Tire Talk Megathread

[MineralWhiteF80]

Originally Posted by kolosy

alright alright. bought the kumhos. car is track only, so the street tires thing is more about learning to drive better than actual tire life, but based on the ratings and what you guys are saying, the performance difference between the V730s and a PS4 or ECF isn't *that* huge to mask too much poor driving, esp when looking at the cost difference.

thanks all!

Nice!

FYI, there is a great thread that just posted on the E9X M3 Track and Road Course discussion Facebook group talking about the Kumho V730 (because of the sale right now). Highly recommend checking it out to see what others are saying about the V730. There are also a couple other posts there too about the V730 with tons of positive comments.

[DoubleYellow]

Looking for a recommendation. Long time NT01 user. I'm looking for a replacement that doesn't squirm under hard braking. I've read through the pages - looks like Proxes RR or RE-71RS would be an improvement without giving up much of the NT01 good qualities. I have PS4S to drive to and from the track (and for wet lapping), so I don't need to drive on the street with the new track tires. For those that made the switch, what size do you recommend?

Wheels:
Arc-8
Front: 18x10" ET25
Rear: 18x10.5" ET27

Suspension: MCS 2 way NR, 700/1000LB springs

Currently running Nitto NT01 275/35R18 tires square with 5mm spacer up front on -3 degree camber and -2 degree camber on rear.

Thanks for the help.

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

Originally Posted by DoubleYellow

Looking for a recommendation. Long time NT01 user. I'm looking for a replacement that doesn't squirm under hard braking. I've read through the pages - looks like Proxes RR or RE-71RS would be an improvement without giving up much of the NT01 good qualities. I have PS4S to drive to and from the track (and for wet lapping), so I don't need to drive on the street with the new track tires. For those that made the switch, what size do you recommend?

Wheels:
Arc-8
Front: 18x10" ET25
Rear: 18x10.5" ET27

Suspension: MCS 2 way NR, 700/1000LB springs

Currently running Nitto NT01 275/35R18 tires square with 5mm spacer up front on -3 degree camber and -2 degree camber on rear.

Thanks for the help.

The RE-71RS is a very very fast 200TW tire which won't wear as well as the NT01. If you aren't chasing lap times then I recommend the Conti ECF or RRs. They both wear great and have excellent heat tolerance.

My setup is 10.5 square 295/30. For your case, you'd probably want 275/35 front and 295/30 rear.

[BoilerUP]

Coming from the NT01, consider the RR. They aren't as quick as the RE71RS, but will have better longevity and should be consistent for HPDE.

The ECF is a *great* HPDE tire with crazy longevity in a track tire, but in my experience they will squirm a bit in heavy braking zones until they get 15-20 sessions on them.

[tsk94]

In my experience, the RR is just a NT01 that starts with less tread. So they don't last as long and are the same speed. So from that perspective the NT01 are much better value.
The only benefit to the RR is they come in 295/30 and 315/30, vs just 275/35 and the 305/35 which is way to tall for this car.

Also, I was told that the NT01 and RR are the same rubber compound when I spoke with a Toyo rep a few years back.

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

Originally Posted by tsk94

In my experience, the RR is just a NT01 that starts with less tread. So they don't last as long and are the same speed. So from that perspective the NT01 are much better value.

What you give up in tread depth you make up for in cost savings. Track Day Tire.com offers 295/30 toyo RR for $280 ish. Last time I checked the nittos were surprisingly expensive. And loud!

[e92BMW///M3]

I've found the RE71RS to be a very user friendly tire, even for a novice like myself, albeit my experience is mostly on LimeRock's .6 mile layout that is more similar to autocross speeds (30-75 or so). They've been very durable and the pace has been there at a dozen events over 15 months. I would probably not run the 275/35 front 295/30 rear, but they offer 285/30 (what I have run, square) as well which should work in the front. I am just not a big fan of the reverse rake and the 275/35 is a bit taller. For me, the 285/30 is a bit short in the rear so it just depends what type of gearing you're looking for as well.

I am likely going to try 295/30 front with a 295/35 rear with the RE-71RS at some point, but first I am going to try out the RT660s that came on a set of rims I bought to compare against the RE-71RS.

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by D_SheerDrivingPleasure

What you give up in tread depth you make up for in cost savings. Track Day Tire.com offers 295/30 toyo RR for $280 ish. Last time I checked the nittos were surprisingly expensive. And loud!

Could be for you guys down in the States. Up here in Canada the NT01 was always similarly priced or slightly cheaper, in the 275 size.

[BoilerUP]

Originally Posted by e92BMW///M3

I've found the RE71RS to be a very user friendly tire, even for a novice like myself, albeit my experience is mostly on LimeRock's .6 mile layout that is more similar to autocross speeds (30-75 or so). They've been very durable and the pace has been there at a dozen events over 15 months. I would probably not run the 275/35 front 295/30 rear, but they offer 285/30 (what I have run, square) as well which should work in the front. I am just not a big fan of the reverse rake and the 275/35 is a bit taller. For me, the 285/30 is a bit short in the rear so it just depends what type of gearing you're looking for as well.

I am likely going to try 295/30 front with a 295/35 rear with the RE-71RS at some point, but first I am going to try out the RT660s that came on a set of rims I bought to compare against the RE-71RS.

I killed a set of 71RS (275/35 and 295/30) in *13* HPDE sessions which were 25-30min in duration at NCM and Putnam Park. Specifically I got blistering on the LR tire with -2.0 camber at Putnam. I threw PS4S streets on the rear and finished the day, after 3 more sessions (16 total) the fronts were corded with -3.0 camber.

Overdriving was a big contributing factor, but I also found the 71RS really don't like to be below 30psi cold/35psi hot on a 3900lb sedan with solidly intermediate driver.

They are awesome tires and aren't what I'd call fussy, but they aren't like an ECF or NT01 where one just laps the things...they definitely require more overall management.