I ran a set of 255 40 17 Dunlop Star Spec IIs on my Evo before getting NT01s for several events. The Dunlops lasted easily 2X as long (maybe 3X) as the Nittos and were not that much slower. When I’m not going for ultimate lap times, or in a time trial, what’s a good tire that will last, not get greasy, etc. in 20 minute long sessions on dry track? I plan to stick with 255/17s for cost reasons for this set. The Star Spec 2s are out of production and I hear that the III’s wear faster. These tires will see extremely few street miles and no wet weather. I already have a set of PS4s for that.

Any suggestions?

 

Hankook R-S4 in 255/40R17 has been a great HPDE tire for me. The grip is good, but not up to RE-71R levels. However, they last forever and they handle heat very well. They're cheap, too.

I have RE-71R on my 2nd set of wheels. They definitely grip more than the R-S4, but they wear quickly on track and they get greasy after just 2 laps. I reserve these for AutoX and Trackcross (1 lap, standing start) events now.

 

Maxxis RC1 (as long as it's dry)

/thread

 

No tire is going to "last" as you get faster. If you were new new, then ya I'd + the RS4's. But your not, and you have another set of wheels, so why on earth does it need to be a street tire lol.

 

I think the question isnt what is the fastest tire but rather what is the best tire to use on track that won't suck and is easy on the wallet.

 

I've been able to absolutely beat on my R-S4s. It's almost like they like it. LOL
Bonus: I can drive on them to the track without feeling bad. Not as grippy as my NT01, of course.

 

My RC1s are 4 years old, have somewhere between 15 and 30 (I don't know how many days PO put on them) track days on them and they still have around half life left. The only time I've ever had them fall off which they barely did was a 95F day with a heat index around 110F. They handle 20 min sessions with no complaints and are super consistent. Only issue is they're pretty useless if there's standing water on track. Oh and a 255/40/17 is $150/ea, a 275/35/18 is $250/ea.

So yea, RC1. /thread

 

What the.... if you get 15-30 *track days* (Did you mean sessions?) out of a set of RC1s you must just be doing warm up laps on them.

 

I can't imagine getting 30 track days out of any tire on the Evo, short of some 500TW all-seasons.

I've been looking at the RC1 as the next step up. The price is right and they have decent wear characteristics. I'm not looking forward to swapping tires at the track again, though. Arrive and drive has really spoiled me.

 

No. Days. They literally wear like iron. They're pretty much extra hard compound slicks. I also mostly run the car at 350whp so it's not making tons of power.

 

This makes no sense. I have a bunch of track buddies in advanced group that get nowhere near that amount of mileage out of RC1's. From Corvettes to BRZ's and S2k's.

 

I think tires can get hard over time and then stop wearing as much, but they also loose their stick too.

I’m not necessarily looking for a street tire at all. I trailer my car to the track. And, if it rains, then I’ll swap on my PS4s, which I always stick in the truck.

 

"Literally"?

:P

 

My car weighs under 2800lbs, doesn't make much power and I don't overdrive my tires. I know other guys in my area who say the same about their RC1s. Most guys get 1-2 full seasons out of 1 set. They'll heat cycle out before they lose all tread but it's not nearly as bad as R888s heat cycling.

 

Yep and it's possible to age out the rubber long before the tread is gone.