With all the new tires now ....is there a best current "street" DE tire
 

Need it for a 996 TT....

Sumitomo's are doing the job and are cheap. Anything non-R that is going to actually be safe in rain and do ok in mid run groups. I'd like some durability, and don't have an ego needing to go faster...I just like to have fun and know I can drive in monsoons....

TIA

Happy New Year everyone!

Jeff

Like you said... Sumitomo HTRZ III are an excellent value.

Talon Tire has great prices for A048's if you'd like something softer.

Grassroots Motorsports tested SCCA Street Touring legal "autocross tires." The tires all had tread wear ratings of 140 or higher. Thus, no R-comps were included. The following were quickest:

Kumho ECSTA XS (34.73 sec.); Yokohama Advan AD08 (34.97 sec.); Toyo Proxes R1R (35.36 sec.); and Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 (35.40 sec.). Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec and Falken Azenis RT-615 were a little off the pace, but should work for DE as well.

Thanks!

I have the AD08s on my 135 and use them for daily driving as well as occasional track use (3 days at VIR and 4 at Summit Point in 2009). They have shown good life and are OK in the rain and sub-freezing temperatures although not recommended by the manufacturer for use below 30F(?). The 135 is really pushy in low speed turns and has no brakes so the tires were not the limiting factor. They are a fine tire for driving to, from, and on the track in most normal conditions and certainly should be fine in intermediate run groups.

I would consider the Hankook Ventus V12 evo. Great in the rain and excellent grip in the dry as well. Very inexpensive. Far better then the Bridgestone SO3 I had before these.

I'm running Kumho Ecsta SPTs on my 2005 Turbo S -- street and DE. The rears have about 8,000 miles on them and, judging from the proximity of the wear bars, I should get 10,000. I'm guessing 15,000 minimum on the fronts. I think the tires have great dry traction. I start at 40 psi rear and 36 front, cold; after 20 minutes on the (summer) track I'm at 48 and 40 with no signs of heat damage.

I was clocked at 110 on the short straight (half track) in the rain last Fall on the Ecstas. I felt very comfortable with their wet handling. I think a lot of people make the mistake of running these tires at too low pressures. And I read a comment at tirerack from a BMW driver that "the tires need a hard break-in to perform their best." That's what I'd done. These are the only Kumhos that fit my car, according to the sizes shown on tirerack.

I ran SPTs this weekend and found them to be terrible. They overheated very rapidly and became vague and inconsistent under braking. I started at 34/40, ended at 40/44. Backed it down to 32/37 and had better results when it went to 36/40 but I still would not want to run another session/weekend on them.

I'm looking to move to AD08s for my next event.

SPTs Suck and tire walls damage easily.

I also had a set of SPTs. I think for the price they are a well-rounded tire. They do go away quicker than other tires in its class when they get got. The sidewalls are softer than others in its class and they are pretty quiet. It all depends on your priorities. Many that like good grip on the street and want a more comfortable, quiet ride are very happy with them.
I have yet to drive the HTRZIII, but based on my research that's a great option for you. Those will very likely be my next summer tire.