Just picked up a set of 255/40/17 to run at my local track here in Oklahoma, Hallett. I will be going this coming Sunday. Anybody running these currently? Tire Rack reviews were decent.

 

I had a set of Direzza ZII in that same size. Used them as a track tire for almost 2.5 years and enjoyed pretty much every minute I got out of them.

Should be a very capable setup with your other mods and able to embarrass any number of more exotic cars out on track :-)

 

My 24hrs of Lemons team ran these for years on a Saab 900 Turbo...it's a great tire that grips and lasts. Sure, the ultimate grip will be higher with a dedicated track tire, but for a perfectly streetable, affordable tire - the Direzza Star Spec is pretty amazing!

 

I heard the new POTENZA RE-71R are the hot ticket "street" tire right now. Apparently just amazing and a "200" treadwear is probably way optimistic.

 

If your are competing to win: RE-71R.

If you are buying your own tires and want great grip and lots of life: Direzza Star Specs.

I'm still trying to kill my old set of original (ZI?) Star Specs. I've even loaned them out to friends to run on the track. They look like they will cord any minute, but have looked that way for two years now and just. will. not. cord! Still have great grip too.

My second set of Direzzas is still running strong. Glorious tires, especially for the money.

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Yes, but they wear strangely and do not last long. I'll be lucky to end up with 6 track days on mine.

I have really liked Star Specs and RE-11s in the past for grip and tread life in terms of street tires.

 

Thanks for all the input. I will have to check out the re-71r.

 

Track day was a success. Tires performed beautifully even in overcast low 50F conditions. They heated up fairly quickly, 1 cw lap around Hallett (1.8miles) and never ran out of grip. Put down a solid 1:37 lap time CW. I'm very happy with my purchase.
In other news got some solid hookups for some cheap full rubber Hoosiers :P

 

Not to derail the thread, but how are you liking those Ohlins DFVs?

 

The ohlins DFV's are stiffer than stock (DFV's are 8k front 4k rear) because of this I was a little worried about street use since I daily my car. To my surprise they ride really well, not to harsh at all. I have never used any other coilovers but I hear that the "cheap coilovers" are not an improvement over stock, they may lower your car but do not offer any performance advantage.
The ohlins are one way adjustable which is nice since I'm not a suspension tuning guru.
I can say I drive faster with the ohlins than with the stock system, this was the first upgrade I made to the suspension. Totally worth the cost.

 

Same response with Star specs, I ran the 1st version for two seasons of autox and did very well, made it to 3rd place the second year I ran them! Then when the Z2's came out I ran those and ended up getting 1st place and driver of year, I ran those same tires last year with no issues and plan on using them for a few test and tunes this year then selling them because like most have said they just do not wear out. Same size as well 255/40/17