JPS

I run a true dual use 993 NB, lowered a bit past Euro.

I drive to/from the track in the NE, so I can't run Hoosiers and such.

I've been running stock 7"/9", and looking to switch to 8.5" and 10" wheels. Trouble is, there isn't a great tire that I've found that is the right mix of not $$$ like MPSC, still trackish like the RA1s, but not too tall or too narrow or too wide.

Anyone solved this dilemma? Which did you use?

Considering:
RA1: like the tire for my needs, but size doesn't work in current availability
R888: Haven't heard much nice about them
Nitto and Hankook: Same size issue
Checking out Dunlop but more $ and don't know much about them.
Just realized I forgot about Pirelli, but they've never been much of a bargain.

trophy

I run 8.5 and 10 x 18's, 235 fronts and 265 rear, Dunlop Star Specs. Great compromise tire.

JPS

Been eyeing that combo...

Any insight as to how they compare to the RA1 in both grip and longevity? They seem to be about $200 more per set.

Juha G

Best tire you can get (excluding racing slicks) is Hoosier R6. 245/40/18 & 285/30/18

R888 is a great tire as well, very durable! 235 front and 265 or 285 rear...

trophy

They will last alot longer than RA1's and give up very little.

I put a new set on my car last year prior to heading to Miller Motorsport park for the PCA 3 day DE. Drove the car 1500kn down, 3 days on the track (900km) and 1500 km back and the tires are still in very good condition.

Shoot me your email and I will send you pics of the tires after all of this...

JPS

Yes, but A) $ and B) Don't think I'd make it home very quickly in the rain on those
I've heard not as much as the RA1, and more $?
Have you run RA1s? How do the lap times compare?

trophy

I have run the RA1's, in 255 and 275 on 17's. I don't have a direct comparison of laps between the dunlops and the RA1'a as I did some major suspension upgrades in between However the car is now faster with the dunlops than it was with the RA1's because of the suspension.

flatsixforme

I run a Nitto Nt01 on 8/11 wheels in 235/275 sizes. It has worked excellent and I just corded my second rear set last weekend. The 275 on the 11 inch rim allows for really even tire wear to maximize the length of the tire. I never even had to flip this last set and wear inside and outside were identical.

Another tire you have to consider is the Hankook RS3...I'm serious when I tell you that this tire new is grippier than a Nitto or RA1 at the tail end of their life. It is a shockingly good tire for a "street" tire.

Falcondrivr

Dulop star specs are great. I run 225/18 and 275/18on 8 &10s. Great street/track tire until you try the Hoosiers...Now they are the street only setup.Unless it rains.

Juha G

The hankook rs-3 is garbage compared to the R888. They are very different tires. Actually all tires that have been mentioned in this thread have no comparison to the level of grip the R888 offers (except the hoosiers ofcourse).
The R888 equivlent is the michelin pilot sport cup, kumho ecsta etc.

race911

A friend is running Time Attack with a ~2750lb. S2000 in a stock engine class (228 wheel HP) on 245 or 255 X 17s. He's semi-pro in USTCC and World Challenge with past cars. This S2000 is basically running times quicker than I do with the yellow car.

They have to run a "street" tire, and they've EXHAUSTIVELY tested this spring. He speaks highly of the Dunlop and Hankook. When they've tested against R compounds, these tires compare favorably. They've tested full tread, shaved, worn down, etc. etc. How they work from cold, with a number of cycles, in damp or wet. It was quite enlightening to our local list that they've put this much effort into collecting data.

I'll email him and ask if he doesn't mind a bit more specific information out there in public.

Thunderhill bypass lap on the Dunlops:

race911

I know of no one in Northern California running 888s anymore, unless dictated by class rules. That's across everything from SM, to Spec E30, to various 911s, to Z06s.

Actually, the NT01 is favored of the street-driveable R compounds (and backed up by data from the guy in the above post) for longevity, ability to work from full tread, and resistance to overheating.

There's a Toyo RR coming out that Andrie has tested, and it's 3-4 sec/lap quicker than the Dunlop/Hankook street tire. Might not be a streetable R compound, from how he described it, though.

JPS

^^ When is that coming out?

race911

Later this year, or even next year. Looked back on the conversation, and he said it was a two-groove tire. So that means (to me) it's more like a BFG R1, or something that could be pressed into street use in an ER only.

Juha G

Is it possible that the compounds are different US vs. Europe!?
We run the endurance races with the Hankook RS-2 (mandatory tire for all) so I can safely say that I have "tested" them thoroughly.
The level of grip is no where near that of the R888s. On a typical track we run there is about 2sec difference between the two tires. Looking at the data from the vbox there is also big difference in the braking points, cornering speeds and median speed troughout the track. The Hankooks also squeal quite a bit (just like street tires), which tells me they are not very soft tires, therefore I consider them more like a performance street tire rather than all-track R-compound.
On the other hand I don't consider the R888 a street tire at all (even though they legally are), they are quite horrible; noisy, like to tramline and far from safe during rain.

That said, the Hankooks are super durable. We can run a 6hour race (abt. 150-200 laps) with a set and there is still plenty of speed left in them. I don't think we could do the same with the R888...

Maybe we are talking about different things!? I was just interested in the grip (speed). Durability and streetability is totally another issue.

According to my experience:

Fastest tire <-------------> Slowest tire
Racing slicks---Hoosier R6---Michelin PS Cup--R888-----------Hankook RS2---Michelin PS2/3

Most durable <------------> least durable
Same as above but the other way around

If (when) you need to compromise speed for durability and/or $$$, the best tire is somewhere in between the two ends. Where, it depends on what you are looking for...