R Compound VS Super high performance tire?

[Shaung]

I've never run an R compound tire at the track. I started on crappy all seasons, like most people and now run on Hankook RS3's and have for years. The RS3 is a great tire and has at least in my opinion given great value for the money but, I've wondered about track times with an R compound tire. Does anyone have direct comparisons of R compounds VS super high performance tires with actual track times? They could be the RS3, Michelin PSS, Dunlop Direzza, really any super high performance street tire.

Thanks!

[1MOREMOD]

Rs3 is slower than an nt01 and when I went to hankook c51 I was 2.5 seconds faster per lap on approximately 2 minute lap. That was first time on a true rcomp and was feeling them out and easily went that much faster. Think even more is possible.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by Shaung

I've never run an R compound tire at the track. I started on crappy all seasons, like most people and now run on Hankook RS3's and have for years. The RS3 is a great tire and has at least in my opinion given great value for the money but, I've wondered about track times with an R compound tire. Does anyone have direct comparisons of R compounds VS super high performance tires with actual track times? They could be the RS3, Michelin PSS, Dunlop Direzza, really any super high performance street tire.

Thanks!

I went thru 5 sets of R-S3's before switching to R-Comp, and lap times definitely improved immediately. At Buttonwillow, fastest I got on R-S3 was 2:06 and, on the first time out with NT01, did 2:03 (and got to 2:00 six to seven months later) and did 1:58 on Hankook TD's. And at Chuckwalla, best I did on R-S3 was 2:10, but I'm at 2:01 right now on TD's.

Of those time differentials (8 to 9 seconds), I would attribute half to difference between street tire vs R-comp, and other half to just plain old driver improvement.

No question, R-comp's are easily 3 to 4 seconds faster than fast street tires. And, in my experience, haven't found R-comp's to exhibit "grip, grip, then sudden loss of grip" that some people mention, at least not with NT01's and TD's. Perhaps with BF Goodrich R1?

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by OC3

I went thru 5 sets of R-S3's before switching to R-Comp, and lap times definitely improved immediately. At Buttonwillow, fastest I got on R-S3 was 2:06 and, on the first time out with NT01, did 2:03 (and got to 2:00 six to seven months later) and did 1:58 on Hankook TD's. And at Chuckwalla, best I did on R-S3 was 2:10, but I'm at 2:01 right now on TD's.

Of those time differentials (8 to 9 seconds), I would attribute half to difference between street tire vs R-comp, and other half to just plain old driver improvement.

No question, R-comp's are easily 3 to 4 seconds faster than fast street tires. And, in my experience, haven't found R-comp's to exhibit "grip, grip, then sudden loss of grip" that some people mention, at least not with NT01's and TD's. Perhaps with BF Goodrich R1?

I haven't noticed a snap oversteer or anything either. Plan to try Hoosier r6, conti scrubs and bfg r1 in the near future so will advise. I would still count nt01s and td as a step between rcomp and street. Street to nt01s is worth 2 seconds and nt01s to rcomp is 2 seconds.

[OC3]

^NT01 and TD aren't R-comp? Ok...

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by OC3

^NT01 and TD aren't R-comp? Ok...

Well half ass ones then. Even r6, r1, c51 are radial tires. That style of Rcomps is not the final step either. It's a progression. Once you drive an r1 or r6 you will think nt01s suck balls. I can't imagine driving a ad08 or something now I would feel like I was in a miata.

[OC3]

HA(HalfAss)-Comp? lulz.

I already think NT01 sucks balls (compared to TD).

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by OC3

HA(HalfAss)-Comp? lulz.

I already think NT01 sucks balls (compared to TD).

Who makes the td? Maybe I will try those out over winter instead of nt01s. Do they get faster until they cord like the nitto?

[OC3]

^Hankook. And, no they don't get faster. After the first and may be second day, it's straight downward hill, and overall lasts about a day or two less than NT01's.

So, it gets pretty expensive - which I why I still mix it up with sets of NT01.

I'd say TD is about a second or second and a half faster than NT01.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by OC3

^Hankook. And, no they don't get faster. After the first and may be second day, it's straight downward hill, and overall lasts about a day or two less than NT01's.

So, it gets pretty expensive - which I why I still mix it up with sets of NT01.

I'd say TD is about a second or second and a half faster than NT01.

Hmm okay. I have 2 days on the c51 and they look like shit. Maybe get 4 days if I'm lucky.

[USCTrojanMan29]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Well half ass ones then. Even r6, r1, c51 are radial tires. That style of Rcomps is not the final step either. It's a progression. Once you drive an r1 or r6 you will think nt01s suck balls. I can't imagine driving a ad08 or something now I would feel like I was in a miata.

I can also tell the difference between the NT01s/RA1s and even scrub R6s. The NT01s/RA1s seem to get greasy towards the end of a 25-minute session. The nannies come on less with the R6s due to the increased grip and me not getting close to their limits yet. I'm gonna try a pair of BFG R1s and Kumho V710s (if they every come off backorder). I've also played around with the idea of getting some scrub yoko or conti slicks too.

[E92inSG]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Hmm okay. I have 2 days on the c51 and they look like shit. Maybe get 4 days if I'm lucky.

C51 is just the compound.

I assume you are using the double grooved Hankook Z214.


OC3 is referring to Hankook Z221 TD tires, which are a semi slick tire which proper threads.


They are available in various compounds to suit the usage.

Hankook Ventus TD Z221 will be available in 3 different compounds from C3,C5, and C7 in sizes from 15inch to 18. Preliminary tests in Japan prove this to be the fastest and quickest tire in it's class.

C3 - recommended for dry hot weather, abrasive surfaces with ground temp over 35 Celsius
C5 - recommended for dry weather surface with ground temp between 20 to 35Celsius
C7 - recommended for cool weather, smooth surface with ground temp under 20 Celsius
C9 - recommended for dry weather surface with ground temp from 10 to 30 Celsius, suggested for time attack teams and maximum performance

Excellent stability(even) under limited driving condition. Stable harmony of braking,
traction, and control. Applied racing(compound) technology to compound. Secured
optimum wet grip(quality) from highly dispersed silica.(DOT Approved, E-marked)

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by USCTrojanMan29

I can also tell the difference between the NT01s/RA1s and even scrub R6s. The NT01s/RA1s seem to get greasy towards the end of a 25-minute session. The nannies come on less with the R6s due to the increased grip and me not getting close to their limits yet. I'm gonna try a pair of BFG R1s and Kumho V710s (if they every come off backorder). I've also played around with the idea of getting some scrub yoko or conti slicks too.

Forgot about the kumho. I have r1 on order and picked up conti scrubs also.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by E92inSG

C51 is just the compound.

I assume you are using the double grooved Hankook Z214.


OC3 is referring to Hankook Z221 TD tires, which are a semi slick tire which proper threads.


They are available in various compounds to suit the usage.

Yes I have hankook z214 c51 right now.

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by OC3

I went thru 5 sets of R-S3's before switching to R-Comp, and lap times definitely improved immediately. At Buttonwillow, fastest I got on R-S3 was 2:06 and, on the first time out with NT01, did 2:03 (and got to 2:00 six to seven months later) and did 1:58 on Hankook TD's. And at Chuckwalla, best I did on R-S3 was 2:10, but I'm at 2:01 right now on TD's.

Of those time differentials (8 to 9 seconds), I would attribute half to difference between street tire vs R-comp, and other half to just plain old driver improvement.

No question, R-comp's are easily 3 to 4 seconds faster than fast street tires. And, in my experience, haven't found R-comp's to exhibit "grip, grip, then sudden loss of grip" that some people mention, at least not with NT01's and TD's. Perhaps with BF Goodrich R1?

all i know is i saw a video of you at brp with TDs and on offramp (or is it onramp? turn 2/3) you were flat out and gripped on tds while rs3 were slip and slides. thats how technical i get.

[Shaung]

So, a guess would be 4-5 seconds? Anyone else have lap times?

[OC3]

Originally Posted by E92inSG

C51 is just the compound.

I assume you are using the double grooved Hankook Z214.


OC3 is referring to Hankook Z221 TD tires, which are a semi slick tire which proper threads.


They are available in various compounds to suit the usage.

That'd be correct.

On TD's, I run C90 (softest), which is why they don't last long.

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Hmm okay. I have 2 days on the c51 and they look like shit. Maybe get 4 days if I'm lucky.

And, that's (C51) the hard compound too. I bought a set of used Z214 C91's (was Auto-X'd 1 day) - it's supposed to last me 2 heat cycles (not 2 days), LOL. Good thing I got'em cheap on a private sale. Can't wait to try'em once the weather cools.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by pkimM3r

all i know is i saw a video of you at brp with TDs and on offramp (or is it onramp? turn 2/3) you were flat out and gripped on tds while rs3 were slip and slides. thats how technical i get.

Off-Ramp

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by OC3

Off-Ramp

yep no time for technical jargon. just keep it simple.

one tire drifts the other tire grips!

[1MOREMOD]

C51 is medium compound they used to have 71 soft and 91 super soft. C51 is similar to r6 not an autocross tire. 91 will be fun for 2 sessions at best. I would guess only one. Do one warm up lap or less then get after it big time. Lap 2-4 are the money laps.

[OC3]

^You be correct: C50/51 is medium (C30 is hard).

Ya, I'm saving the Z214 C91 for time attack event, or bottom of 9th inning (so to speak) event of Speed Venture's Bimmer Challenge's B2 class series.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by OC3

^You be correct: C50/51 is medium (C30 is hard).

Ya, I'm saving the Z214 C91 for time attack event, or bottom of 9th inning (so to speak) event of Speed Venture's Bimmer Challenge's B2 class series.

Have fun with that. Will they disintegrate like on an f1 car towards end of session.?