, but if you can somehow convince them to make a tire that would work on a trike and other machines, they might bite. Honestly the only reason they made the 30 compound rears is because they already make that tire. There was no extra mold cost.

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[86T3]

Mickey Dunlap
Quote Originally Posted by 86T3 View Post
They are heavy in the flat track market, 90% of the quads in the NEEDT run hoosiers. The problem is that this will be a trike only tire, I doubt the quad guys would want such a tall tire.

You have to sell them on it by telling them the more the front tire sticks the more they need rear tires that match that front tire, but no one is doing it, and I was told to stay out of it they could handle it. Well how is that going? The same people said they needed a harder tire for the rear end so they ran 30's, where I'm running 20's on Ditches 350x on the same track and was working perfect, they would hook up off the line, slide when you needed in the corners but hook up coming out of the corners. As short as these races are now I built this front tire so I can make it like a 5 compound and groove it more and run 10 compound on the rear or more grip on the blue groove tracks, not less. JMO.

These are the consecutive quotes, how in the world am I supposed to understand that Mickey is talking about 3 wheeler tires? The last line of my statement, which he quoted, is about quads. With no further context, he says we would need to sell them on it. You understood that he was talking about trikes? What are the wining power ball numbers for next week, because I could sure use the extra cash to purchase a 350x motor from Mickey. Yes, i agree a stickey front tire could be very helpfull, thats the idea of getring hoosier to make a new feont tire. The rest of this is a long back and forth conversation Mickey and I have been having. And apparantly he just made it clear that he's upset that some people didn't relay his opinion the new tires that Hoosier made specifically for trikes. 99.9% of people wanted a harder compound for the new rear tires, Mickey wanted a soft compound, which they already make.
I assure you I'm very respectful to Mickey, we talk at the races quite a bit.

[Mickey Dunlap]

I'm not going to go round and round with everyone. I'll figure out what is going to work and I go with it, that's the kind of thing you do as a racer. Everyone laughed at me for running these little Carlisle 16X9.50X8's when everyone used 18's. I won races because I don't follow and do the same thing as everyone else, but they sure picked up on it quick. The Halls told me they had the Hoosier thing handled, I felt they were going backwards but I did what they asked. I'm not going to call Hoosier on this because they are working with the #1 rider and I'm not going to get in the middle of it. I have been going around to these races again for a few years now, I watch everything very close, I see how the racers are getting a lot faster each year and just like we started out with lawn tires so did they, but now they need better stuff. I don't have the fastest rider, but he's getting there, he just needs some help. Set up is a very touchy thing, we missed it by changing the fork setting by a 1/4 of a inch on Friday night because the track changed 3 times that night. Just like any racing if you miss the set up you are not going to go as fast. In Bryans main he wasn't ready for the track to get sticky going into the first corner, he started to tip and had to get off the throttle and that cost him. He will learn what to do next time, he learns quick. I will have a few more riders I'll try to help next year so I'm going to need to keep building better stuff and this $200 front R&D tire is just part of it. I came on here to share it because you are not going to get Hoosier to build the old style one, there are just not the numbers, plus no one is telling them why they need it. I seen Hall running the small quad tires on the front and it is twitchy , it's running on too small of a patch on the ground and when a 3 wheel turns a flat type tire it loose more of what's on the ground. IMO you need a sticky tire with a large patch on the ground all the time, no less then 21 inches tall if you are running 15's to 18's on the rear. This is just my opinion, take it or don't.

[Mickey Dunlap]

These are the consecutive quotes, how in the world am I supposed to understand that Mickey is talking about 3 wheeler tires? The last line of my statement, which he quoted, is about quads. With no further context, he says we would need to sell them on it. You understood that he was talking about trikes? What are the wining power ball numbers for next week, because I could sure use the extra cash to purchase a 350x motor from Mickey. Yes, i agree a stickey front tire could be very helpfull, thats the idea of getring hoosier to make a new feont tire. The rest of this is a long back and forth conversation Mickey and I have been having. And apparantly he just made it clear that he's upset that some people didn't relay his opinion the new tires that Hoosier made specifically for trikes. 99.9% of people wanted a harder compound for the new rear tires, Mickey wanted a soft compound, which they already make.
I assure you I'm very respectful to Mickey, we talk at the races quite a bit.

It was just a misunderstanding on your part, I had all ready said the same thing on a earlier post on here about how to talk to Hoosier to help them market it. I'm not mad a Halls at all, I stayed out of it because they asked me too. There are only a few riders that could use the better tires, most like you said wanted harder tire, but they are not winning. It's very hard to race a 3 wheeler on a sticky track, but the fast riders will, and they will be the winners. John Neary has posted up a lot of video's now, everyone should study them, there is a lot of good info to learn on them. Don't only watch the top riders but watch the ones not going fast to, then ask your self where would be in that pack of riders.

[DohcBikes]

I'm not going to go round and round with everyone. I'll figure out what is going to work and I go with it, that's the kind of thing you do as a racer. Everyone laughed at me for running these little Carlisle 16X9.50X8's when everyone used 18's. I won races because I don't follow and do the same thing as everyone else, but they sure picked up on it quick. The Halls told me they had the Hoosier thing handled, I felt they were going backwards but I did what they asked. I'm not going to call Hoosier on this because they are working with the #1 rider and I'm not going to get in the middle of it. I have been going around to these races again for a few years now, I watch everything very close, I see how the racers are getting a lot faster each year and just like we started out with lawn tires so did they, but now they need better stuff. I don't have the fastest rider, but he's getting there, he just needs some help. Set up is a very touchy thing, we missed it by changing the fork setting by a 1/4 of a inch on Friday night because the track changed 3 times that night. Just like any racing if you miss the set up you are not going to go as fast. In Bryans main he wasn't ready for the track to get sticky going into the first corner, he started to tip and had to get off the throttle and that cost him. He will learn what to do next time, he learns quick. I will have a few more riders I'll try to help next year so I'm going to need to keep building better stuff and this $200 front R&D tire is just part of it. I came on here to share it because you are not going to get Hoosier to build the old style one, there are just not the numbers, plus no one is telling them why they need it. I seen Hall running the small quad tires on the front and it is twitchy , it's running on too small of a patch on the ground and when a 3 wheel turns a flat type tire it loose more of what's on the ground. IMO you need a sticky tire with a large patch on the ground all the time, no less then 21 inches tall if you are running 15's to 18's on the rear. This is just my opinion, take it or don't.

"I" or "me" over 20 times.

This thread isnt about you mickey.

[RamsesRibb]

Nooo! RamsesRibb, don't even suggest such things! They somehow managed to keep this thread informative and drama free, it's best off left unsaid as they continue to navigate in an educational and informative fashion! These guys swap paint Ramses, let their experience speak, just listen!

What I've taken away from this thread is I know nothing about tires and thanks for sharing such experiences! What's the 10/20/30 horse shite? Hardness of the compound I'm guessing?

Sorry Fabio [emoji17]

So I just bought a trike with a lot of rake and a square profile tire on the front. That thing is terrible. It only contacts on the edge when you turn.

[fabiodriven]

Lmfao. You don't need to apologize bud.

So who can answer my tire question in this tire thread?

[bkm]

Lower the number, the softer the compound.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[86T3]

Lower the number, the softer the compound.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

These new tire made specifically for trikes (the first trike specific tire in 30 years?) is called T30, but I'm told that the hardness is much higher than a 30, closer to 42. We never measured it with a durometer though. The regular quad tires are "D"s. ie d12, d20

[Mickey Dunlap]

"I" or "me" over 20 times.

This thread isnt about you mickey.

What a dork, yes I talk about what "I" know and what works for "me", at least I bring some thing to the subject. How many nationals have you won, how many factories have you worked for? What purpose do you serve here?

[DohcBikes]

Since i dont suffer from an affliction that requires me to seek aproval or staus, im here to let people know when other people are full of shlt up to their eyeballs. Im damn good at it too.

[DohcBikes]

Mickey, ill tell you what.

I havent begun to offer my true opinion about you. Youre pushing it though. I gaurantee you wont like it.

[big specht]

I'm not going to go round and round with everyone. I'll figure out what is going to work and I go with it, that's the kind of thing you do as a racer. Everyone laughed at me for running these little Carlisle 16X9.50X8's when everyone used 18's. I won races because I don't follow and do the same thing as everyone else, but they sure picked up on it quick. The Halls told me they had the Hoosier thing handled, I felt they were going backwards but I did what they asked. I'm not going to call Hoosier on this because they are working with the #1 rider and I'm not going to get in the middle of it. I have been going around to these races again for a few years now, I watch everything very close, I see how the racers are getting a lot faster each year and just like we started out with lawn tires so did they, but now they need better stuff. I don't have the fastest rider, but he's getting there, he just needs some help. Set up is a very touchy thing, we missed it by changing the fork setting by a 1/4 of a inch on Friday night because the track changed 3 times that night. Just like any racing if you miss the set up you are not going to go as fast. In Bryans main he wasn't ready for the track to get sticky going into the first corner, he started to tip and had to get off the throttle and that cost him. He will learn what to do next time, he learns quick. I will have a few more riders I'll try to help next year so I'm going to need to keep building better stuff and this $200 front R&D tire is just part of it. I came on here to share it because you are not going to get Hoosier to build the old style one, there are just not the numbers, plus no one is telling them why they need it. I seen Hall running the small quad tires on the front and it is twitchy , it's running on too small of a patch on the ground and when a 3 wheel turns a flat type tire it loose more of what's on the ground. IMO you need a sticky tire with a large patch on the ground all the time, no less then 21 inches tall if you are running 15's to 18's on the rear. This is just my opinion, take it or don't.

I second that. Like you said there is a lot of reading in between the line on here. As for trying something new, if know body try's it the sport will go know where.

[Toaster556]

I don't have a horse in this race, but has anyone tried asking American Racer? They list custom tires on their site

[86T3]

BKM and I, with the help of some knowledge from my buddy Matt Kemp, we're able to relearn some knowledge from the past. I thought I'd share it so people could find it in the future. Hoosier made 2 size front tires, a 6" wide and and 8" wide. They were both 21"s tall and only made for a 10" rim. The 6" wide tires have 5 "ribs" and the 8" wide tires and 6 "ribs". The 8" wide tires appear to be too wide for narrow tire trikes, ie, 2nd Gen tecates, 200x's, 350x's, and 2nditch and 3rd Gen R's. Here's some pictures and an old ad to show the differences.

235540
235541
235542

[xrider]

BKM and I, with the help of some knowledge from my buddy Matt Kemp, we're able to relearn some knowledge from the past. I thought I'd share it so people could find it in the future. Hoosier made 2 size front tires, a 6" wide and and 8" wide. They were both 21"s tall and only made for a 10" rim. The 6" wide tires have 5 "ribs" and the 8" wide tires and 6 "ribs". The 8" wide tires appear to be too wide for narrow tire trikes, ie, 2nd Gen tecates, 200x's, 350x's, and 2nditch and 3rd Gen R's. Here's some pictures and an old ad to show the differences.

235540
235541
235542

I have one of each version and yes this is true

[86T3]

It was just a misunderstanding on your part, I had all ready said the same thing on a earlier post on here about how to talk to Hoosier to help them market it. I'm not mad a Halls at all, I stayed out of it because they asked me too. There are only a few riders that could use the better tires, most like you said wanted harder tire, but they are not winning. It's very hard to race a 3 wheeler on a sticky track, but the fast riders will, and they will be the winners. John Neary has posted up a lot of video's now, everyone should study them, there is a lot of good info to learn on them. Don't only watch the top riders but watch the ones not going fast to, then ask your self where would be in that pack of riders.

I know where I'd be, in the stands watching. But that's not because of my tire, it's because of my lack of skill. People are winning with this tire, 1st, 2nd, and 4th in the Open class at Pine lake this year. I don't know why you said they aren't winning. I'm curious for next year to see how your setup will work on blue groove tracks. Also, I can understand not running the 350 in open the first time you raced it, but I'm hoping you will run open next year instead of vintage

[atc300r]

The track surface at Paradise this season was super sticky .A soft compound tire there would not work unless they were on a 500.Most of us couldnt slide the corners very well even when the track was wet.Fred Morrell ran lawnmower tires like most of us did.His TPC has about 70 hp.Matt Kemp is very knowledgable he and I talk alot at the races.

[barnett468]

I only read part of this thread and I will tell you that a fancy front tire will usually not make a huge difference to most people . The very best thing one can do is simply learn how to ride faster by practicing more.

PREVIOUS KAWASAKI INTERNATIONAL R & D PROJECT ENGINEER AND ATV DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR

[atc300r]

I would be in the stands aswell.lol
I know where I'd be, in the stands watching. But that's not because of my tire, it's because of my lack of skill. People are winning with this tire, 1st, 2nd, and 4th in the Open class at Pine lake this year. I don't know why you said they aren't winning. I'm curious for next year to see how your setup will work on blue groove tracks. Also, I can understand not running the 350 in open the first time you raced it, but I'm hoping you will run open next year instead of vintage