Tire Talk Megathread

[rhyary]

I have used the V720 on the rear and liked them a lot. Most of the reviews pointed to V720 / V730 weaknes on the front, which I don’t have a personal experience.

YMMV

[amg6975]

No experience with the V720/730 but from my experience the RT660 is a good combo of fast and durable. The R-S4 is a very good tire and lasts forever, the Continental ECF is better than the R-S4 in every way but is way more expensive.

If you're looking for a budget tire that'll last a whole season and be consistent I would definitely recommend the R-S4. The RT660 will be noticeably faster but may not last as long as you'd like.

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by danvitmon

There was a previous message where a guy asked

"Anyone have some suggestions on a tire for 100% HPDE use? Dedicated wheel set so no street use, I'm running a 275/35/18 now which fits nicely so if I can stick with that size it'd be great.

Needs in order of importance:

Long life/hard wearing
Cost effective
Great dry grip
Decent wet grip"

A few people chimed in and said V730, NT01, or RS-4. I am in the same boat in terms of cost effectiveness since I just finished my courses at 22yrs old, and I don't really have 1-2k to drop on tires that will last 3 days but are insanely fast (A052/RE71RS/CRS).

I have heard lots of good things about the V730 from guys with lighter weight cars but haven't heard a whole lot from E9X M3 guys, so what are your guys' thoughts on them? I would run a 265/35/18 or 275/35/18 on a 10.5 square, and the $900 shipped cost for V730s is irresistible. I am a fiend for used tires though since that is as cost effective as it gets, but if worse comes to worse, I would buy a new set of V730s.

Speaking of used tires, if anyone has a used set of 200tw 265/35/18 or 275/35/18 tires in the bay area or is within a 7hr radius, let me know

Long life and great dry grip are typically mutually exclusive, as are great dry grip and cost effective, but it appears from the Grassroots testing the V730 is hard wearing, has decent dry grip (but not best in class as in 'great' dry grip), and at $225 per tire (from the TireRack or cheaper) for size 275/35R18 the Kumho V730 seems to have its competitors beat - at least on price.

Given you stated above; "I just finished my courses at 22yrs old", and sound like a novice, you could consider starting to learn on lower grip street tires before moving up to tires with higher grip. Learning car control on street tires allows the student to experience more progressive slides beyond the limit (think easier to control in the slide and recover from when grip returns) and gain more confidence at the limit first. Moreover, street tires tend to last longer when learning, or attending HPDEs as a novice.

Here's a chart from Grassroots Motorsports magazine compiling their testing of various performance tires across various tire market segments and performance tire criteria.
.

[BoilerUP]

RS4s are never a 'wrong' answer for HPDE, but V730s really are a good tire and work well on CTS V1s.

Buy 3 get 1 free Conti ECF from TrackDayTire using code 'flynVIP'

/end shameless shilling

[IamFODI]

Originally Posted by amg6975

the Continental ECF is better than the R-S4 in every way but is way more expensive.

Every way including longevity??

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

I just completed a track day on the ECF's (F80 at Lime Rock Park 295/30 square). I wanted an arrive and drive tire instead of schleping my track set which gets exhausting. A few thoughts in case it adds to the discussion.

The tires have amazing street manners in terms of NVH which is why I chose them for occasional dual duty use.

These are also stellar in the rain/standing water. Session 1 was tropical downpour and I felt very confident with these tires.

By the third session the track was dry and temps were high 80s, sunny and humid af. I pounded on these during a 30 minute stint without a noticeable drop in grip or showing any signs of heat destruction. Exactly what you want from an Endurance 200. Still too early to tell how long these last.

I normally track on Toyo RRs, R7 and CRS which are a different category so I can't contribute much about pace vs direct competitors. But, overall I wasn't disappointed after taking a step down. Adjusting for track conditions, my gut says the ECFs are maybe half to 1 second slower than the CRS on a 60 second track. Kind of what I expected.

I would give these a whirl, especially with the discount code. Track Day tire always has some promotion available.

The sizing runs thick. See below for reference.

[Matt Fojtik]

Has anyone tan AD09’s? I’m thinking of getting a pair of 18’s and running them as my summer tires

[danvitmon]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

Long life and great dry grip are typically mutually exclusive, as are great dry grip and cost effective, but it appears from the Grassroots testing the V730 is hard wearing, has decent dry grip (but not best in class as in 'great' dry grip), and at $225 per tire (from the TireRack or cheaper) for size 275/35R18 the Kumho V730 seems to have its competitors beat - at least on price.

Given you stated above; "I just finished my courses at 22yrs old", and sound like a novice, you could consider starting to learn on lower grip street tires before moving up to tires with higher grip. Learning car control on street tires allows the student to experience more progressive slides beyond the limit (think easier to control in the slide and recover from when grip returns) and gain more confidence at the limit first. Moreover, street tires tend to last longer when learning, or attending HPDEs as a novice.

Here's a chart from Grassroots Motorsports magazine compiling their testing of various performance tires across various tire market segments and performance tire criteria.
.

Appreciate the feedback. I still have a lot to learn but I've tracked an E36 M3 for 15+ trackdays, a miata for 50+ track days, and my e90 m3 for 4 so far. I will go with the V730s, I read that chart and other videos comparing the V730s to others. Seems like, for the price, its hard to beat. Thanks guys!

[BoilerUP]

I have 32 sessions on a set of ECFs, many of which were 25+ minutes long...the tires still have plenty of tread on them.

Only reason I removed them was to try the 71RS.

Like a RS4, they'll likely heat cycle out before getting remotely close to wearing out.

[DrFerry]

Cross threading this post here, since it's about a tire (and suspension) related traction issue.
.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...2&postcount=15
.

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Originally Posted by BoilerUP

I have 32 sessions on a set of ECFs, many of which were 25+ minutes long...the tires still have plenty of tread on them.

Only reason I removed them was to try the 71RS.

Like a RS4, they'll likely heat cycle out before getting remotely close to wearing out.

I can confirm a similar experience.

Had my set of ecf tires for longer than I would like to admit and they’re still super consistent.

I can run them for the hour long sessions at my members track and they’ll post super consistent times. They’re definitely no a7’s but for getting a trustworthy tire that doesn’t quit, their pretty impressive.

[amg6975]

Originally Posted by sc_tr0jan_m3

I can confirm a similar experience.

Had my set of ecf tires for longer than I would like to admit and they’re still super consistent.

I can run them for the hour long sessions at my members track and they’ll post super consistent times. They’re definitely no a7’s but for getting a trustworthy tire that doesn’t quit, their pretty impressive.

Same sentiment here. They're just like the RS-4 but faster and maybe even more consistent. They're not fast and when new can be a handful to feel the limit but they are a really great seat time tire.

[IamFODI]

Originally Posted by amg6975

Same sentiment here. They're just like the RS-4 but faster and maybe even more consistent. They're not fast and when new can be a handful to feel the limit but they are a really great seat time tire.

Tangential question: Is the R-S4 any better in terms of feeling the limit?

[amg6975]

Originally Posted by IamFODI

Tangential question: Is the R-S4 any better in terms of feeling the limit?

Good question. I thought so but ran them on two very different cars so I don't really have a 1:1 comparison. I don't know if I just got used to them or if they got better when they got a bit older but after the first couple events the Continentals were much better. By the end of their life (way past the end of their life) I could very easily slide the car around all I wanted and they were easy and predictable to drive.

Unless money is an issue I would definitely recommend the ECF over the RS4.

[IamFODI]

Originally Posted by amg6975

Good question. I thought so but ran them on two very different cars so I don't really have a 1:1 comparison. I don't know if I just got used to them or if they got better when they got a bit older but after the first couple events the Continentals were much better. By the end of their life (way past the end of their life) I could very easily slide the car around all I wanted and they were easy and predictable to drive.

Unless money is an issue I would definitely recommend the ECF over the RS4.

Thanks. Sounds good.

I'm a noob (only a few DEs under my belt) so I feel like I need predictability and transparency far more than outright pace. Cost is an issue but, if they last, I'd be happy to spend the money to get other attributes.

Interested to hear if anyone has compared R-S4 with ECF on the same car!

[danvitmon]

Hey guys, I bought a set of 18x10+25 EC7s for my E90 M3, and they came with 60% life Pirelli DH 265/645/18s. My car is around 3800lbs with me in it, basically a full weight street car. I would prefer to not throw the Pirellis away and use them on track, so I had a massive question.

What pressures should I run? The guy I bought them from had them set to 19psi cold. I understand how to setup street tires regarding sidewall roll over, but am completely lost on these Pirellis lol. I am running -3.8f and -2.2r camber.

[BoilerUP]

Originally Posted by danvitmon

Hey guys, I bought a set of 18x10+25 EC7s for my E90 M3, and they came with 60% life Pirelli DH 265/645/18s. My car is around 3800lbs with me in it, basically a full weight street car. I would prefer to not throw the Pirellis away and use them on track, so I had a massive question.

What pressures should I run? The guy I bought them from had them set to 19psi cold. I understand how to setup street tires regarding sidewall roll over, but am completely lost on these Pirellis lol. I am running -3.8f and -2.2r camber.

DH Scrub folks I know on Gen6 Camaros use 24psi cold.

[1FastSicilian]

Any of you go from the RT660 to the RE71RS? How do they feel on track in comparison?

Decided to order a set of RE71RS and hoping that I don't regret it as I do really like the 660s..

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by BoilerUP

DH Scrub folks I know on Gen6 Camaros use 24psi cold.

I've heard 18 PSI cold.

I started at 21-22 PSI cold last time and the shoulders got a bit too worn down.

[DRLane]

Why not start a little higher and bleed them down after a couple warm up laps? Doesn’t sound like you’re going for a track record but instead feeling out a full slick?

[tsk94]

danvitmon
I would start mid-twenties as BoilerUP mentioned. No point in risking a sidewall blowout or debeading running super low cold pressures... I can't see any advantage to running below ~28-30psi hot, unless you only care about max grip and tire life is 0 concern. Which for lapping is not likely the case.

[slcook54]

Originally Posted by 1FastSicilian

Any of you go from the RT660 to the RE71RS? How do they feel on track in comparison?

Decided to order a set of RE71RS and hoping that I don't regret it as I do really like the 660s..

I can’t comment on the difference but they should be faster. I’ve run 3 sets and prefer 295/30 and 285/30 over 275/35. I’m getting 4-5 days out of them. The outside shoulder tends to wear before the rest of the tire. I’m trying CRS next and also have a set of super cup 3R. Depending how much I like those, the 71RS is a very good tire and I’ll default back to it.