I race my 8 in track and AutoX. I got my car secondhand from someone who also races it, and it came with some Hankook Ventus RS-2s. IIRC, the size is 235/40 18"?

Anyway, I just can't find a place that sells that size and tires I want. So I have two questions:

1) Where can I find it?
2) What do you guys use in road racing? Size info will be great, so I know what goes onto those stock rims.

 

^
Actual competitive club racing or simply lapping?

 

Currently, I'm just lapping. I fully intend to go into competitive racing once I gain enough experience though. I'm still a n00b.

 

http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?ti...%29&pc=1006668

Thats one place.

The RS-2 is the Z212, might have an easier time finding them under that name.

 

"Racing" then, is still quite a ways away.

As for a tire, options are (in a good Extreme Performance Summer tire, similar to the RS2 Z212 with treadwear around 200), to name a few:

Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position (currenty on sale at Tire Rack)
Falken Azeni RT-615
Brigestone RE-01R
Kumho Ecsta MX
Dunlop Direzza Z1 (new tire, not to be confused with older Direzza)

Also, with more grip, as you get better:

Toyo Proxes RA-1
Nitto NT-01

 

try www.edgeracing.com

here? http://www.edgeracing.com/tire/4060/

 

yep edgeracing

 

the best (real) street tire is the Yokohama Advan Neova AD07, unfortunately one of the most expensive too

looks like Discount Tire dropped most of the RS2 Z212 sizes, too bad

 

I'd take a look at the new 'Azenis-fighter' tires just released by Toyo and Kumho; the R1-R and Ecsta XS, respectively. I read that the latter is a direct replacement for the MX. no idea what sizes they're available in, or if they're even in stock already. but nice to have another couple of affordable UHP tire options to choose from.

 

Actually, UHP is a couple notches down below the "Extreme" category under which Tire Rack markets the Azenis fighters. All of the tires mentioned on this thread (save for the NT-01 and RA1) are Max or Extreme tires in the 200 treadwear range.
UHP is what our cars come with stock, with tires hovering around the 300 treadwear range.

 

I looked at the Azenis and the Ecsta. Somehow, the thread pattern fails to put fail in wet traction for me, and the treadwear sounds rather insane. Anyone know what the treadwear was on the Ventus? Hankook's site does not say...

 

^
The Ventus RS2 Z212 is at 200, same as the Azenis RT-615.
The Ecsta MX is at 220.

The RS2 Z212 is decent in the rain. So is the Dunlop Z1- another 200 treadwear Extreme Performance tire. So is the S-03. Actually, so are most of the street tires listed above, save for the RT-615 (which some claim decent rain performance, while others say not so). I can vouch for the RS2 Z212, S-03 and Z1's as being good in the rain as I've had all three.

 

I've been looking around, and it seems that NO ONE makes tires for the stock wheels I have (I use these wheels in HPDEs/AutoX, etc. etc., everything pretty much. I drive around on the streets with the same tires I race in).

I've had enough. So far, only Tire Barn sells a one model of tire in a size I want, and it's not a model I want.

What kind of sizes can I fit on the stock wheels? I have a 2005 6spd MT, and I think those came with 18" wheels (correct me if I'm wrong).

 

^
225 45 18

TireRack
DiscountTireDirect
EdgeRacing.



And PS. You don't "race".

 

somebody once told me that i coud fit 245/45R18 and they should be okay but i never did it so the reallity i don't know the difference

 

I've had two sets of 245/40 18 Kuhmo Ecsta MX tires on the stock rims with no rubs and no problems. Great tire for the price.

 

AutoX/RallyX = racing

Yes, I said RallyX. I'm pretty much the only person I've seen to drive an RX-8 over an ice/gravel course.

 

Actually, I rallycrossed my 8 a couple months ago on a snowy/muddy course, and recently won the novice class at a TSD rally aptly named "Son of Sno*Drift." It's not the best car for the job, but it's a good time.

 

Yeah. When I put my 8 in a RallyX race, I don't expect to be the best there. It's just for fun.

The 8 is surprisingly stable in dirt. Where I point the wheel, it goes. Of course, lots of opposite lock action. Washing after the race was a total bitch. I had to spend like $10 at a local wash bay just spraying out the dirt from the wheel wells. >.<

Ran like **** on ice/snow though. The slightest tap of the throttle sent me sideways, and I even got stuck once.

 

I hear those cones can get nasty and will punt you out of the way when you're blocking them. Look out.

 

^
By the way, I'm just giving you a hard time. Good luck on the tire search. If you're serious about being competitive in AutoX, you're pretty much limited to a couple tires. Ask the AutoX guys what the tire de jour is and what size they're running. You will get specific answers. I'd venture to guess the RS2 Z212 is probably a hair slower than the quickest tires out there.

 

RT615 ftw

 

Do I sense club racer elitism kicking in?

If I got to an AutoX now, I'd still be put in the Novice class. Hardly the time for trying to win B-Stock Class.

But yeah, I think I'm settling for some Pole Positions.

 

^
The S-03's will provide plenty of grip. However, the sidewall is a little on the squishy side compared to an RT-615, RE-01 or Dunlop Z1, but so is the sidewall of your RS2's compared to those tires. The S-03 is much less abrupt in its transition than the other tires listed (which in the end, means slower), but it does provide plenty of driver feedback in terms of its limits- so that's a plus. For a little more money, you can get the new Z1's. Those would be my choice, with the RE01's as my second choice. For your needs however, it seems like the S-03 would suit you just fine.