I just recently picked up a set of stock 15" ITR rims and I'm planning to throw some Track/competition tires on them any suggestions? I figured I'll ask on here since most of you on here have many experiences.

I'm not looking for DD tires just strictly Track. Getting my R ready for some local tracks. Thanks in advance!

 

205/50/15 RE-11's all day long sir.

 

my bad I forgot to mention the tire size haha... Yes 205/50/15 is what I'm looking for.

I've heard a lot about the RE-11 pretty pricey?? tire rack has them 488.

 

stay out of the "track/competition" rating of tires until you have a couple years on track under your belt. These are R compound tires and a really really bad idea for beginners.

As for non-R compound RE-11s are great from all the reviews I've gotten from those using them so far. I'd take a look at Kumho XS, Dunlop Z1 Star Spec, Yokohama AD08, or the new Azenis 615K as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC83IbX__Gg

 

Thanks for the awesome information Erik

I'll go with the RE-11 for now

 

you're welcome man

ps. you've got a a great instructor for Expo

 

I do? I haven't checked yet. Well that is good news thanks again see you guys soon.

 

It's erics dad, The driver I would like most to get a ride along with; however, know it's in financial best interests to not do it.

 

Don't forget about Toyo R888s, they are a great tire.

 

They are a decent tire but a beginner should never go out on R comps until they have the experince needed to handle it. Switching to R comps too early is just begging for disaster.

 

I agree, but he is looking for "just strictly Track" use. You are just assuming he is a beginner.

 

He is a beginner, so r-comps are not needed. In fact, they're not really needed with most of us since we're not in a competition.

For a beginner, plenty of choices...re-11, kumho xs, ad08, azenis rt-615k (liked these on canuckr's car the other week), etc. My very time on track was on dunlop sp5000s

 

He's assuming he's a beginner because he's asking people what tires to get.
If he was experienced, he wouldn't be asking about tires and developed his own taster for what tires work for him.

 

I am assuming nothing. I know exactly how much track experience the OP has. Nice try though.

 

He's in Novice for Expo this year I make the run groups, so I have extra special information

 

In all good humor, I am assuming you know nothing of these tires because they are a JOKE. Nobody including myself has nothing good to say about R888s'. They are greasier and dont last long.

 

do it.

so many assumptions being made in here, not one of which has to do with the OP's track experience

 

I have a few friends who run them for autox, and like them quite a bit. Good to know, I was considering a set.

 

Your friends are running R888's at the autoX? Why? R888's need a lot of heat built up to be effective and work the way they where intended. R888's are a road course tire. There is no way possible those tires are effective at the the AutoX. My advice to you, dont listen to your friends and show up with some Hoosier A6's. Not only will you show them how dumb they are, your times will be seconds faster as a result. You will look pretty smart and considerably faster compared to them. Assuming that your class allows R comps of course....

 

Eh, when Dave autocrossed his Miata on NT01s, they had a surprising amount of stick. They would've been BETTER if heated up, but even cold they were better than some other street tires.

However, R888s suck big donkey ***** in general, so I mostly withold that statement specifically for them.

 

We also run Cooper blacks for DD tires, and save the ultra sticky Cooper CS4's for drag/road course/autox. Best all around tire in the world.

 

The R888s and the NT01s are the exact same compound from what I've read. I find it hard to believe that the R888 sucks "donkyballs" and the NT01s "had a surprising amount of stick"


I would buy (and run) 205/50-15 NT01 nitto tires. They are CHEAP, work great at the track, etc.

I don't see why you wouldn't want to start out on them. Having run both RE01R's and NT01's on the track, I much prefer the NT01's.

The key to making sure the NT01's don't get greasy is making sure they are properly inflated. I mean, there is only so much you can do, but raising it in hotter weather has helped me a lot.

 

The R888s and NT01s are NOT the same compound, just like the RA1s and R888s are not the same compound. The NT01s had "a surprising amount of stick" for being a mid-range R-comp that should need heat to work well, and didn't have it in that particular situation. Read a little more thoroughly next time

There are several reasons for not starting on R-comps, and how effective they work isn't one of them. Predictability, cost, longevity, and the ability to hide mistakes are all included though.

 

Dunno, lots of people argue that they are, and Toyo/Nitto are the same company. Lots of people would even argue that RA1 and R888 is the same compound, but again, different construction.

It's been argued for years (since 2008) which one has been better... lots of guys are convinced that it is the same compound with different construction/tread pattern. At any point, the compounds are so close you can't call one crap compared to the other.


*shrug* to each his own. I think R-comps magnify mistakes, especially because your ability to brake and turn in is greatly improved.

To me, RA1/R888/NT-01 are just sticky street tires.

I mean, would you say don't rock NT-05 tires? Where do you draw the line? For me, it is at the DOT approved level.

Biggest reason why I love NT-01 over RE01R's (when I used those instead) was the ability for me to get on my brakes. The feel of the tire was still there, just different.

 

The NT05 is a completely different tire from the NT01. Not even in the same class. I'll just leave the NT01/RA1/R888 thing alone. There has been no confirmation/proven data from either side of the argument about the compounds, despite the same ownership. I have talked to trackdayers and racers who have used all of them, and opinions generally point towards R888s being garbage. At the same time, Kevin Helms set a new H1 record at VIR earlier this year on (I think) R888s, so that points to them not being nearly as crappy as I claim

I'm basing my experience largely on riding with noobs on R-comps, who either are nowhere near the limit of the tires (but think they are!) or lose control easily and wildly. The behavior of the tire at the limit is the big difference. Maybe they worked out better for you for whatever reason. We'll just have to agree to disagree.