Bill P.

Jim/Joe,

It's those rave reviews that have me wanting to get the Cups. My skills aren't such that I can even approach the handling limits of the tires or the car. However, if they help to keep me safe, stop quicker and handle even a little better then that's the tire I need.

Alternative ideas are very welcome. Thanks very much for the ideas and info!!

Bill

Flying Finn

I can't find Pilot Spot Cups at their (Tirerack) website, what am I missing..?

Viken

[quote]Originally posted by Flying Finn:
<strong>I can't find Pilot Spot Cups at their (Tirerack) website, what am I missing..?</strong><hr></blockquote>

<a href="http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Sport+Cup" target="_blank">Pilot Sport Cup Page</a>

Flying Finn

Thank you Viken!

E. J. - 993 Alumni

[quote]Originally posted by Bill P.:
<strong>It's those rave reviews that have me wanting to get the Cups. My skills aren't such that I can even approach the handling limits of the tires or the car. However, if they help to keep me safe, stop quicker and handle even a little better then that's the tire I need. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Just get the street tires - any street tires, forget the cups or other R compound for street only. someone pointed out the harsher ride and gravel noise. How about a few others:

1. Stiffer sidewalls so it's even harder to tell if you have a tire losing pressure due to nail or something else. The new street tires are hard enough to tell.

2. More tramlining in ruts and on uneven pavement. Certainly won't make you safer in a panic stop while eating a Big Mac.

3. Will never get hot enough on the street to offer increased traction over the better street tires.

4. No matter what, wont last as long as street tires if driven everday in normal traffic.

5. Cost too damn much.

6. Will have much less warning before you stuff it into a barrier on an exit ramp. Street tires are usually progressive and let you know before you exceed the limits of adhesion. R tires DONT

That should be enough to add to your minuses column. As I have said many many times. If you need more traction than a good street tire can deliver while driving on the street, YOU ARE DRIVING TOO DAMN HARD AND MIGHT KILL SOMEONE

Hell, with that said, look at the Bridgestone RE730s. They now come in 18 inch sizes. I recently replaced my rears after 18000 miles and the fronts are good to go. They offer fantastic grip in the wet and the dry. If you think they don't grip as well as the $300 street tires, then slow down. They cost about 1/2 as much.

E. J.

Bill P.

Excellent points, EJ. Thanks for taking the time to post a contrarian view. I hope others will discuss these points further.

I was unaware of the points made in 1,3 and 6. The ware/cost factors are items I can tolerate, if safety/handling are improved, when considering the cost of the car and miles driven annually.

Thanks again!

Bill

os993

How do Kuhmo VictoRacers compare to Michelin Cup Sports in:
1) Performance
2) Tread wear

Kuhmo's, I believe, cost less than Cups. If Michelin's wear longer, then perhaps Cup Sports might be the more economical tire of choice (less mounting, dismounting, balancing $ ...)

Bill P.

[quote]Originally posted by Silver Bullet:
<strong>EJ - I'd like to do the RE730's for street but I don't think they make them in 18" 285x30 and 225x40...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hi Kim!

I ran a check on Tire Rack's site and was unable to locate this tire in the 18" size. What do you plan to use next time 'round?

Regards,

Bill

SundayDriver

For track use, here is my summary of why Novice and Intermediate drivers should NOT use R-Compound tires:

1. They give less warning when you reach the limit.
2. They are more abrubt in break away, requiring faster hands to correct.
3. You will be going faster when you crash or spin.

When you reach the point where you are making (and can make) a bunch of corrections mid-corner because the car is at the edge, on street tires, then you are ready for R's.

Bill P.

Thanks for the additional info, Mark.

It looks like I need to now decide between the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD, Bridgestone S-0XX (S-02As maybe?) Or regular Pilot Sport. Suggestions appreciated!!

Bill

E. J. - 993 Alumni

[quote]Originally posted by Silver Bullet:
<strong>And based on Mark's, EJ's, and others comments, I won't be getting R tires for the track just yet...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hey Mark, after 3 years we got through to one.

Kim,

Didnt know they were more expensive in the 18inch sizes then the SO2. I will guarantee they last a lot longer. Up to you to decide.

E. J.

Flying Finn

Kim,

what tyres you're using on track?

os993

Smart thinking Kim. This is exactly what I did, and am very happy I learned on streets before jumping onto R's. Granted, I've only just begun running on Kuhmo Victoracers (one event), but before I went this path, I felt like I fully optimized my street tire experience...

Learning on streets is the way to go.. you want to learn how your car handles, and doing it on streets is the way to go. Also, I think you'll appreciate R's much more, if you ever decide to go that route..

Flying Finn

Thanks guys, I'm debating between Kumho Ecsta V700 or street compounds.

Kumhos propably last a lot less but I'm all over the place with my current street tyres, well, maybe not all over the place (at least I'm trying to keep my car in shape & not slide it all the time) but I'd defenately like to go faster through turns than what my tyres are capable of.

Joe@Fabspeed

Tires are consumables so you can eventually get R type street tires without wasting money.

Street tires are okay.......BUT the grip on race type tires is HUGE. What basically happens is that we all use street tires.........but eventually and soon as one of our track buddies mounts up a set of Hoosiers/ Michelin SportCUPs/Pirreli P Zero Cs/ Kuhmos....."you can drive as hard as you want to keep up...... but he checks out just like Micheal Galati or Randy Pobst on Speedvision world challenge."

Therefore- we all get race type tires. At some tracks the advantage is so huge.....that you will lap someone in the same car with equivalent skills in the same session......IF he is still running street tires.

This just in-- the Michelin Sport CUPs are a super great value. They last like crazy and work great rain or shine. These tires are like Christmass time compared to the 4- 5 sets of 18" Hoosiers people were buying to do 3-4 races and some DEs. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />