Please keep in mind, the Star Specs start with 10/32'nds tread depth and the NT-05's start with about 7/32nd's tread depth.

Just a FYI to those who are looking at both.

I've used both now (star specs first, then NT05's currently) and if I had to do it over again, I'd go back to the star specs.

 

Given that fact I would use the Star Specs - especially if driving on the street at all.

 

While I agree with you tires being the most important factor in the equation, I wouldn't call going any of these tires as cheaping out.

If you have put some efforts into researching, then you would easily figure this out. My reliable sources are telling me that Korean tire companies like Kook and Kumho are simiply make these tires with their race tire compounds. If true, they can be very competitive street tires especially for the price.

At last, I am participating in TA to have fun and to learn more, but not to win. Winning might be what you're in there for, but not for me. Winning would surely feel good, though. Be safe out there..

 

Thank you all for your inputs.

The event organizers are now telling us that Hankook RS-3s cannot be used as they are not officially released as of now. If's funny that this event is sponsored by Hankook.

Also, they said that they're contemplating to ban new Kumho XSs to be used in ST class since they got many complaints from ppl who claimed that these are basically masked r-comp tires. Funny that most ppl who were complaining were Neova users.

So, I have decided to go with Dunlop Z1s. Thanks for all you help on this.

 

I really wouldn't take the Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG) as a major selling point. did you know that each tire company makes their own rating. its based on their own tire. there are no government regs on these number. i have been selling tires for 10 years. we just put some re-01 on evo and dunlaps on an 08 sti. both are great tires.


http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=48

 

Ado8, or second best ad07.

 

Ive ran the NT05's for two Redline Time Attack events and placed 1st in both events in the stock/rookie class...

If anything the NT05's are a great bargain for the price and hold up extremly well in 20-30 minute sessions driven to the max...

As for a great comparision. My friend running in "street" class, well underpowered by nearly 200hp, only lost by 0.3 tenths of a second to the winner running on Neova's. Pretty much the same Robispec suspension on both Evo's but a hired gun driving in the other car.

What it truly comes down to is the driver of the car.

I mean you can only take so much hersay on the forums, but you have to take what you can get, right?

And Ive seen great results with the TOYO r1r's as well...



g/l

 

get the direzza
i hear gd reviews on them
they are consistent at low or high temp, at the end of their life or start, its pretty consistent
they last the longest too among your selection

 

What car are you referring to? Erics? He is running NT05s?
And was this instance at Buttonwillow?

 

its Red... Yes... Yes... and Yes...

 

I figured just double checking I was under the impression that reese ran r1rs at button but I am ussualy wrong

 

to tell you the truth you may be right. James just picked up the Yok sponsorship...

 

So I FINALLY got my Dunlop Z1 Star Spec's out on the track. Here's a quick review - I'll post a more in-depth one later in the Motorsports forum with a synopsis of the entire event.

I ran a Redline Time Attack event and participated in the Street AWD division. Tires I used were the Dunlop Z1 Star Spec's in 245/45-17. Keep in mind these are full-tread 11/32" street tires with 200 treadwear rating. I had maybe 7 miles on them when I tossed them onto the track!


Fitment:
I was a little worried about rubbing. I went with this size because they were actually a lot cheaper than the 255/40-17 and 245/40-17. I thought the later would be really short. I'm running Muellerized JIC coilovers especially setup for the track and am obviously lower than stock. I had no issues at all!

Grip:
Pretty darn good! The only other street tire I've tracked were Advans and I'd say they top those. I kept the pressures around 37-38 front and about 35-36 rear hot. Actually the first session of Sunday I came back with them at 35f and 32r and they didn't feel too bad with that setting either but I added some air.

Wear:
Not bad at all. I pushed them hard for a full day of test-n-tune and then harder for the actual TA the next day. I only rotated them once (front-to-back). Absolutely no chunking.

Fwiw, there were a lot of people running these. The guy that beat me in class was running them as well on his Subie. He ran them all through one-lap (One Lap of America) and had great things to say about them including the wear.

 

I'm sold! when I need to buy summer tires to replace my Advans finally, it looks like it'll be these!

 

i run the z1 stars for autocross, and altho i personally suck at autocross (first season, still learning, still slow), these tires are simply amazing. there is an evo in my region that runs STU and gets FTD quite often running these tires, as well as a lot of the other AWDs were running/swearing by them which is what lead me to my decision. i too got the 245/45's because of the price difference between that and 245/40. if i had to do it over again, i would buy the exact same tires.
on a side note, i run the dunlops pretty much only to and from the track, and have kuhmo ASX's for daily driving, which have held up quite well for spirited driving to and from work, but i dont think i would take them out on the autoX course due to having my z1's.(Again, poor so i went 225/45 since these would only be street tires, and that size was cheaper).