2014/2015 Street Tires (...actually it's 200 treadwear!)
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From: Rural Northwest
2014/2015 Street Tires (...actually it's 200 treadwear!)
I wanted to get some feedback from people who run street tire classes in Autocross, Time Trial, etc. on the newest crop of Street Tires that have shown up over the last year (or 2).
The existing rules for Street Tires that I have found are:
It appears that a lot of groups are moving towards the 200 UTQG and the tire manufacturers are moving with them. The only new tires that have not been rated into 200UTQG are the Yokohama Advan Neova AD08Rs.
The Contenders!
My dilemna: I expect my AD08s to wear out by mid-season. I need a 200 UTQG tire (to comply with all the different groups) and I can't figure out what will work for what I want it to do:
Dunlop ZII - I have read that these grease up on track and take a while to cool down.
Hankook RS-3 - not the best in the wet and doesn't come in the UTQG/size that I want
Yoko AD08R - I don't know why they don't just rate their tire 200 UTQG and save me from this awful dilemna.
BFG Rivals - I have read that these fare worse than the Dunlops ZIIs on track
The time attack forums and corvette forums seem to lean towards the Nitto NT05s and Bridgestone RE-11s if not advocating for the above mentioned tires.
Anyone have personal input on any of these options whether it be AutoX, dry track hot lapping, wet track or time attack 1-and-done?
The existing rules for Street Tires that I have found are:
- 2014 SCCA Solo ST classes: 140 UTQG
- 2015 SCCA Solo ST classes: 200 UTQG
- Global Time Attack: 140 UTQG
- Redline Time Attack: 140 UTQG
- Ultimate Street Car Association: 200 UTQG
- Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational: 200 UTQG
- NASA demarcates groups of tires between 50-130 and 120-200 UTQG for tire points
- Are You Faster Than a Redneck (TV Show): 200 UTQG
- Good Guys Autocross: 200 UTQG
- Chump Car: 180UTQG
- 24 hours of LeMons: 190UTQG
It appears that a lot of groups are moving towards the 200 UTQG and the tire manufacturers are moving with them. The only new tires that have not been rated into 200UTQG are the Yokohama Advan Neova AD08Rs.
The Contenders!
- Yokohama Advan AD08R 180 UTQG
- BFG Rival 200 UTQG
- Dunlop ZII 200 UTQG
- Hankook RS3 200 UTQG
- Nitto NT05 200 UTQG
- Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 200 UTQG (RE-11A is the new compound that recently came out but tire selection is very limited)
- Federal 595RS-R 140 UTQG
- Toyo Proxes R1R 140 UTQG
- Kumho Ecsta XS 180 UTQG
- Falken Azenis RT615K 200 UTQG
My dilemna: I expect my AD08s to wear out by mid-season. I need a 200 UTQG tire (to comply with all the different groups) and I can't figure out what will work for what I want it to do:
- 255/35/18
- 200 UTQG
- good in the wet
- won't grease up easily on track
- prefer symmetrical to flip - I run -3.2 camber up front and DD the car
Dunlop ZII - I have read that these grease up on track and take a while to cool down.
Hankook RS-3 - not the best in the wet and doesn't come in the UTQG/size that I want
Yoko AD08R - I don't know why they don't just rate their tire 200 UTQG and save me from this awful dilemna.
BFG Rivals - I have read that these fare worse than the Dunlops ZIIs on track
The time attack forums and corvette forums seem to lean towards the Nitto NT05s and Bridgestone RE-11s if not advocating for the above mentioned tires.
Anyone have personal input on any of these options whether it be AutoX, dry track hot lapping, wet track or time attack 1-and-done?
Last edited by nollij; Feb 27, 2014 at 09:57 AM.
I'm rocking 255/40-17 ZIIs and I'm happy with them. They are predictable and seem to be wearing well. They do, however, have a lot of road noise but it's not my daily so I don't care. I was extremely impressed with how they performed at highway speeds (70-80mph) in a downpour on the way to an auto-x event and at the event itself. I really did not expect them to fare so well. My experience on them is limited to auto-x only. I have also heard they get greasy in track conditions but cannot comment on that aspect.
Last edited by Terror Rising; Jan 9, 2014 at 08:09 PM.
I haven't seen any evidence that the Rivals are "far worse" on track vs the ZIIs. I am extremely happy with mine and how well they're wearing considering the track usage I'm putting on them. I believe they meet all your criteria, with a possible exception for wet performance. Haven't tracked mine in the wet yet so can't comment on that.
Not exactly sure on your climate, but the Z2's work well for us in the spring/fall time when temps are in the 50-60's. The rivals seem to favor heavier cars in warmer temps.
Z2's work great in rain.
I've ran through several sets of the RS3's and do like them on hot days.
If you are super competitive, you'll probably need 2 sets depending on the day/temp/conditions/surface. but if you only want to be 90-95% competitive, just get one of the 4 top street tires you posted. any one, whatever's cheapest.
Z2's work great in rain.
I've ran through several sets of the RS3's and do like them on hot days.
If you are super competitive, you'll probably need 2 sets depending on the day/temp/conditions/surface. but if you only want to be 90-95% competitive, just get one of the 4 top street tires you posted. any one, whatever's cheapest.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 747
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From: Rural Northwest
Not exactly sure on your climate, but the Z2's work well for us in the spring/fall time when temps are in the 50-60's. The rivals seem to favor heavier cars in warmer temps.
Z2's work great in rain.
I've ran through several sets of the RS3's and do like them on hot days.
If you are super competitive, you'll probably need 2 sets depending on the day/temp/conditions/surface. but if you only want to be 90-95% competitive, just get one of the 4 top street tires you posted. any one, whatever's cheapest.
Z2's work great in rain.
I've ran through several sets of the RS3's and do like them on hot days.
If you are super competitive, you'll probably need 2 sets depending on the day/temp/conditions/surface. but if you only want to be 90-95% competitive, just get one of the 4 top street tires you posted. any one, whatever's cheapest.
I have noticed that a lot of the reviews I have read for suggesting RE-11s and NT05s for track days all come from 2009-2010 before the most recent crop of ESP tires came out. My highest priority is picking a tire that can handle 20-30 minutes of hot lapping as opposed to squeeking out every last second. I should probably go look for what the chump car and 24 hours of lemons guys recommend run. Especially the ones in heavier vehicles.
all new RS3's are 200TW. I believe Tire Rack still has many of the older 140TW RS3 tires but once they are out, they'll start selling the RS3's that say 200. Both are the exact same tire.
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BFG Rivals - I have read that these fare worse than the Dunlops ZIIs on track
The bfg rival destroys the zII in my opinion after trying both of them on autox events. The Rival just keeps on giving and giving.
currently running 255-40-17 Rival on wedsport tc105n
all my experience is autox only.
The bfg rival destroys the zII in my opinion after trying both of them on autox events. The Rival just keeps on giving and giving.
currently running 255-40-17 Rival on wedsport tc105n
all my experience is autox only.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Columbia, MD
I personally had great experiences with NT05s for HPDE, although I never competed on them. They were sticky for a street tire, and had good wear behavior. However, the Dunlops are superior in the wet. NT05s are also cheap.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 747
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From: Rural Northwest
It looks like I am going to have to get new tires sooner. I was scrubbing down my wheels and noticed my tires appear to be falling apart. It is the same way all the way around.
How so? I heard the ZII has a stiffer sidewall but also know numerous people who ditched their perfectly good ZIIs in favor of the Rival. None of them were AWD so I'm curious as to how well they perform in a front loaded car.
More forgiving when pushing them. ( raged edge)
I feel I can push them harder and they be up for it.
Wear is very good.
Just in love with this tire.
Look at the 2013 SCCA National Championships results for STU, where the fastest Street tire Evos run. All the top Evos were on Dunlops, at that was in the heat of summer.
Rick
