IX have VVT so they are capable of a little more power. However a well tuned and well driven VIII can win as seen.

 

ok so 2010 discussion, is anyone going to try the hankook ventus evo v12/ they are said to be the widest 245 on the market...

 

I don't believe width is the issue, as compound is more important, and the Z1* win that fight.

 

Ventus V12 Evo? No.

RS-3? Yep....

 

Hankook RS3
Kumho XS
Dunlop * spec
Yokohama a08
Bridgestone RE11
Toyo R1R

Take your pick. However I have heard the SCCA is trying to change the UTQG limit to 180 effectively banning the Hankook and Toyo. Hope that doesn't happen.

 

Agreed. The Z1 is far and away the standout tire.

That being said, I'm considering getting a cheap set of 18s to experiment with the 245/40/18 Hankook RS3s, gearing be damned.

 

I think the Hankooks would be great on the Evo, since they seem to be enormously tolerant of heat... And the front end of the Evo definitely generates some heat.

I'm very curious to test Dunlops vs. Hankooks vs. RE11's back-to-back on the STR S2k I'm driving this coming winter/season.

 

Even with Nationals moving up a week in the calendar.. I am not sure how much heat is generated in the cooler temps that cannot be controlled with a sprayer. A wide temperature range seems important, to work on a cold first run... to a warm/hot last run.

From what I seen and understand.. the Z1 holds up well to the weight of the Evo, I would not think the S2k would replicate what the evo will see. With that being said, I would be curious to see a back to back test from a compentent evo driver (in an evo) maybe get DL1 or MaxQData on board for the testing. Thoughts?

 

I got some Star Specs for the car a few weeks back, and I am impressed. They feel great both when cold and when hot. Still deciding where I like the pressures.

 

I was at the MiDiv event the weekend prior to the Pro Finale, and it was 95+ degrees. I think it just happened to be unseasonably cool this year. I agree, a wide temperature spread is needed, especially on a car with so much weight up front like the Evo/STi.

That being said...

Anytime I tested tires back to back on my STU M3 and compared it with the general concensus of the STi/Evo drivers, it was very similar feedback. A 2000 lb civic may generate a different result on some tires, but overall the testing is still pretty valid. The fast tires are always fast, and the slow tires are, well, slow.

I think that the Dunlops and Hankooks are probably extremely similar in overall grip, and it really comes down to individual driving style as to which is faster. Same with the AD08s and maybe even the RE11s (although the 'stones seem like they might be a little off the pace.)

I've worn through 3 sets of Dunlops, and unless I see some good reason otherwise, I'll buy another set next year for the M3.

 

Complete agree and am on board with you Chris. I will not be the tire guniea pig, unless someone is flipping all the bills for it. And as long as the Z1* is priced as it is, and other tires remain where they are... I will stick with it.

Only other point I meant to bring up is that as you mentioned the width of the heat range is quite important, as a 2000lb civic (or even my 18xxlb crx!!!) generates certain amount of heat into the toyos, or hankooks, and can make the tires happy... Our evos tend to make those same tires whine/cry.

 

I don't think it is only the tire compound but the side wall stiffness of the tires that also comes into play. The heavier EVOs and STis can run lower tire pressure on tires with stiffer side walls and thus generate and manage heat better than those tires with softer side walls that require higher pressures to keep the side wall from rolling over during hard cornering. That is why the Yokos and Dunlops were preferred over the RE-01. In the case of the Hankook and Toyo it may be the same case, can someone who has used the Hankook RS3 and Toyo R1R confirm this?

@ Chris: If you are the same person I'm thinking of, I think we met and 2009 Nationals, you were driving the white M3 correct. My co-driver and I talked to for quite a bit. Congrats on the SM win!

 

Next question... who has any insight on the 2012 ST reorg? That has definitely kept me away from tossing the car into STU for just 2011, with a 2012 STAC/SEB cloud hanging overhead...

 

It's just myth/here-say at this point. I wouldn't worry about it too much... besides, it's pretty easy to go to BSP from STU if you really had to. But I doubt the Evo/STI will be forced out of competitiveness.

 

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