I went to TGP recently and am instantly hooked. I need some good track tires and do not care of life just want grip. What do you regulars suggest...plans are to do a few more TGP's and move up to road atlanta. I am slowly migrating to more events and less daily driving so take that into consideration. Also if I get a purely summer tire does that mean I will suffer at the track in the colder months or just have to get them warm first? Thanks in advance for any input
You need the ContiSportContact 2 or 3. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=ContiSportContact+3 http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=ContiSportContact+2 I have been on the road course and autox with both. Both are awesome, wet or dry. They also kick serious ass on the street. Neovas are good too. I'd have the Conti's over the neovas tho. Plus side on the Conti's: They are still plenty grippy when stone cold, and LOVE the hot. Only downside is the softer sidewall when compared to other tires.
Will, are you really comparing the Contis to the Neovas. There are a lot of great tires on the market and the contis aren't one of them.
yes I am. Opinions are like ass holes. Everyone has one. I have not been impressed with the Neova one bit. I call it an overly priced Azenis. I do not like the RT-215 or 615 Falkens, greasy city. If the RE070 came in a 245/40/17 and a 275/35/17 it would still grease up too fast. Sidewall is el-perfecto tho. The Hankook RS-2 Z212 would grease up with the mention of the word 'road couse.' 'bout the only non-Conti tire I'd run on a road course is a Hooiser. For Autox its going to be the Khumo V710. However, RE070's are free....so I run them for now. If I had to pay money for tires, Conti's all the way. Their wet traction and ability to work when OVER hot is outstanding. If you put the RE070 sidewall on the Conti 2 and 3, you'd have the perfect tires.
The A048 is an awesome tire. The RT-615 will over temp in One Lap. The Contis aren't even on the same page as other performance tires. They don't have enough sidewall stiffness, when they do over temp they are done. If you over temp the Neovas you can drive them that way if you have to. If you want a street slash track tire check out what people where running on One Lap thats the ultimate tire test. Let me help you Michelin PS2s and Neovas. I think there was one set of Contis in the top 20 and that was the very well driven STI of Steve Rankins and Jon K. Matt
i rode around on rt-215 for a while, kinda like rt-615. Hydroplaned into a curb at like 30, be careful with em.
Get an extra set of wheels. There are some ways to get used Hoosiers R comps in lots of different sizes for less than 400/set. The Hoosiers are very durable, and can be used in autox as well.
^ set of R6s or RA1s will last you awhile... that's the best idea otherwise you will be replacing your street tires every other track day.
Haven't driven them on a road course, they do get hot pretty fast though. They are 9.9/10s of the neovas. GRM a few months ago did a comparison of street tires on both an autox and track; autox was pretty close between RE01r and Neovas, can't remeber which one did the best at the track. Seriously a R6 or RA1 will give you good use and you won't have to worry about heat or greasy-ness as those tires are designed for road courses.
That's why you buy a extra set of wheels.... see clemson's post ^.... I'd rather have an extra set of tires at a track then have to drive home on bald or corded street tires.
What i meant was swap on the R-compounds at home before an event and then drive there, so that's why I was asking if they can be driving on the highway. But it seems to me you are suggesting taking the extra set of wheels with the r-compounds to be swapped at the track, just a bit too much trouble
I think Meredith's right here. If you add it up, that'd be one expensive commute to the road course. On top of that, you run the risk of getting a flat on the way to the course. If you take the wheels/tires with you, can run no matter what. Auto-xers change tires at site for 4 mins of "track" time. I'd definitely change tires at site for a track day.
If you have an impact wrench, changing tires isn't too difficult. I had the chance to compare tires last weekend at a test and tune event, and here was the order of preference: 17x8.5 with full tread 245/40-17 RE-01R 17x9 with full tread 245/40-17 RE-01R 17x9 with shaved to 4/32nds 245/40-17 RE-01R The 17x9 wheel felt a lot better on the car over the 17x8.5 wheel. I was surprised at the difference. The shaved tires were a lot better in the transitions, but overheated quicker after a couple runs. We had to put a lot of time into cooling the tires with the 95 degree temps and 130 degree surface temps on course. (on an 05 STi car running Cusco Zero-2R tires, -3 camber front, and -1.5 rear) .
For a "one set for street and track use" - the Neova, or because you don't drive the car that often, Toyo RA-1's. If you have 17's, it's really hard to beat cheapness of slightly used RE070's. The RE01-R is also a great tire that is occassionally SUPER cheap. If you are going to change tires at the track, it's really hard to beat the Hoosier R6's. Siegel
I want to take this one step further... When to change? New tires on the track? I have almost gone 615s that have about two more autocrosses in them. I have a set of 01rs in the garage waiting. In prep for Club Wars, should I switch now and lose the usage/life of the 615s in favor of breaking-in my new tires, or wear them out and potentially be at TGP on new tires? I wouldn't think full depth/new tires would be favorable on a track. Your thoughts?
well I may do the 2nd set of wheels but like i said, I barely use the car last year I drove under 5K. If I do drive to work it is 12mi round trip. So at this time I am looking for one set that would be great track/autoX and preferably around 150ea (not likely) for 235-40-18.
Neovas Re-01r's BFG R1's (r comp) Those are the only tires I would ever think about running on my car. The R1's last longer than the hoosiers and are turning quicker lap times. As for the Neova's or RE-01rs its a toss up. I think the re-01r has more lateral grip but the neova is a more responsive tire and better in the wet.
Somebody... When to change? New tires on the track? I have almost gone 615s that have about two more autocrosses in them. I have a set of 01rs in the garage waiting. In prep for a track day in two months, should I switch now and lose the usage/life of the 615s in favor of breaking-in my new tires, or wear them out and potentially be at TGP on new tires? I wouldn't think full depth/new tires would be favorable on a track. Your thoughts?
The only thing about swapping tires at a road course is you have to wait a good bit for the lugs/nuts to cool down before you can swap tires. I have destroyed several lug studs just from autox brake temps and changing the tires too early. I dont know of a good solution, but Brian or Meredith could probably suggest something to cure it. If you do have to change the studs, its really fast, probably less than 10 min./stud. Sorry, I mean changing them after the event. The drive to the event isn't that bad unless you are crazy on the brakes on the street.
well, i have an oven. how many do i need?! hahaa... so mount them before an autoX or take a mountain drive?
As for changing tires at events and hot nuts, this hasn't been an issue for us. We did put ARP longass studs on our car this season just as preventive maintenance. From this past weekend, we changed right after the event in my friend's car, and the nuts were damn hot even with gloves on, so I sprayed them with water to cool them off before putting them back on the car. The main issue that I have heard/seen from people who have broken studs, was that it was related to using aluminum lugnuts, not using occasional anti-seize, or not keeping them clean. We occasionally clean our studs put anti-seize on them. For close events, we have driven home on race tires without issues. It is just a gamble, as they are much more prone to getting damaged IMO, and not very safe if it is raining. .
no matter which way I slice it looks like a cheap set of 17's is in my future. where do you get the Hoosier r comps fo cheap? Those are a straight up race tire correct?
Hoosier R6 = Road compound & Hoosier A6 = Autox compound.... don't buy A6s for track days... they will last like 20 minutes then cord!
unless you want 18's.... http://www.roadrace-autox.com/bbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4710&posts=3&start=1
there is also www.sccaforums.com (you can vote for me in the "who will win" Solo nationals thread as well! i'm under STU Ladies). I've never bought tires from track hos or road racers cause I'm a tire whore and like fresh rubber. I know Joel used to buy used tires for stompy 315-40-17 v710s or something.