2014's Best Tire Choice

michaelsmiller · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2014 3:57 pm

The dilemma that I’m facing is, should I get another set of BFG Rivals or should I switch over to Dunlop ZII’s? I’m not trying to rehash last years, “Which tire is better discussion”, but I am curious what people’s feelings are about the tires after running them for a year. It took me a while to get used to the Rivals but I ended the season running pretty fast. Their turn-in is slow, but their grip and predictability is high. They also tend to wear on the outside edges. From what I remember about the star spec’s; they are noisy, turn in is quick, peak grip is high, they are very toss able, and they wear much longer than any performance tire that I have ever used. It is my hope that the ZII’s are that and more. I plan to order this year’s set very soon. Opinions? :idea:

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2014 4:46 pm

Sounds to me like you've made your choice already. Go ahead and try something new..get the Z2s. They are apparently pretty different from the Z1*, and you may really like them.

Edit: I liked the Rivals enough to buy a second set. Should last long enough to see what info there is, or may be, coming about an RS3 update.

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2014 5:39 pm

I like the ZII on the Abarth, they are actually not bad at all in the rain, standing water is different but it will be same with any tire. I didn’t dare trying them in the snow.
I didn’t find the ZII particularly noisy on the Abarth and they are actually riding smoother than the stock Pirelli. As for grip it’s definitively a lot better.
You will hear a kind of high pitch noise if you are cruising on the highway and are crossing the painted line or if you ride on it. It will do same sound when you go over the kind of tar they used to fill the crack in road. They don’t make the Rival in a suitable size for the Abarth yet.

Last year we had Rival on the Miata they still have some tread on them but the 2nd driver on the car did some spin on track last year and
they now have some bad flat spot, on 1 tire we see the underlying rubber on the shoulder. So I ordered a set of ZII for the Miata. (and they are cheaper also)
We will see how they are on track in April.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2014 5:52 pm

I went w/ the ZII's based on the hotrod magazine tiretest w/ tire rack that worked on a big and heavy car. Haven't really had a chance to get them out and play, but initial feed back is very positve.

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

I'm planning on staying with the Rivals for now. I'd suggest that you get the ZII's. That way we can both blame our tires when we are slower than the other.

It's always important to have your driver excuses well thought out in advance.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:26 pm

I'm getting ZII's for my Mustang F Street experiment for several reasons. However, I'm also ignoring current conventional wisdom by putting 265/35x18's on 8 inch rims. I own a second set of original 18x8 wheels. For my version of Mustang I could run 18 or 19 inch 8.5's but no 9's (9's are Brembo Brake version only).

I would prefer to run American made Rivals but they don't seem to have the highway rain driving capability I require.

The RS3's simply don't have stiff enough sidewalls for a heavy stock suspension front engine car even though grip might be better. Sam Strano really likes the RS3's on some cars but recommended the ZII's for my application. Another concern with Hankooks is mid year tire availability. Woody at Tire Rack is also a fan of ZII's.

I'm taking Sam's advice to try the 265 rather than 245 ZII's. Chuck's good experience with 275 Rivals on 8.5 rims reinforced that choice.

Tires ordered through Jeb today.

Shocks due from Sam Strano on Monday. Adjustable rear bar from Sam soon (I think it is coming from California)

Warm weather forecast for next week which hopefully means the snow will melt so I can move the race car from the shop and work on the Mustang. It has been at least 20 years since using a spring compressor. Keep your head down if you drive on Leesville Road near Norwood road next week. :lol:

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:27 pm

shawnwhipple wrote:

I'm planning on staying with the Rivals for now. I'd suggest that you get the ZII's. That way we can both blame our tires when we are slower than the other.

It's always important to have your driver excuses well thought out in advance.

Here are mine:

Oops too long a list to post and I don't remember it anyway.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:37 pm

Went with another set of Rivals -- love the tires and have had great results with them on the M3. This time got 275/35-18 all around for 8.5"F and 9.5"R wheels. I think the Rivals work better on a heavier car perhaps...they definitely wear well in my experience. I had very little edge wear issues even given strut front suspension with only ~-1.5 static camber.

Just ran them down at the Performance Center CCA autox last weekend with outstanding results, rear hooking up so much better than last year with the 245/40s, and the front felt nailed down with no sloppiness in transitions. On the M3 the Rivals have always had a rock-hard like turn-in, very precise, almost shockingly responsive (during one of my first runs last year, James was riding with me, and we both were ecstatic over the turn-in at the end of the run). The 275s up front on 8.5" are pretty much the same way. One thing I could definitely tell another 275 difference was high speed braking. There are two spots on the course there where I have to brake from near the top of 3rd gear (which would be 105mph) down to about 35, and the braking grip was outstanding, especially into the uphill carousel.

I would caution everyone not to make cross-tire-manufacturer absolute conclusions about what works well pinched a bit versus not -- can't shake this gut feel that results might well be carcass dependent. FWIW, there's a thread on sccaforums.com with a guy with an E39 M5 I've been helping out who went to 275/35 Rivals all around for autox, and the M5 has 8"F and 9.5" rear wheels -- so far, the fronts are working great for him pinched onto 8" wheels.

I'll try to get some pictures this weekend of the 275s and front edge wear, etc. 21 runs on that ~85 second high speed course...

Chuck

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sat Feb 15, 2014 9:53 pm

I'd go RS3s again in a heartbeat, but Steve has Rivals so I'll be learning those in the near future

.

michaelsmiller · **Posted:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:29 pm

I wimped out, thanks James. I bought a set of Rivals primarely because I'm used to them, know the car set up, and did well on them last year. Change is a bitch for an old guy. The Rivals also did not fall off as they got old unlike the driver.

Rob Keehner · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:14 pm

Noah and I wanted to get RS3's because he said they were nice. They weren't available at all and are on long term backorder in the right size. So we got Hoosier A6's. Should be the fastest tire run in STR this year.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:38 pm

Rob Keehner wrote:

Noah and I wanted to get RS3's because he said they were nice. They weren't available at all and are on long term backorder in the right size. So we got Hoosier A6's. Should be the fastest tire run in STR this year.

A6's legal in STR?

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:37 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Rob Keehner wrote:

Noah and I wanted to get RS3's because he said they were nice. They weren't available at all and are on long term backorder in the right size. So we got Hoosier A6's. Should be the fastest tire run in STR this year.

A6's legal in STR?

Nope, no ST classes on R comps. I know you know that. :wink:

Maybe he miss-spoke.
(or I read it wrong.)

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:12 pm

Gwen Baake wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

Rob Keehner wrote:

Noah and I wanted to get RS3's because he said they were nice. They weren't available at all and are on long term backorder in the right size. So we got Hoosier A6's. Should be the fastest tire run in STR this year.

A6's legal in STR?

Nope, no ST classes on R comps. I know you know that. :wink:

Maybe he miss-spoke.
(or I read it wrong.)

Hey, SCCA keep changing the rules. I'm just trying to figure out if Rob is goofing or he has some sort of inside secret that he can make these work, like duct tape an a sharpie over the treadware on the tire....

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:23 pm

Well, you're right...there have been a lot of rule changes, and this will be a transition year for sure, but R comps won't ever fly in a ST class.
If they would I'd be able to get rid of my brand new, unmounted Hoosiers 225/45/15,
and my unused Hoosier wets 205/50/15. Which are, by the way, for sale VERY CHEAP!

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2014's Best Tire Choice

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