So I learned first hand why mixing different types of tires is bad

[redpriest]

Unstable handling characteristics at the limit? Check.

Was in LA for a track day at Willow Springs, and had my driver side rear tire blow out while I was on the way to the track, and the only tire shop within 30 miles that was open on a Sunday only had 3 Michelin Pilot Sport 2s - so I couldn't do a full out set of tires. I figured I would run with two in the back and use my Potenza RE71Rs in the front and take the track at maybe 40-50%.

Mistake.

Going through turn 4 and 5 at 50 mph was apparently too much for the tires. The front tire would grip hard, and rotate the car - and keep rotating. It was completely unpredictable when the rear tires would lose grip and break lose - it was like the car was trying to kill me through the turns - and it went straight through Euro MDM with 0 intervention - was able to countersteer before the car spun out. I also learned first hand just exactly what the phrase "inspiring confidence" is - this setup inspired exactly none of it.

I managed to salvage the track day by overinflating my front tires to about 45 PSI, that made it a lot more predictable and I could feel when I was starting to lose grip, but yes, never again. I'm bringing spares with me next time.

[chris @ eas]

Glad to hear you were still able to salvage the track day!

[Richbot]

The re71r is the latest and greatest hot steer tire, closest thing to an r-compound available in the 200+ tread wear category and PS2's were released in the mid2000's and are a generation older and have a ton less grip even than PSS? what You should have just switched your track day to a drift event

[ben@tirerack]

Experience: it's what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.

Glad you made it through OK and that the event wasn't a total loss.

[Z K]

The two tires are way different in compound and performance. No wonder it is acting like it does.

I wouldn't say it is a deal breaker. Learn to modulate the throttle better and you can control the amount of oversteer you get from the rear.

My friend regularly runs R888s in front with RE01Rs in the rear. Front has way more grip than the rear. He likes this set up so he can get get more oversteer on corner exits.

[R_lara]

Originally Posted by Z K

The two tires are way different in compound and performance. No wonder it is acting like it does.

I wouldn't say it is a deal breaker. Learn to modulate the throttle better and you can control the amount of oversteer you get from the rear.

My friend regularly runs R888s in front with RE01Rs in the rear. Front has way more grip than the rear. He likes this set up so he can get get more oversteer on corner exits.

Your Friend is Crazy R888 when warm are like rails but maybe he wants to drift.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by R_lara

Your Friend is Crazy R888 when warm are like rails but maybe he wants to drift.

Yes, he does... and he bought a bunch of RE01R back when they were on clearance a long time ago so he wants to burn them up. The track we went to has a skidpad so you can slide around in between track sessions. He was lazy and just drove the same set up on track as on the skidpad.