Street/Track Day Tire Selection

[walt mckenna]

Four years ago, I completed my build and installed a set of Bridgestone Potenza RE-760 Sports. The fronts are 245/45 R17's and the backs are 275/40 R17's. After 1,000's of highway miles, many HPDE road course events, and a couple of Autocross events, it's time to start thinking about replacement. I have been happy with the Bridgestones, especially the quiet comfortable ride on the highway and predictable performance at the track. My skill level at the track has improved (slightly) and I would like a replacement tire that gives me good highway performance while allowing a little more aggressive driving at the track. Any ideas?

[Jim1855]

I've run a variety of tires for street - dry & rain and track. 275/40-17 and 315or335/35-17. In the sizes you mentioned you'll have a wider variety of brands and models. All run on my Superformance cars. I've also run GS-D3s on my Audi S4 in 225/45-17.

Goodyear GS-D3
https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/eagle-f1-gs-d3?cta=BBCardTireName
Easily my favorite, ran two sets of these. Great dry and the best wet tires I've ever run. Did very well on the track too.

Sumitomo HTRZ
http://www.sumitomotire.com/cars/products/HTR/htrz.aspx
Cheap but decent tires. Good all around, OK on the track but not great.

Vredestein Ultrac-Sessanta
http://www.vredestein.com/car-tyres/summer/ultrac-sessanta/info/
I liked these, good wet/dry and track but not as good as the GS-D3 or PS2. A lot less expensive.

Michelin PS2
http://www.michelinman.com/US/en/tires/products/pilot-sport-ps2.html
Probably the best dry and on the track. I judge a lot by wet performance (not smart enough to come out of the rain) and the PS2s are good but not as good as the GS-D3s although you can run 90 in the rain, puddles are a little dicey. Ran these home from Colorado in the rain a few years ago. Probably the most expensive of the list.

I was at Gingerman in South Haven, MI last weekend for a Chump Car race. The teams seemed to like Hankook RS4 but ran Rivals and Direzzas. Not all will offer sizes appropriate for your needs.

Hankook Ventus RS4
http://www.hankooktire.com/us/passenger-cars/hankook-ventus-rs4-z232.html
These seemed to be the most popular. Rules require a street tire with a 200 treadwear rating.

BFG Rival

Dunlop Direzza

While dual purpose tires seem to be the least expensive way to go there are many good reason for dedicated track tires. Performance, wear and not tearing up your street tires among a few.

Hope this helps.

Jim

[charles roybal]

I had Toyo R-888's mounted on my MK3...... 1.5 yrs, ago.... have about 4,000 miles on them.... street/freeway use only....can really hook up my 408w 530 hp 535 lbls. 3:73's.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Toyo&tireModel=Proxes+R888
Charles

[CraigS]

The current hot tires in autocross street tire classes are bridgestone RE71R and BFG RivalS. There is something about a RivalS 1.5 being available in some sizes also. The word from my friends running these is the RE71Rs are better in the spring and fall while the Rivals are better on the hot summer days.

[walt mckenna]

Thanks to all. You have given me recommendations I can work with. I have considered dedicated track tires, but a couple thousand dollars for a set of tires and wheels is hard for me to justify for only 4 or 5 track days a year. Thanks again.

[Garry Bopp]

I had Kumho Ecsta XS on my Daytona and loved them. Street and track. They are no longer available in large sizes so went with Nitto NT-05 on my Challenge Car and am quite happy with them.

Garry

[Duke]

Hoosier R7's for me. About 15-18 or so heat cycles (20m sessions) and they are cooked.

[walt mckenna]

I had Kumho Ecsta XS on my Daytona and loved them. Street and track. They are no longer available in large sizes so went with Nitto NT-05 on my Challenge Car and am quite happy with them.

Garry
What tire pressures do you run on the NT-05's?

[Garry Bopp]

24 psi on all.

Garry

[CraigS]

Hoosier R7's for me. About 15-18 or so heat cycles (20m sessions) and they are cooked.
Uh, the subject was street AND track day tires.

[Avalanche325]

There is a completely stock 2017 Mustang GT with performance pack running Bridgestone RE71R. He is consistently setting fastest time of day at autocross. Whipping up on the Miatas, BRZs, and a supercharged track-only Lotus. They only go up to 255 in 17 inch.....bummer.

I am using Nitto NT-05 for street and autocross, they replaced Khumo ecsta XS. I think the Nittos are the same or just a tiny bit better. Very happy with them.
I would love to do NT-01s, but they wouldn't last long enough (100 tread wear) to keep me married.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I run NT-01s but they are definitely more track than street---even says so on the sidewalls; "recommended for competition use only".

Jeff