Track tire decisions

[Dreamer99]

I'm looking at 255/35/19 & 275/35/19 tires for my ZCP wheels. I run in an intermediate group doing 5 or 6 track days a year. Car alignment has -2.3 up front and -1.9 in the rear. It's a daily driver so these numbers seem to be a nice compromise. I was all set to get the RE71R's but the guys at Tirerack noted that the Cup2's would be a better bet. Should I also consider the AD08R? I would appreciate your input on what you would do.

Thanks in advance.

[SYT_Shadow]

Hello

You should just get the RE71s. 90% of the teams running American Endurance Racing use them. No point in double-guessing such proven performers

The PSC2 has insane grip for a few laps but then dies down a bit and is really expensive in the US.

The AD08R is slower. Biggest advantage is they don't require lots of camber (i.e. camber plates) to work

[Dreamer99]

Thanks for the info SYT_Shadow. What's your take on getting them heat cycled? Is it worth it or just a couple hundred miles of driving before my first track day is enough?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Dreamer99

Thanks for the info SYT_Shadow. What's your take on getting them heat cycled? Is it worth it or just a couple hundred miles of driving before my first track day is enough?

Just drive on them for a bit, I see no reason to pay for heat cycling.

I've had Cup 2s and AD08Rs. The Cup 2 is insanely sticky but does need to come up to temp, and only holds peak grip for a short period, as Shadow said. I think they're overpriced and overhyped. The AD08R trades some peak grip for endurance, which I think makes the car easier to drive fast (predictability). The wear was also excellent. I really liked them -- if they were available in the right sizes for my Corvette, I probably would've bought them again.

If these will be a street tire as well, the AD08R does ride firmer than most. The more squared-off sidewall also means the fitment will be tighter but you're getting a bit more rubber on the road for a given size. It's all about compromises.

Haven't tried the RE-71s but I do see them quite often at the track. There's some anecdotal evidence out there that the insanely cheap Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is very close in performance to the RE-71 (Firestone is owned by Bridgestone) and worth considering if you want to keep consumable costs down. Then again, if you're only doing 6 track days a year, the RE-71 or AD08R will easily last you the entire season.


Also, camber doesn't really eat tires. Toe does. What kind of toe do you have dialed in?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Dreamer99

Thanks for the info SYT_Shadow. What's your take on getting them heat cycled? Is it worth it or just a couple hundred miles of driving before my first track day is enough?

I would definitely not heat cycle them.

I've heat cycled BFG R1 and NT01 Nittos. I've gone through many sets of RE71s (I drive to the track with them and then use them to warm up) and never heat cycled or run into issues from the lack thereof.

I actually have the exact same tires you're thinking of getting on my ZCP wheels as the 6th set of track wheels.

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I would definitely not heat cycle them.

I've heat cycled BFG R1 and NT01 Nittos. I've gone through many sets of RE71s (I drive to the track with them and then use them to warm up) and never heat cycled or run into issues from the lack thereof.

I actually have the exact same tires you're thinking of getting on my ZCP wheels as the 6th set of track wheels.

Whoa - 6 sets of track wheels? Impressive sir, very impressive

[dparm]

[s14_kev]

I am running Hankook R-S4s currently after running R-S3s for many years. I think I may make the switch to the RE71R next time around as I have heard they grip better than the Hankooks, although they do wear a lot faster. Let us know what you decide!

[kyippee]

I've driven RS4, RE71R, and NT01. NT01 are my recommendation.

RS4: heat cycled out early for me. tread lasted forever though. slowest tire for me
RE71R: wore way too fast. great communication.
NT01: wear rate is slower than RE71R, turns fast laps, can beat on them, don't really fade during 20-30 minute sessions, was good down to cords.

[Dreamer99]

Originally Posted by dparm

Just drive on them for a bit, I see no reason to pay for heat cycling.

I've had Cup 2s and AD08Rs. The Cup 2 is insanely sticky but does need to come up to temp, and only holds peak grip for a short period, as Shadow said. I think they're overpriced and overhyped. The AD08R trades some peak grip for endurance, which I think makes the car easier to drive fast (predictability). The wear was also excellent. I really liked them -- if they were available in the right sizes for my Corvette, I probably would've bought them again.

If these will be a street tire as well, the AD08R does ride firmer than most. The more squared-off sidewall also means the fitment will be tighter but you're getting a bit more rubber on the road for a given size. It's all about compromises.

Haven't tried the RE-71s but I do see them quite often at the track. There's some anecdotal evidence out there that the insanely cheap Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is very close in performance to the RE-71 (Firestone is owned by Bridgestone) and worth considering if you want to keep consumable costs down. Then again, if you're only doing 6 track days a year, the RE-71 or AD08R will easily last you the entire season.


Also, camber doesn't really eat tires. Toe does. What kind of toe do you have dialed in?

I have zero toe in the front and a little toe in for the rear. If I adjusted my front camber up to 2.75' would it make much of a difference on the track from 2.25?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

I've driven RS4, RE71R, and NT01. NT01 are my recommendation.

RS4: heat cycled out early for me. tread lasted forever though. slowest tire for me
RE71R: wore way too fast. great communication.
NT01: wear rate is slower than RE71R, turns fast laps, can beat on them, don't really fade during 20-30 minute sessions, was good down to cords.

I'd add to NT01 comments:
-Makes infernal noise on the highway. You may decide life is not worth living prior to reaching the track
-Has splicing issues to this day which may ruin your track weekend at any time
-Cannot really be used to drive on the street as they are terrible in rain
-Driven fast, last just as long as RE71R

I used three sets and never again after I blew a track weekend because a new NT01 decided it wanted to splice in 2017


Other tires:
R888R: absolute shit. I have a set of these and hate them
RivalS: haven't tried them
Yoko A052: haven't tried them
Direzza ZIII: haven't tried them

Again though, almost every single team running AER (8h race per day) uses RE71s. No need to do much thinking past that point IMO

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Dreamer99

I have zero toe in the front and a little toe in for the rear. If I adjusted my front camber up to 2.75' would it make much of a difference on the track from 2.25?

your tires will be happier using 2.75.

I adjust my front camber at the track and it moves toe just where I want it. after the weekend I adjust back

[TrAcK TRaP]

Originally Posted by dparm

Just drive on them for a bit, I see no reason to pay for heat cycling.

I've had Cup 2s and AD08Rs. The Cup 2 is insanely sticky but does need to come up to temp, and only holds peak grip for a short period, as Shadow said. I think they're overpriced and overhyped. The AD08R trades some peak grip for endurance, which I think makes the car easier to drive fast (predictability). The wear was also excellent. I really liked them -- if they were available in the right sizes for my Corvette, I probably would've bought them again.

If these will be a street tire as well, the AD08R does ride firmer than most. The more squared-off sidewall also means the fitment will be tighter but you're getting a bit more rubber on the road for a given size. It's all about compromises.

Haven't tried the RE-71s but I do see them quite often at the track. There's some anecdotal evidence out there that the insanely cheap Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is very close in performance to the RE-71 (Firestone is owned by Bridgestone) and worth considering if you want to keep consumable costs down. Then again, if you're only doing 6 track days a year, the RE-71 or AD08R will easily last you the entire season.


Also, camber doesn't really eat tires. Toe does. What kind of toe do you have dialed in?

Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is very close in performance to the RE-71?

[_paolo]

Originally Posted by Dreamer99

I'm looking at 255/35/19 & 275/35/19 tires for my ZCP wheels. I run in an intermediate group doing 5 or 6 track days a year. Car alignment has -2.3 up front and -1.9 in the rear. It's a daily driver so these numbers seem to be a nice compromise. I was all set to get the RE71R's but the guys at Tirerack noted that the Cup2's would be a better bet. Should I also consider the AD08R? I would appreciate your input on what you would do.

Thanks in advance.

I would recommend getting a separate set of track wheels. Have a nice and comfy daily set and a nice and grippy possibly loud track set. Slap some re71r's or nt01's on the track wheels and you're good to go.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by _paolo

I would recommend getting a separate set of track wheels. Have a nice and comfy daily set and a nice and grippy possibly loud track set. Slap some re71r's or nt01's on the track wheels and you're good to go.

yes, but if he gets RE71s he doesn't need to buy a set of wheels or do swaps.

The RE71 is fine on the street, ok in rain, not loud and excellent for the track

I swapped my square Apex 10" NT01 tire setup that was greasy at MidOhio for the ZCP wheels with 255/275 RE71 and immediately dropped to under 1:40, around a second.

Square tires as ideal and all my sets except the ZCPs are like this but what OP proposes works and is pretty cost effective

[Dreamer99]

I have another set of wheels that have all season tires for daily use. This set is for the track only but needs to be street legal for the 100km trip to and from. There are just not enough options in the 19" diameter.

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by TrAcK TRaP

Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is very close in performance to the RE-71?

I'm running the Firestone's and like them. Have done 2 track days and mostly street miles, even with a very wet winter here in SoCal and no issues and good longevity.

[TrAcK TRaP]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

I'm running the Firestone's and like them. Have done 2 track days and mostly street miles, even with a very wet winter here in SoCal and no issues and good longevity.

No doubt on longevity and I know they are re-branded Bridgestone RE003 tires but they can't be close to RE-71 or MPS4 when it comes to pushing limits. They are good budgets tires however..

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by TrAcK TRaP

No doubt on longevity and I know they are re-branded Bridgestone RE003 tires but they can't be close to RE-71 or MPS4 when it comes to pushing limits. They are good budgets tires however..

Re71, no. MPS4? Maybe. many people on here and at the track steered me away from MPS4 as a track day tire.

Anyway it sounds like the OP is going to go RE71. I just want to provide feedback about the Firestone's because they were suggested to OP as an option.

[jid2]

I'm sure we've seen other at the track - maybe? Just give in and load 4 tires in the car for the drive down. And then run some proper Pirelli DH race take offs on some 18x10s!

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by jid2

I'm sure we've seen other at the track - maybe? Just give in and load 4 tires in the car for the drive down. And then run some proper Pirelli DH race take offs on some 18x10s!

You should run the takeoffs inside out since Yu get more outside meat when you're on them.

I want re71r but for my friends and our tracks I guess, don't last too long.

[kayha12]

Huge fan of re71-r, ran them for 4-5 weekends last summer, granted 1 weekend was wet so wasn't really running it hard. Plenty of tread left as I'm pretty noobish still. I think the guys that are smoking through them in a few track days are over driving them and could probably benefit from an r-comp or semi slick instead.

re71-r begin to fall off after 2-3 hot laps but seem to stay pretty consistent afterwards. I'm going to stay with these tires are warm up tires and getting to/from the track. I'll be on RR's for next season