SPEEDEM0N

Fellow AutoXers,

Here is a thread regarding the 2016 crop of SCCA street legal tires. Rumors, sizes, new versions of existing tires or completely new brand or tire iterations can be discussed here, so we can share knowledge, experience and ultimately make a better choice for our foray in Street & Street touring classes.

I'm initially targeting a set of Bridgestone RE-71Rs in 245F - 275R sizes. They've been extremely dominant here in the eastern canadian region last season. I may go a bit wider, but I'll wait to see what are the available sizes this spring.

Any input, ideas, news & comment is welcome.

Let the wars begin.

burglar

My (crappy) $.02:

RE-71r: The go-to. Sharp and responsive, highest peak grip, but also a little peaky. Great in the wet, too. An animal in longitudinal grip.

Rival S: Slightly softer sidewall means it's a little less responsive, likes being pinched onto narrow wheels less, and tends to have more issues on a camber challenged car. But if you've got camber and appropriate wheel, it's right up there with the RE-71, even possibly better in some circumstances.

In my testing, I actually prefer the feel of the Rival S - it seems to have a "broader/rounder" grip peak that's a little more tolerant of slip angle, and a more progressive breakaway. I don't think either choice is wrong, they're very close on times for most cars when set up, but the RE-71 seems to have a better reputation for bolt-on, go fast.

lee101315

Go wider! I am not sure on the diameter of your wheels, but I am assuming they are 18's. Re-71r's will be available in 285/30/18 in April.

SPEEDEM0N

Just what I wanted to hear. I ran the DII star specs in 285/30-18 last season & felt they provided adequate grip at the rear... Do you know if they'll bring in other sizes? Where did you source your info?

mopar bob

Since it looks like the RE71r in 305x30x19 will not be out till Aug. So I was looking at the Rival S 315x30x18 on my 18x10 rear wheel. I'm also thinking of a 255x35x18 RE71r on a 8x18 wheel or a Rival S 245x40x18 for the front. The 255 front fits well as I ran RS3 255x35x18 last year.


Knfeparty didn't you run the Rival S 315 on a 10" wide wheel last year how was it?

majormojo

I will be on 265/35-18 front and 285/30-18 rear RE-71R. Will the Rival S 315/30-18 fit on a 987.2S?

sjfehr

I made a big tire post on my local autocross forum a few weeks ago that you may be interested in:
Hottest Autocross Tires for 2016


RE-71R is the heavy favorite right now for pretty much all categories of track and autocross and is the easy button if they have a size even remotely close to what you're looking for. I'm running 255/35-18 front and 275/35-18 rear RE-71R on OEM-size 987.2S wheels with great results; super grip and great balance. Real pain in the *** mounting 255/35-18 on 8x18" wheels, but this + the 275s match OEM rake almost exactly where 245/40-18 up front is not even close to the right ratio to 275/35-18. They do handling the overtiring very well.

A friend of mine's running his 997.1 GT3 with RE-71R up front and Rival S in the back and it's working well for him. Great turn in, great rotation, and great under throttle.

RE-71R additional sizes anticipated to be available this year:
265/45R18 3/1
235/45R18 3/1
245/35R20 3/1
235/40R19 3/1
265/40R19 3/1
195/50R15 3/1
285/30R18 3/1
255/40R20 8/1
295/30R20 8/1
285/35R20 8/1
305/30R19 8/1

e: the "3/1" tires are looking more now like late April/early May.

mopar bob

Thank you Steve on your input on the different tires front to back. I would love to run RE-71r's in back also but not for the reasons that you would think but for the stiffer side walls. My car has softer springs that an GT3, so the softer sidewalls makes the car bounce a little on a bumpy track. It was something that I had to get use to. I ran 3 races in 2014 with my RE-11 tires ( they were my DD tires) The car felt more planted but the RE-11's didn't stick. So I do do like the firmer side walls with my car setup, but I don't want to give up 1.3" of tire in the back going to a 285 RE-71r.

Earlydays

Sjfer,
What's become of the Yoko AD08....I ran them in 2011-2013 and really liked them on my stock class 964.
How does the AD08R stack up today??

knfeparty

Yes, I flipped them awhile ago and just last weekend ran another event. The outsides definitely get beat on pretty harshly due to the tire deformation. I have about 2* of camber in the rear. Still running them with 255 RE71Rs in the front on 8". Love the RE71R; fitment and grip are perfect for the 8" wheel on the 996. Pinched but not overly so.

The RE71R seems to have better grip, although at the limit it gets kind of numb; I have put in too much steering lock and understeered a few times, which is something I haven't done in probably 6 years.

When the 285 RE71R comes out, I am going to jump on that. Too bad it won't be out in time for Dixie tour.

sjfehr

Ah, good catch, I didn't think about AD08R because it's 180TW and not legal for SCCA autocross, but it's another good tire. I'm going to have to do some research on the characteristics. In Tirerack's testing it was similar to Rival and ZII* in performance but outclassed by RE-71R and RivalS.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=197

SPEEDEM0N

What about Toyo & Khumo? Anything new coming out from these manufacturers this year?

I remember having good success with the Ecsta XS a few years back...

SPEEDEM0N

Any interference with the 255 at the front on your 996? I guess you run the allowed 7mm wheel spacers?

burglar

The new Kumho is the V720. It's gotten mixed reviews. It's cheap, which is good, and seems to be almost as fast as the RE71r/Rival S. But people have also had issues with it delaminating. Seems to be either when it's punished, like on the front of an open diff / high hp fwd car, or gets super hot like on a LeMons car on the track.

Note there is also a Kumho V720 ACR (standard Viper ACR fitment) but that's considered a different tire. Since it doesn't meet the 3 diameters / 6 sizes rule, that tire is not Street / ST class legal despite being 200tw.

Toyo restamped most sizes of the T1R 200tw to fit with the SCCA rule changes, but doesn't seem to have made the tire any faster in the process, so it's now old news. I haven't heard any mumbles of a replacement, and time is pretty much up for anything new for the 2016 season.

knfeparty

Yes I run spacers; although only 5mm I believe. No rubbing at all!