Street Tire Class 2013

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:41 pm

Art, the grip is *closer* to R-comps....doesn't mean "comparable to R comps." :wink:

the GRM comparo from early 2010 was between the V710 and the Kumho XS (XS was 1 sec slower on a 60ish second course). While it didn't include the faster A6 vs StarSpec or RS3, I bet the performance delta is pretty close to the Kumho example. It would be very useful of GRM to have a wider comparison when they do their next tire war update.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:48 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

Frankly, I don't know, but it is worth looking into. I've proven that 3 year old 235-55/17 M&S "Road Tires" make my car, when driven like you would drive on A6s, into an absolute tail-wagging idiot. If what everybody is saying about the top road tires being close to the grip of R-comps is true, then I need to figure out how which brand to get and which sizes will work on an 18x8.5 rim.

Can "I" get an additional 2 % for running 400 tread wear rated all seasons on an FS "RTAS" (Road Tire All Season) car? :lol:

My 2012 Mustang was nicely balanced and put the power down surprisingly well on the original Pirelli 235/50 x 18 all seasons, especially when Sam Strano or Mike Johnson was driving. :lol:

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:00 pm

Art,

I understand from one or more Andy Hollis posts that there are a lot of new RT/ST tires coming out next spring that will have higher treadwear ratings but will work as well as or better than current 140's. However, timing may not meet the SCCA cutoff dates if that is relevant in Tarheel.

As I recall, he said good things about the already available NEW Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 which come in 235/50x18. I forget the details but they might turn out to be a strong performance and durability option. It looks like the Tire Rack test results are for the previous version. Andy made his comments deep in a looooong thread on either SCCAforums or Roadraceautox.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:35 am

I wouldn't pay much attention to the treadwear ratings as it is a poorly written "standard" for the purposes that autocross/track enthusiasts would like. Instead we'd like to see a test that stresses a tire to its limits in longitudinal and lateral directions, changing camber angles, etc. In any event, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport beat all but one of the "hot" street tires in the C&D/Tirerack tests I posted earlier, and its "treadwear" number is 300.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:00 am

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

I wouldn't pay much attention to the treadwear ratings as it is a poorly written "standard" for the purposes that autocross/track enthusiasts would like. Instead we'd like to see a test that stresses a tire to its limits in longitudinal and lateral directions, changing camber angles, etc. In any event, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport beat all but one of the "hot" street tires in the C&D/Tirerack tests I posted earlier, and its "treadwear" number is 300.

VERY true!!! FYI the PSS Chuck mentions may very well be the one I was thinking about rather than the latest PS2. So many choices and so many variables and so many unknowns and so many $$$ to try them. I'll stick with my "might as well be spec tire" CM car.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:08 am

DickRasmussen wrote:

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

I wouldn't pay much attention to the treadwear ratings as it is a poorly written "standard" for the purposes that autocross/track enthusiasts would like. Instead we'd like to see a test that stresses a tire to its limits in longitudinal and lateral directions, changing camber angles, etc. In any event, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport beat all but one of the "hot" street tires in the C&D/Tirerack tests I posted earlier, and its "treadwear" number is 300.

VERY true!!! FYI the PSS Chuck mentions may very well be the one I was thinking about rather than the latest PS2. So many choices and so many variables and so many unknowns and so many $$$ to try them. I'll stick with my "might as well be spec tire" CM car.

It probably was the PSS. They made some sort of revolution in the tire world by creating this tire with huge grip but great wear characteristics. Couple that with Michelin's obsession with uniformity plus a 30k mile tread wear warranty (prorated of course), and *lower* prices than the outgoing PS2, and it's a hell of a combination.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

I'm surprised that nobody has commented on the resumption of Goodyear Gatorback production. The $285 price for the 225/60VR-15 size is about the same as 18" versions of the tires discussed above, and I already have the requisite Fox body Mustang 5.0 and 15x7 wheels. :lol:

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:53 am

I'm surprised no one mentions Federal 595RS-R. They have a 140 WR and are available in lots of sizes.

http://www.federaltire.com/en/images/products/20120711232529671.pdf

I got a set of four 255/35/18s from OnlineTires.com delivered to my door for $648.

https://www.onlinetires.com/search/vehicle/tires/federal/2639/all_prices/all_sizes/all_tires/all_speeds/page_1.html

Ran them on the Mazda6 at VIR and CMP, then ran them on the Bullitt in the last Fayetteville AutoX finishing 5th in TIR (and I thought I drove like crap).

I guess because they're made in Tiawan, haven't been included in the "Tire Shootout Comparos" and you can't buy them from TireRack, they must not be any good?

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 12:57 pm

Cash Davidson wrote:

I'm surprised no one mentions Federal 595RS-R. They have a 140 WR and are available in lots of sizes.

http://www.federaltire.com/en/images/products/20120711232529671.pdf

I got a set of four 255/35/18s from OnlineTires.com delivered to my door for $648.

https://www.onlinetires.com/search/vehicle/tires/federal/2639/all_prices/all_sizes/all_tires/all_speeds/page_1.html

Ran them on the Mazda6 at VIR and CMP, then ran them on the Bullitt in the last Fayetteville AutoX finishing 5th in TIR (and I thought I drove like crap).

Most of what I have seen are anecdotal reports that they are OK but not great, and given the relatively competitive pricing of the Hankooks, most recommended staying with RS3s. Did you "drive like crap" because of the tires, or just had a bad day?

edit: oh, and apparently there may be some quality control issues....
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18315

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 1:59 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

Most of what I have seen are anecdotal reports that they are OK but not great, and given the relatively competitive pricing of the Hankooks, most recommended staying with RS3s. Did you "drive like crap" because of the tires, or just had a bad day?

edit: oh, and apparently there may be some quality control issues....
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18315

I was driving like crap because I basically forgot how to autocross a RWD car after driving the FWD Mazda all season. :oops:

Overall I thought the tires performed well. I'll keep an eye out for that horizontal cracking mentioned - thanks.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:15 pm

So is the 140 wear rating a done deal for the RT and ST classes? Need to pull the trigger by the end of Jan on some tires, so just need to figure out what I'm buying and what class. I just picked up 2 R-S3's from Jordan, so hope to just have to buy 2 more. The R-S3 is rated at 140, so hopefully I can stay in RT for next year, if not, heading into STF and take a beating.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:58 pm

IIRC, the RT treadwear idea was retracted in November, but the "magic pixie dust" 195 Toyo R1R is excluded.

ROAD TIRE
The SEB has decided, after considering member input, to retract the change which increased the Road Tire minimum required treadwear rating from 140. This will be reflected in the Supplemental Regulations for future National Tour events.
The SEB has also decided that for the Road Tire classes the following tire will be on the Exclusion List, effective 1/1/2013:
Toyo Proxes R1R 195/50-15 size only

http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/assets/12-fastrack-nov1.pdf

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:40 pm

http://i.imgur.com/d6bih.png%5B

Star Spec ZII release dates :thumbsup:

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Hoping for a fire sale on the Z1's around that time, as the mazda will need new street tires, and I can't stand these Hankook's (evo V12's) lack of grip. Craving good [extreme] street tires again. . .

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Make a 225/45R15 Dunlop.

Oh wait, got R-S3s for like 500 shipped, nevermind.

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