Tire choice for track duty
 

Hey,

I'm picking out tires for this track season, got my heart set on R-S3's. Complication: they don't come in the size that I originally wanted: 245/45R17.

So, I'm faced with a choice:

235/45R17 - smaller than what I'm used to (always ran 245s), but stickier than what I'm used to (ran S-Drives, RE760s)

or

245/40R17 - about 5% shorter tire than stock. I'll take the mechanical advantage, but not sure how this affects TCS/ABS etc.

Thoughts?

Forget about the RS3's and get the new hotness... BFGoodrich Rivals.

Take a peek at the Yokohama AD08! Awesome track/street tire, and they come in the size you want.

I have the Yoko Advan 07, damn things are sticky as hell when hot and will not wear out. I really want new tires. Next on list is Rival or RS3 or Kumo, unless you find something you really like..

Haven't driven the Rivals yet, but do love the RS3s, ran Star Specs as well, good tire for track as well. Actually ran 255/40/17s on 17x9 rpf1s, as long as they are all the same size, abs/tcs won't be affected.

Currently not in the country, but thinking I will be trying the rivals when I get back. Lots of choices for extreme performance summer good track tires in that size, rivals, zIIs, rs3s.

Green, have you tried the AD08s? Just curious for comparison, and are they still manufacturing the 07s, or do you get whats left in the wherehouse?

AD07's are no longer made. AD08's have been out for a few years now, and are still not as fast as the BFG Rival or ZII...So i'm not sure why people are still recommending them...

07's are only reference point, mine are really old. They came on a set of wheels I bought. I figured they would be good for one or two events. They are really lasting well. I am trying to kill them and they will not die. They were half worn when I got them.

The Rival is supposed to be the new top dog. I saw some at a recent event. The tread shoulders coming down the side of the tire is a great idea. At that event there were RX8s' with ADVAN 07, Rival, RS3, a Kumo (I forget which one) and a Miata with ADVAN 08. As well as a a car on slicks and one with V-12's. There might have been one more, not sure. Most of the GA RX8 Club is on this forum so they might be able to chime in. I can tell you I am not at all fond of my HRZIII's. Too freaking loud.

Listen to Aerial, his car was scary fast. If I could remember what slivereight had, I would recommend that one, he was quite quick as well, and the car was very planted.

The star specs were my favorite. Haven't run the gen 2 version. RS3s may have had a little more dry grip, but I tried the RS3 and the Star Spec in the wet, and the dunlop was much better for me. No experience with the advans, so can't say anything one way or the other on that.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'd love to get Rivals, but so far as I can tell they're not available until mid-June (someone tell me different!). I'd like to get my stuff together before then, so it's a bit between ZII's, RS3s and RE11As.

At this point I'm leaning toward 245/40R17. It'll be shorter than stock, but if that doesn't throw anything off, no problem for me.

Advans and R888s are a bit out of my price range :/

a thought, what size wheels? I run 225's on 17x9 wheels, car is way faster than I can drive it. The wider tire is a little heavier and supposedly creates more drag.

They are 17x8.

So the reason I'm going for a separate set of track wheels/tires is I feel I've maxed out the lateral limits of my S-drives, so the priority is sustained grip. So far, the 245s don't feel too fat to turn in, but If they turn out to be too big to maneuver, I can solve that with the next set.

FWIW, the RS3 and Kumho XS will be the most heat damage resistant for constant lapping. I believe the Rivals get a little greasy when hot, kind of like Star Specs did.

between those choices the RE-11s are the best imo
and between those sizes go with the shorter tire
the shorter sidewall will be more responsive and give you slightly more grunt coming out of the corners

Kumho Ecsta XS I believe
silvereight and I were on the RE-11s
Dano likes the AD08s and most of the guys have all ran the Star Specs and RE-11s giving a slight edge to the RE-11s

++^^

Given the 8" wheel, and now that I think about it I may have an 8" wheel, I would not go 245. 225 or 235 should be plenty good. Remember 1.3L of fury and 160 ft-lb on a good day.

RE-11 looks good, but there seems to be a size gap in 17".

Just looked at Advan prices. Pass. They have the 07's, I like mine, but no way I am paying $350 a tire, even with how mine are wearing...
If I had to do it today, I have no idea. RE-11 is wide in 17, star spec is even wider.

Rival or Kumo or Hankook... I am really interested in how yours work... I would do Rival because US made.




Good luck.

Yes in autox the AD08s might not be the fastest, but on the track where time doesn't matter, the 08s provide plenty of grip, aswell provide a lot of confidence. The group I drive with on school days, I get 3 one hour sessions in the afternoon, and they hold up quite well.

It's nice to know about the Rivals being greasy and that's why I've stayed away from the Star Specs, but reading the post about the Devil in the Dark race makes me bit interested in the ZIIs. I'll keep reading reviews about them ;)

Don't look at the 07s check the prices on the 08 :)

Ad08 aren't real track tyres.
Toyo r888? Yokohama ad048?

Re 11 have changed, not exactly sure what's different other than the price. For a set of 265 35 18 it was over 1.5k...no input on them yet as I just had them mounted sunday

I'm running Rivals.

245/40/18's + BC ER coilovers and I'm seeing 1.1 sustained G's (measured with my cell phone in a solid mount).

I had Bridgestone RE 55 for a while and they performed well. Currently on Dunlop DG03 and they and not quite as good