MN_944S

I would like to know people's opinion on tires. I am getting a 89' turbo next week and will be taking it to BIR for the first DE session and I am curious on what is recommended for tires? I would like to use 16" rims same width on all 4 tires and us on the street.I would also like to know where the best deal is on tires?
Thanks

Evan70

I've been using Toyo RA-1s for a couple of months on the street now and am very happy with them. Haven't had a chance to get to the track with them yet, but from everything I've read and everyone that I've talked to that have had them, they are supposed to be a very good track tire too. Much, much better than any true street tire on track if not quite up to the grip levels of a full racing slick.

dr pepper

I have the Bridgestone S03 Pole Position

It is an excellent tire especially in the rain even when the tread gets a bit worn
I was glad I made the choice since all the track days this year have been wet!!

THey are not cheap tho :-(

Alpine951

I just picked up some Toyo Ts1's last year right before my last event. I have heard some good things about them but have not used them yet.

TedA

Just picked up a set of Fuzions to replace the old Kumhos. On the street the car is much better.

First track event of the season is this weekend at VIR. Will report results/impressions later. Based on the weather report looks like we will see both wet and dry conditions.

jerome951

If you are only occasionally doing DEs but mostly street driving, stick with a street tire.

You'll also learn to drive better on street tires when just starting out. Requires that you be smoother and they usually have a more linear break away (though RA1s break away pretty progressively for a track tire).

ENGINEERMAN

They have great grip and are fairly predictable. I have 225 18's in front and 285 18's in rear. Good Luck!

blodstrupmoen

Proxes T1-S


RA-1...


anybody tried this one?
trampio R888

Or maybe Michelin pilot sport cup

And Bridgestone

ed devinney

Yoko AVS ES100s have worked well for me on the street and track. They're not quite as good as the Pilot Sports I had but they're 1/2 the price. I'm gathering from your posting that this might be your first DE? Run a set of AVS street tires for a busy season of DE and then start thinking about tuning things up with track tires. You'll learn a lot more and a lot faster.

I really, really like the RA-1 and until the tread ran out I drove to the track on them. As Jerome951 points out, they're very progressive and forgiving for a track tire. I wouldn't recommend a tire like that for every day use - they wear quickly, they're kind of loud and easily damaged, and only OK in the rain with a lot of tread.

Gator_86_951

I concur on the run with street tires first. After that, I say try and find another set of rims. I happened to get lucky and I used the fuchs off our 89 930. Having a set of track tires and a set of street tires is well worth the trouble. Depending on how large you go, you can usually fit all your tools, tires, jack etc.. in the hatch, motor to the track, put track tires on, run, take em off, go home.
:-)

a4944

I used to run the Kumho MX tires for a combo street/track tire that I got from Tire Rack. I was happy with them on track in the dry. They were not so good in the wet once they wore down. The S03s were too expensive. I now have a second set of rims and run Toyo RA1s as my track tires.

Mark

Matt H

Trampio is not available in the US.

S-02 is discontinued in all but the OE sizes (and OE construction) and are very expensive. I love them too.

RA-1 is not a good street tire and heaven forbid you get caught in the rain on the street. It is a good track tire/drive it to the event tire.

Just go with a good UHP tire unless you are doing lots of track time and just need to drive to the track. If that is the case the Yoko A032R is a good compromise. Beware, it is VERY loud (think jet engine).
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Evan70

I'd rate the RA-1 as MUCH, MUCH better than the A032, especially for street use. The A032 gets rock hard after it heat cycles too much (about 4-5,000 miles in on street use). And while I haven't had them long enough to thoroughly check them out in the rain, so far the RA-1s are just as good as the A032s I've had in the past were. Of course, there are tradeoffs to everything, and the biggest one to using R compound tires for street use is knowing you have to be extra carefull in the rain.

Anyway, for most people I'd vote for good high performance street tires. I only went with R compounds because I plan on buying 17" wheels and tires for dedicated street use within the next six months and then making the RA-1s track only.

jim944s2

I don't think you need to spend top dollar to get an acceptible tire for mixed use. The best reason to get S-03s (which I use) or similar is because you want to win your street tire auto-x group, but if you're willing to give up a second on a 60 second course you could still have a great tire for a lot less money. I'd look at something like the Bridgestone RE750, Bridgestone has had some very good upper end affordable tires for quite a few years (like the RE71 from a few years ago).
Tirerack.com is hard to beat for low prices, some local service stations will do mounting and balancing, make sure you have a mount-shop lined up before you order, not all shops are happy about mounting someone elses tires.

NZ951

I have Toyo's here as well... great tyre,very happy with it.