Since I was very unhappy with my Dunlop SP Sport 9000 last year, I`m looking for new rubbers for next season...

The problem with that road legal Dunlops and Bridgestones etc. is, that the sidewall of the tyres is too soft... The tyre-makers like it more comfortable, so it seems..

I`ve thought of semi-slicks, those like the Yokohama`s or the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup, but they are not really streetabel, when it starts to rain...

When I go to the racetrack, I need road legal tyres in most cases, so are the rules.

I wonder, if there`s something between a road legal tyre which can handle extreme heat without slipping and wet conditions, and which has got a stabil sidewall, so the car stays neutral...

Or can we have only one or the other... ?

What`s about Yokohama AVS Sport, Avon ZZ3 for example..?

 

What about the Bridgstone Potenza S03's?

 

tires

 

Good point... so I thought..
Have you checked the latest s03`s ??? Call me paranoid but I swear they became more soft. I guess it`s that, what the people want so they go for it.

 

http://www.avon-tyres.com/

 

lol. I think its a difference between US and overseas.

 

The sidewall of the S-03 is not quite soft.
The guy that mounted my S-03s on the stock rims had problems mounting it. The sidewall was very stiff!!!

Tyre = UK english
Tire = US english

 

How about Falken Azenis?

 

They are not available here in Europe... Maybe not road legal....

 

Dunlops are too soft.

Bridgestones it all depends on which tire. The RE730 is great and the S03 is supposed to be that much beter. RE730 has a really stiff sidewall.

The Azenis has a really stiff sidewall too.

I have the SP9000 now and I don't like them either. They only see the street and the Azenis go to the track.

 

I don't think the S-03's will do very well for prolonged periods of time on a track.

Mine were completely blistered over (badly, very badly) after a full day this October at Gingerman. The temperature was low 40's F all day, and at the end of the day I had little to no traction, as the tires were overheated.

I would be very worried about them in warmer temperatures (i.e., 60F and up, especially on those 80F-90-higher summer days) jugding by their condition after a beating in 40F weather.

They do have very stiff sidewalls, but I don't know how many track sessions they could take.

 

Okay, so S03 should be okay, they can`t stand very much heat though...

What`s about other options ?
What can you say about Yokohama ? More straight speed or more handling meant ?

The british Avon-Racing is also very experienced in racing needs. A little bit more motorcycle-thinking but they also produce sklicks and lots of racing-rubbers..
The ZZ3 is called to be a superiour tire (I`ve read some reviews) but I don`t much about that kind. Any experiences ?

Or how do you like these ?

http://www.falken-europe.de/enen/con...oom_enen.shtml







[Modified by ITR1858, 7:10 PM 1/9/2003]

 

sp8000

yoko avsi

yoko ao32r's

perelli p700

and if you really want to kumho victor racers are street legal!!

 

Sven, I know you run 215/40/16 on road and track..........why don't you switch to a 2nd tire set for racing only. You should buy 15 inchers and drive with Yoko A038R 195/50 or 195/55 on the track. You have DOT approved tires which are legal in your class, whatever race event you are in A real racer does not drive with the street tire set on the track IMO.

Also you can damage a street tire on the track when the rubber gets too hot.

 

AVS Sports are an awesome tire. Super durable, great dry traction, predictable, and good in the wet.

A hearty two thumbs up!

Warren

 

If you're looking for a roadrace tire, I would suggest you look into the R compound line of tires, such as Yokohama AO32 or Kumho Ecsta V700. They're much stickier than Ultra High or Max Performance street tires, they're DOT/street legal, and you can drive just fine in the rain, just don't drive through standing water faster than 60 mph or so. Perfectly streetable, as long as it doesn't snow. The sidewalls on these tires are stiff as a board and the traction is far better than any of the tires that were mentioned in previous posts. Anyone who has driven these tires will back me up on this. Find them at tirerack.com

 

I think to switch to A038 for street since I will only drive 3-5k miles next year with my R, will use it as second car and weekend driver!

But if your car is a daily driver and you drive 10k+ in one season you can not afford these tires IMO...I drove 3k miles on my 195/50/15 A038 in it had ZERO thread


[Modified by austrian type-R, 9:43 PM 1/9/2003]

 

True, true.
I could pull some semi slicks on my stock rims...
But that means:

1) changing wheels again and again
2) not using my premium wheels (cp035) for the track (what I want)
3) It`s hard to find the centre when you put on the cp035

I`m not a prof-racer... I just go to the track saturday evening or sunday morning, pay my xx Euros and have fun on track...
One lap on the north loop are 25km and 9min of driving under extreme conditions. I want a tire for that 9min. After that I can allow them to cool down for the next lap. A good street tire should be good for this needs.. And that`s what I`m looking for.

Sometimes I`m at the Ring on my own.. Nobody there to look for my 2nd wheel set while I`m racing. No. What IO need is a good street tire with racing ability.

And IF I someday will run a wheel to wheel race, be sure I will be there with more than one set of rims and tires

 

you can put the rims in the trunck hehehe

Racing on the stock is even nice, only 5.9kg per rim, that is not bad. Did you know a Yokohama A038 is about 1.5kg heavier than a standard street tire? A full slick is ligther than the A038 R......Slicks are more equal to street tires when it comes to weigth. Weird, but I have first hand info.....bathroom scale ownz

When it is not that far to drive from your home to the track, you can mount the A038R in your garage, since the A038R is street legal.....but be careful on the thread, it is getting less and lesser quick! The tire has only 4-5mm thread when it is new.

Hence, when you ONLY want to race with an extra set of rim/tire.......go all out............go slicks........it will perform out any R compound tire.

 

A038 / A048

austrian type-R: what compound are you using?

 

I use Dunlop Slicks

Dard in front
Meadium in rear