Tire Talk Megathread

[kolosy]

What are people's thoughts on target TW for intermediate drivers? I've got about 12 track days, and don't love the V601s that the car came with (though the square 18x10 setup is a good starting point). I'd like to move into a 200TW tire for this coming season, but also want to be mindful of not just throwing tire at it to mask driver deficiencies.

is 200 a good place to hang out for a season or two, or should i stay at the 280 level? i've heard different schools of thought there ("practice on what you're gonna spend your time on" vs "don't throw tire at it"), curious on what this group thinks.

[BoilerUP]

If you've done 12 track days and are an intermediate-level driver, I think you'd be just fine with a 200tw tire though asking the question leads me to think you might be more comfortable on a set of Endurance 200s first.

I can highly recommend the Conti ECF. They are quicker than the RS4 or AD09, turn on in one lap, are okay in the wet, communicate nearing limits, have progressive and predictable breakaway, and last forever. I'm on my second set which has 26 sessions on them; I'll have them flipped on rim to even wear and use them another 15-20 sessions.

V730 is another excellent option that would make a great 'step up' tire that tweens the Super and Endurance 200 worlds.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by BoilerUP

If you've done 12 track days and are an intermediate-level driver, I think you'd be just fine with a 200tw tire though asking the question leads me to think you might be more comfortable on a set of Endurance 200s first.

I can highly recommend the Conti ECF. They are quicker than the RS4 or AD09, turn on in one lap, are okay in the wet, communicate nearing limits, have progressive and predictable breakaway, and last forever. I'm on my second set which has 26 sessions on them; I'll have them flipped on rim to even wear and use them another 15-20 sessions.

V730 is another excellent option that would make a great 'step up' tire that tweens the Super and Endurance 200 worlds.

cool. i was actually looking at the v730. it's substantially cheaper than the rest on TR in a 275/35 18 and was among the fastest in their Gingerman test.

[iamtrashman]

On the topic of ECF,

I will be running a set in 275/35 square this year. Any suggestions on what kind of hot pressures should I be targeting at the track?

Thanks in advance.

[BoilerUP]

Originally Posted by iamtrashman

On the topic of ECF,

I will be running a set in 275/35 square this year. Any suggestions on what kind of hot pressures should I be targeting at the track?

Thanks in advance.

On my ATS-V (3800-3900lbs) I target 35 hot square with ECFs.

[danvitmon]

+1 for BoilerUP ECF recommendation. I have a set on an ND2 mx5 and they're great. We get 10+ track days out per set and around 0.5-1sec a lap off new ECF pace once they're starting to wear out, around 6-8 track days in (at least on the ND, unsure on M3 but I'm sure the extra 1400lbs would make them wear a little faster )

Check to see if the buy 3 get 1 free ECF promo code still exists on trackdaytire. I think somebody has the code in this thread posted, check older posts kolosy

[BoilerUP]

My TrackDayTire B3G1 code (FlynVIP) is expired, unfortunately.

[okusa]

Has anyone run the Michelin pilot sport cup n3 yet? I'm having a difficult time finding any actual feedback.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by kolosy

What are people's thoughts on target TW for intermediate drivers? I've got about 12 track days, and don't love the V601s that the car came with (though the square 18x10 setup is a good starting point). I'd like to move into a 200TW tire for this coming season, but also want to be mindful of not just throwing tire at it to mask driver deficiencies.

is 200 a good place to hang out for a season or two, or should i stay at the 280 level? i've heard different schools of thought there ("practice on what you're gonna spend your time on" vs "don't throw tire at it"), curious on what this group thinks.

Depends on why you are going to the track. Fun only? Get a stickier tire by all means. If you want to be fast? Stay on street tires.

After instructing a lot of students and seeing them progress over the last 10 years I've made the observation that students that put on fast tires will be faster in intermediate and early on in advanced. The fast advanced drivers, especially BMWs, stayed on street tires longer and learned to be fast on street tires.

I have a former student in an E36 M3 running right at the front of the advanced group. He's still on Hankook RS4s. He literally gains 2 seconds in most braking zones on other cars.

I remember doing a checkout for a student to move into a high intermediate group. They do the check in the higher run group. He was on RE71s - one of the stickiest tires and everyone passed him.

I also met someone who has a similarly built E46 M3. He moved into advanced and was on scrubs and I was running NT01s. I was 5 seconds a lap faster.

I also ran RS3s until I was an instructor and then NT01s. Now I'm on RRs. The only cars I regularly run with that are faster is a Radical and 997 GT3RS on hoosiers.

Just some data points...

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Depends on why you are going to the track. Fun only? Get a stickier tire by all means. If you want to be fast? Stay on street tires.

After instructing a lot of students and seeing them progress over the last 10 years I've made the observation that students that put on fast tires will be faster in intermediate and early on in advanced. The fast advanced drivers, especially BMWs, stayed on street tires longer and learned to be fast on street tires.

I have a former student in an E36 M3 running right at the front of the advanced group. He's still on Hankook RS4s. He literally gains 2 seconds in most braking zones on other cars.

I remember doing a checkout for a student to move into a high intermediate group. They do the check in the higher run group. He was on RE71s - one of the stickiest tires and everyone passed him.

I also met someone who has a similarly built E46 M3. He moved into advanced and was on scrubs and I was running NT01s. I was 5 seconds a lap faster.

I also ran RS3s until I was an instructor and then NT01s. Now I'm on RRs. The only cars I regularly run with that are faster is a Radical and 997 GT3RS on hoosiers.

Just some data points...

back on this because there's a 20% sale on and i want to grab a set.. i like this approach, was going to get a set of Michelin PS4s (they don't have ECFs or RS4s)... any reason not to? I like the PS4s on the street, but haven't tracked them before.

[amg6975]

Originally Posted by kolosy

back on this because there's a 20% sale on and i want to grab a set.. i like this approach, was going to get a set of Michelin PS4s (they don't have ECFs or RS4s)... any reason not to? I like the PS4s on the street, but haven't tracked them before.

I hear they're great in the rain.

[tsk94]

If you don't care about having the fastest tire, the PS4S will work just fine.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by tsk94

If you don't care about having the fastest tire, the PS4S will work just fine.

huge fan of the extreme contact sport 02 over the ps4s

less dollar per tire, identical feel and grip..

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by omgzirra_exe

huge fan of the extreme contact sport 02 over the ps4s

less dollar per tire, identical feel and grip..

I haven't used the new 02 on track yet. But it sounds like a good step on from the previous gen, which I feel was a bit behind the PS4S.
If he can get the Sport 02's that would be a good choice too. As you mentioned, the Conti's are usually cheaper.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by tsk94

I haven't used the new 02 on track yet. But it sounds like a good step on from the previous gen, which I feel was a bit behind the PS4S.
If he can get the Sport 02's that would be a good choice too. As you mentioned, the Conti's are usually cheaper.

interestingly, right now they're about the same. $1K all day for 275 35R18 square.

too bad they don't have the ECF...

[MineralWhiteF80]

Originally Posted by kolosy

interestingly, right now they're about the same. $1K all day for 275 35R18 square.

too bad they don't have the ECF...

Discount Tire's Ebay sale has sets of four Kumho V730 square 275/35/18 for 720 dollars plus tax. YES PLEASE!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36414103800...mis&media=COPY

[BoilerUP]

Originally Posted by MineralWhiteF80

Discount Tire's Ebay sale has sets of four Kumho V730 square 275/35/18 for 720 dollars plus tax. YES PLEASE!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36414103800...mis&media=COPY

This every day and twice on Sunday!

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by MineralWhiteF80

Discount Tire's Ebay sale has sets of four Kumho V730 square 275/35/18 for 720 dollars plus tax. YES PLEASE!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36414103800...mis&media=COPY

i would buy 2 sets of V730s lol would have enough tires for 2-4 years of daily driving if stored properly

[kolosy]

ha i was eyeing those, but wanted to keep to the "stay on street tires longer" advice. maybe i should just get those and call it good.

[BoilerUP]

V730s *are* "street tires". I think they're characterized as Super 200s but really tween Super and Endurance 200s....I think they are closer to ECF/RS4 longevity than CRS/71RS pace.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by kolosy

ha i was eyeing those, but wanted to keep to the "stay on street tires longer" advice. maybe i should just get those and call it good.

for what it's worth... i did do like 2 track days on my V730s and continued to daily drive it for a good year which was about 10k miles before i replaced them. just rotate them like 3 times every oil change.

[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!