I've been out of autocrossing for quite a while, but am about to buy a set of tires for the BRZ to return. What's the current opinion out here as to where to start on tires? Is there a best tire these days?
I've been out of autocrossing for quite a while, but am about to buy a set of tires for the BRZ to return. What's the current opinion out here as to where to start on tires? Is there a best tire these days?
jstein77, thats last years tire, so far I am hearing that this is the new hottness.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE-71R
However, I also hear they wear surprisingly quickly for 200TW
In reality, the "hot tire" is changing by the month lately it seems, heres the list of tires where you wont be "wrong" (no order meant or implied)
Bridgestone RE-71R
BFG Rival S
Dunlop Direzza zII* (star spec)
Hankook RS3V2
Toyo R1R (be sure to get newer ones that are 200TW, not the older ones labeled 140TW)
I think there's a magazine out there that has a 200TW tire comparison coming out next month, but I can't remember which one. 
RE71R Rival S Maybe Kumho V720
Apexcarver wrote: jstein77, thats last years tire, so far I am hearing that this is the new hottness. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE-71R
the excessive wear was pretty much related to the San Diego NT event … where ALL tires wear excessively …
I've got 35 runs ( varying from 35 sec to 65 sec) and ~ 700 highway miles on my 'stones … wear is fine
Apexcarver wrote: In reality, the "hot tire" is changing by the month lately it seems, heres the list of tires where you wont be "wrong" (no order meant or implied) Bridgestone RE-71R BFG Rival S Dunlop Direzza zII* (star spec) Hankook RS3V2 Toyo R1R (be sure to get newer ones that are 200TW, not the older ones labeled 140TW)
a lot of those aren't available yet in the 200TW
and you can add the Kumho V720 to the list … they are slowly catching up with size availability
So my take away from this is that there isn't one dominate tire, correct? Pick from the front running list and have fun?
Asking what is the best autocross tire is like asking who is the best political candidate.
well … depending on what car and class … for the last few yrs there HAS been a conscious choice … almost zero deviation from the Toyo R1R in 2 different classes … and for the time being (more testing is being done) there seems to be a leader … the Bridgestone RE71R … this, of course is subject to change as the Rival S gets more testing …
Spoolpigeon wrote: Asking what is the best autocross tire is like asking who is the best political candidate.
When I left if you didn't have Hoosiers you weren't going to win...I've been away too long...
Hoosiers aren't allowed in any class "below" SP
all ST and all Street (the new Stock) are on 200 TW street tires
Spoolpigeon wrote: Asking what is the best autocross tire is like asking who is the best political candidate.
Except with autocross tires, some of them are actually good.
Few key points:
The Hankooks hate the cold - if you live somewhere where you will often be racing in the cold they aren't that good. They also have some of the softer sidewalls of the bunch, so if your car is camber challenged and/or heavy, I would stay away from the hankooks.
The Rivals tread pattern is crappy in the wet. I personally, wouldn't daily drive them unless I lived somewhere where it rarely rains.
The Rival S is only currently available in a handful of sizes.
Yes, the RE-71R is the new hotness. I know a guy who drives a BS C5 Vette. Last year on Hankooks he was an upper mid-pack driver. This year on the bridgestones, he has been near the top every event so far and even challenging for top overall PAX.
I almost ordered in some re71's but ended up going re11a's instead. The rears (255/40r17) showed up today. Still waiting on the fronts. And some wheels to put them on
good luck with those … they really aren't in the same class as those that Apexcarver listed … they're good tires, but a step below the current top dogs
The re11's are excellent in the rain though. If those also serve as DD tire, then that's not a bad choice.
wbjones wrote: well … depending on what car and class … for the last few yrs there HAS been a conscious choice … almost zero deviation from the Toyo R1R in 2 different classes … and for the time being (more testing is being done) there seems to be a leader … the Bridgestone RE71R … this, of course is subject to change as the Rival S gets more testing …
I completely agree. I was just making a funny.
I kinda wish I could had the extra funds and time to get the 'Stones. I've heard nothing but good things about them.
kazoospec wrote: I think there's a magazine out there that has a 200TW tire comparison coming out next month, but I can't remember which one.
You heard that rumor, too?
People have found that G-force Rivals work better on heavy cars, so they're not as good as the others for your BRZ. I have Rivals, and they're good in the wet, but bad in standing water.
I find one finding odd; the magazines have tested these tires a few times and the older tests have the RE-11As significantly slower than the other tires, but on par in the latest test.
Yeah, for a BRZ here is how I would rank them:
I wouldn't really consider anything else. Bridgestone and Hankook have contingency while Dunlop does not, but if you're just coming back off a layoff, that probably doesn't matter.
yeah, if you're not running NT events, then contingency doesn't matter … from the earliest reports the the new Rival's seem to be within statistical noise of the Bridgestone's …
and right now the 'stones (from Tire Rack) have a $70 rebate
add the Rival's to the list by drdisque and you'd have the coin flip choice … though for now the Bridgestone's appear to be coming out on top .. and the early reports are that they are as good in the wet as the Toyo R1R's were/are
edit: I just remembered you posted you'd already purchased the RE11a's
Spoolpigeon wrote: The re11's are excellent in the rain though. If those also serve as DD tire, then that's not a bad choice.
This. I don't autox but I'd like to do a few hpde's and some spirited roads (skyline drive, the dragon, etc). Side note, I can order anything I want but went with the re11 because daily driver. I'm on s04's right now, and may go re71 when I get a daily driver. But for now, re11.
the re11 is a fine tire … should stand up to what you're planning … I a-x'ed on the them several yrs ago (the original re11) don't know much about the a or the s .. but they should be fine
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