Hoosier A7 vs A7 question

[StephanAlfa]

Hi,
Don’t know enough about Hoosier race tires but wanted to ask a question for clarification regardless of car it goes 8nto.
In our COM rules the R7 is listed with LESS point than the A7.
In consulting with tire rack and asking about which of these 2 tires to select for out clubs format and type of track, they suggested R7 because the A7 was more for autocross...
So which one is really better for our race format ?
This is regardless of points, for any class or car type, just A7 vs R7: which is better?

[StephanAlfa]

BTW I messed up the title subject,,, it should read A7 vs R7...

[jeffw]

The A7 and the A7 are the same. Also, the A7 is the same as the A7.

The A7 gets more points than the R7 as it's a softer compound that comes up to temp quicker.

Yes the A7 is an autox tire, but it's often used in road racing.

[StephanAlfa]

Thank you Jeff,
But gripwise is the R7 just the same as the A7?
Regardless of points, which one would you use for our formatted races?

[paultg]

A7 provides very quick lap(s) during a TT if weather, track temp, and driver don’t over heat them.
I think most who use them say the A7 will provide a quicker lap when conditions work out.

That’s what they are more points.

[jeffw]

Thank you Jeff,
But gripwise is the R7 just the same as the A7?
Regardless of points, which one would you use for our formatted races?

A7s are a good fit for TTs on shorter tracks and cooler weather.

At longer tracks or in hotter weather, the A7 can 'fall off' performance-wise and in those situations the R7 may be a better fit.

The A7 will have more grip than an R7, and it will get that grip more quickly than an R7. However, grip falls off quickly if the tire is overheated. That's always the trade-off with the A7--the first lap is magic...you have to manage it quite differently than you'd manage an R7.

[TunaNoCrust]

I ran A7s on the track quite a bit last year and they are absolutely a great tire for TT. I know on my Porsche 981 at Palmer they would get greasy at about 5 laps on a 70-75 degree day....I use turns 4-5 as my "grease" test. In a TT on the very first lap out of the pits by turns 4-5 I have enough heat in them to start pushing.

If you had a heavy car, I would go with R7s just because the A7s would heat up too fast. In a lightweight-ish car, and you are serious about being competitive in TT I would say A7. Otherwise the R7 is the way to go.

[962porsche]

an A7 is a softer compound then an R7 is the A7's heat up faster then a R7 will so for time attack where you have to get your best lap times right away ( with in the 1st few laps) the A7 would be the tire to use. an A7 will heat up faster but also over heat and fall off very quickly. a R7 will take the 2 or 3 laps to just get up to temp so by that time your timed laps are done in a time attack event and your R7's will just be coming around.