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[yomny]

Hello guys and gals, i'm taking the leap towards buying a set of tire/wheel package for the track. I wasn't sure if to go ahead with drag radials r comp tires already since im only going to be running HPDE events, no auto cross. I'm not too experienced with tires so i would really appreciate if you could give me your personal experiences. I've heard good things about, Nitto's NT05's, NT01(r comp), hoosiers... I was at a local auto x event to today and saw a lot of poeple running ventus rs3 and direza r1's. What do you think? I'm going to run a square setup 10" wit 275/35r18.

[1MOREMOD]

i would say go with a good high performance tire like ad08s or nt05s for your first set then if you get the track bug and want more switch to a set of r comps at that point.

[yomny]

That makes sense, the drag radials/ r compound are pretty cheap compared to PSS or any other high performance street tires that's what I thought of getting a set. Thanks

[Team Plutonium]

I love my AD08's! Great tire on the track and street. Manageable in the rain as well. So far I'm pretty happy on how they are holding up.

[yomny]

I've only heard great things about the yokos, I may just have to give 'em a try!

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by yomny

I've only heard great things about the yokos, I may just have to give 'em a try!

Can't go wrong with them.

[M3SQRD]

I agree with SehrSchnell and chriszeh - start with the AD08 and after going thru a few sets/seasons then start to consider making the transition to r-comps. The AD08 is a great dual-purpose tire

[yomny]

Originally Posted by dbarnes

I agree with SehrSchnell and chriszeh - start with the AD08 and after going thru a few sets/seasons then start to consider making the transition to r-comps. The AD08 is a great dual-purpose tire

Are they good on wet surfaces, i've read otherwise? Thanks

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by yomny

Are they good on wet surfaces, i've read otherwise? Thanks

Yes and no... it really depends on your comfort level IMO. Many folks here track them even in the wet... and are impressed. I found them just OK in the wet or rain on the street. If you do regular street driving you'll be just fine with those tires (I'd take it a little easier though). But again, some folks track them even when it is wet... but I'm pretty sure they are better track drivers than me.

To sum it up, this is a solid all-around tire... it is very soft compared to the michelins, and when the temperature drops below 50 degrees you'll be driving on hockey pucks. But go ahead and buy them... you won't regret it.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by yomny

Are they good on wet surfaces, i've read otherwise? Thanks

They give up some wet grip to maximize dry grip. However, compared to an r-comp tire, the AD08 will greatly outperform the r-comp (assuming you're using a PSC, NT01, or similar "treaded" r-comp) in the wet.

[1MOREMOD]

ive found the ad08 to be less competent in the wet on the track than the ps2s but i drove the track wet with DSC off and thought it was okay and managable for sure. im willing to lose a little in the wet to gain a lot in the dry.

[OC3]

R-S3's will get you 3 seconds faster around every track you go to over AD08's. Speaking from personal experience, as well as experience of local track buddies - we all went from AD08's to R-S3's at some point and saw the lap time differences.

[M3SQRD]

OC3 is correct - if you want all out dry grip from a street tire then the RS3 is the way to go. However, the trade off is poor wet weather performance (I know persian54 is not a fan of them in the wet!) and, I believe, they get very noisy on the street after going to the track.

OP based on your stated experience level I'd say start with the AD08, then switch to the RS3, and finally step up to r-comps as you gain track experience and are comfortable trading off wet performance for all out dry performance.

[yomny]

Really appreciate all the help guys, i thin kthe ad08 is the tire to go, im really not going to drive it on the streets as it'll be a track day tire only so the wet capabilities aren't that important. I'll just start off with the AD08 and then move to extreme performance summer tires like the above mentioned RS3. Anyone have any experience with Dunlop direzza sport z1, Kuhmo ecsta xs? I'm trying to weigh my choices and be wise about the money spent. Thanks

[Brainofjjj]

AD08 is a great tire and a perfect place to start. I agree with the post above about RS3 noise. My current set has about 6 days on them and they howl like mad. I'm streeting them for a more weeks to get them worn out so I can mount the new set.

[chrisKizi]

Originally Posted by yomny

That makes sense, the drag radials/ r compound are pretty cheap compared to PSS or any other high performance street tires that's what I thought of getting a set. Thanks

yup

[Malek]

I would recommend the Nitto NT-05 over the AD08 tire.

Maximize your skills with the lower level tire before moving up. A good tire can often times mask errors being made.

Malek

[atruelunatic]

Originally Posted by dbarnes

However, the trade off is poor wet weather performance (I know persian54 is not a fan of them in the wet!) and, I believe, they get very noisy on the street after going to the track.

I've always never really understood this... what do people mean when tires are "noisy" on the street? Thanks in advanced!

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by atruelunatic

I've always never really understood this... what do people mean when tires are "noisy" on the street? Thanks in advanced!

See post #15 above. They tend to howl or rumble...

[yomny]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

I would recommend the Nitto NT-05 over the AD08 tire.

Maximize your skills with the lower level tire before moving up. A good tire can often times mask errors being made.

Malek

Quite true, i still have much to learn and i could also use the savings from the NT05's. I was also considering running a 275/35 18x10 square setup and the AD08 doesn't have the 275. I'm a little undecided about the setups as i tend to hear that a square setup on the M would induce more oversteer due to the wider tire up front. Then again the square setup would allow me to swap rear tires forward to try and squeeze every little tread out of them. What's your take on this?

[1MOREMOD]

i run a square set up of ad08s in 265-30 and like being able to move them around to each corner. i do 2-3 track days then rotate and like it. i have quite a few track days on my current set and they have lots of life left.

[yomny]

Originally Posted by chriszeh

i run a square set up of ad08s in 265-30 and like being able to move them around to each corner. i do 2-3 track days then rotate and like it. i have quite a few track days on my current set and they have lots of life left.

I thought of that, i just asked one of the vendors if a 265 would fit a 18x10 wheel adequately. Running a square set of wheels could also allow me to use use square tires or staggered tires like 265 front and 285 rear.