So I ran in STR today as I had no way to get my sub-par used SM7 Hoosiers to the autox today. At our first event of the year I also ran in STR on my year old Dunlop ZII tires and I beat a friend of mine running all seasons by about three seconds. He then bought the new shiny Bridgestone RE-71s, not quite enough against Ho-Hos but against my sorry Dunlops enough to put more than two seconds on me.
TLDR: Bridgestones new RE-71s are frigging awesome!! (And my buddy is getting better
Great tires cover lots of sins. I personally want a full set of space saver spares to autocross on to learn more control.
Every time I think am ready to move to stickier rubber, I find more time in the car as it is. Not a bad thing but since my DZ101s are getting close to the end I'm really looking forward to getting some ZIIs or Rivals now.
I'd like to upgrade, but no one makes squat for street tires in 255/50/16.
BFG Sport Comp 2 is the best I can find
In reply to Lancer007: unless you want my ZIIs so I can move to all Hoosier all the time racing I wouldn't recommend buying them new. Dunlop just doesn't have the rubber compound to remain competitive.
In reply to Gearheadotaku: You might be able to find the hottest street tires in 245/50/16.
RE-71s don't last long compared to any kind of Dunlop Z2 or even non-S Rivals. Those are as close to running an R-comp as you can get on a 200TW EPS tire.
Mr_Clutch42 wrote: In reply to Gearheadotaku: You might be able to find the hottest street tires in 245/50/16.
Please show me. I've had no luck. RE71R, RT-615K, Rival S, ZII, none in my size that I've found.
16s don't have anything worth running once you get past 225/50-16.
^ Exactly my problem....
Purchasing 17's, spacers, and tires will be pushing $1500+ 
If you don't want to run 225/50/16, it is time to step up to 17"s, even if you don't want to.
Edit: you can run Potenza RE-11s in 245/45/16, or run slicks, so, yeah, mostly 17s is where you need to start looking.
I have a thought about tires.. after having a blowout at 60mph today I really want the Tweel to become a thing on trucks. http://www.michelintweel.com/
Mr_Clutch42 wrote: If you don't want to run 225/50/16, it is time to step up to 17"s, even if you don't want to. Edit: you can run Potenza RE-11s in 245/45/16, or run slicks, so, yeah, mostly 17s is where you need to start looking.
You can run the RE-11s. When they're available. Which in my experience has been "no time in the last 2 years."
I'm actually considering the RE-71R for my Miata since my Rivals are near dead (and are terrible...yeah). My problem is they're only in 205/50-15!
I'm assuming 205 on a 9 inch rim for autocross would be very dumb. At the same time, I wonder how much better the 205 RE-71R on an 8 inch wheel would compare to RS3v2s in 225 on 9 inchers...
DARN YOU DECISIONS!
kylini wrote: I'm assuming 205 on a 9 inch rim for autocross would be very dumb. At the same time, I wonder how much better the 205 RE-71R on an 8 inch wheel would compare to RS3v2s in 225 on 9 inchers...
205 on a 9" wide wheel is a lot of stretch by racing standards but not a crazy amount, you could run it. And the RE-71Rs are so sticky that they might give you more grip than the 225 wide RS3v2s.
GameboyRMH wrote:kylini wrote: I'm assuming 205 on a 9 inch rim for autocross would be very dumb. At the same time, I wonder how much better the 205 RE-71R on an 8 inch wheel would compare to RS3v2s in 225 on 9 inchers...205 on a 9" wide wheel is a lot of stretch by racing standards but not a crazy amount, you could run it. And the RE-71Rs are so sticky that they might give you more grip than the 225 wide RS3v2s.
Actually it's less stretch by racing standards than it would be by normal standards. 
There's a pic floating around of the 205/50 Federal RS-Rs on a 15x9 and it doesn't look totally awful.
In reply to Swank Force One: They're available now.
In reply to Dusterbd13: When I bought my set of '13 manufacture date Rivals on my G Stock 328i, it didn't cover up my driving sins at all. They actually exposed some racing flaws I was committing and didn't know it (and some I should have known).
In reply to kylini:
15x9 wheels for a Miata? I have some spiffy 15x7.5 wheels and need something wider to shoehorn 275 Hoosiers onto if you want to do some horse trading. 
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