sjfehr

+1, I'm skeptical of RE-72 rumors, too. Everything I've heard thus far suggests RE-71R and RivalS will remain the-tires-to-have for 2017. Construction changes in small sizes of RivalS hitting the shelves in early 2017 might make them a little faster for small cars, but won't impact late-model Porsche sizes. None of the other newcomers (Kumho, Nexen, Maxxis, etc) seem to be as competitive. One of the guys that drove MPS4S at a media days says it's still a max performance tire and although very good is not going to be a go-to autocross tires. Yokohama's about due for a refresh- I haven't heard any recent rumors but would be surprised if they didn't have an AD08R successor in the works.

As reported on another forum, Maxxis is adding these new VR-1 sizes for 2017:

205/50ZR15
225/45ZR15 NEW
245/40ZR15
205/55ZR16
215/40ZR16 NEW
215/40ZR17 NEW
225/45ZR17 NEW
245/40ZR17 NEW
255/40ZR17
225/40ZR18 NEW
245/40ZR18
255/35ZR18 NEW
265/35ZR18
275/35ZR18 NEW
285/35ZR18 NEW
295/40ZR18 (200tw / 9/32" version) NEW


I wonder how 255/35R18 will work on 8x18 wheels?

burglar

FWIW I really liked the VR-1. While it doesn't have the AX stick of the Rival S or RE71R, it's still no slouch. I'd guess similar to the ZIISS.

What is great about it is it's slip angle tolerance. It's got this big, broad grip peak that really lets you monkey around. Tons of fun. I only had them on my car for a short time, but wear rate looked stellar compared to the sticky-icky.

I sold mine to a LeChump team, they were basically fighting to get any copies of the tire. They said they are fantastic for endurance racing.

As a summer DD / HPDE / occasional AX tire where you didn't have to set top PAX I'd heartily recommend them.

sjfehr

First event on the new wheels today, and the difference in feel is pretty amazing, the exact same tires are just so much more firm and responsive. Unfortunately, they're 6mm wider than I'm used to and made me hit cones all over the place (that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!), including coning away a top-pax run today that cost me this year's scca regional championship. (Which may literally have been that extra 6mm, too, no joke, it was that close.) No rubbing, no issues, and I can endorse this size/offset at "works well."

Fyrftr50

I ordered a set of OZ Allegrita 8x18 and 10x18 for my 996 and also 255/35-18s for the front and 285/30s for the back. Tire Rack says they can't mount the 255's on the front (rim too narrow). Just wondering if anyone else have had Tire Rack do this?

sjfehr

Mounting 255/35-18 RE-71R on OZ 8x18 has kicked the *** of many tire shops. So, I can see why TireRack doesn't want to do it, but it DOES fit.

mopar bob

I also ran 255 35 18 on a 8" rim and had the tires unmounted and fliped mid season so it can be done.

sjfehr

I'm on set #3 on the same wheels & tires Fyrftr50 is purchasing, all of them flipped at 50%, and all successfully mounted- some of them with an enormous amount of effort. The bead likes to catch on an inner lip of this wheel and can be difficult to seat, defying every trick except good old fashioned bar work.

255/35-18 mounted a LOT easier onto my new 8.5x18 Forgestars.

LehmanZ06

I just picked up a 2017 991.2 no option car....would like to autocross it.

Ran last weekend on stock 19" Advans.......not competitive

Obviously would take the 305 re71r in rear on 11.5" wheel

How about the front....does the 255 fit without a problem and is it too difficult to fit ?

Or 245 ?

Thanks

Front wheel is of course 8.5

sjfehr

255/35-18 RE-71R fits onto an 8x18" wheel, but only with considerable difficulty. It fits much easier onto 8.5x18", which is within the Bridgestone's recommendation. Bridgestone says 255/35-19 will mount to 8.5x19" through 10x19", so I wouldn't expect any issues.

Have you checked the rake and circumference ratios? Are they close to the OEM ratio?

LehmanZ06

Rear 305 is .5" shorter or 1" diameter smaller......this is 19"

255 front is .1" shorter or .2" diameter smaller

So front of car would be .1" lower in front and .5" lower rear.

With 245/19 front of car would be .2" lower.

Want to run 255/19 front and 305/19 rear

LehmanZ06

Front / rear 19

Stock 26.4/27.2 advan 235/295 difference. .8"

Choices. In RE-71R

Option 1. 235/305. 25.5 front 26.2 rear. Difference .7"
Option 2. 245/305. 25.8 front 26.2 rear. Difference .4"
Option 3 255/305. 26.0 front 26.2 rear Difference .2"

sjfehr

If it's more than 2% or so different from the OEM ratio, you may get ice mode issues.

Puertas

Just inherited a 2003 C4S, and she needs new shoes.
Might as well have some fun with the thing until the Schenker DP Miata co-drive is operational...

RivalS 1.5 in the smaller sizes is supposed to address the "feel". But I haven't seen any reports here of anyone comparing the updated RivalS to the 'stones.
So, what's the verdict? RivalS all around? or RE71's up front?