[McRib 1s Back]

Now that I've done a couple track days on the Dunlop DZIIs, I can say they're great tires -- just not on a road course, for extended lapping. I can see why autox folk love them. For the record, they are great for 2-3 laps at Big Willow, and a bit less at Streets of Willow. They get greasy and the prudent driver simply pits to let them cool. I'm tenacious and often ran them well after I should have quit, and that's not nearly as much fun.

So, I'm actively shopping for new tires. This time around, I want a no-compromise setup. My car isn't a daily driver and I can see driving the relatively short distance on race rubber, or buying another set and swapping them at the track. If I do that, the DZIIs would be my street tires. DOT race rubber is what I'm after. Remember, it never rains in SOCAL.

The Hankook RS3 tires are very popular at our local tracks, and near the top of my list. I'm also looking into the new Yokohama Advan track tires. Are the BFG R1s old school, or still king for a dedicated track tire? I know there's a new variant, is the R1 S(print) the right answer? I don't mind measuring tire wear in terms of track days. Is it realistic to think our relatively light car can get 10 days out of a set? Assume rotation after every track day.

What do you guys and gals think?

Edit: "BFG" not "BFF" R1s...

 

[D1JL]

I too will soon be getting a new set of track tires (now OK by wife and tax return).
Of the many available, there is also a size issue.
On my '11 Fiesta I did install some different sizes and do to square top nature of most competition tires, to avoid any fitment problems I plan to stay with the OEM size of 205/40/17.

For the street I have used the Dunlop Direzza, Yokohama S Drive, and now the OEM Bridgestone.
I have found these to be excellent street tires, just not great on the track.
In the past I have used the BFG R1s, the Yokohama A008s, and the Toyo RA1s, and found all of these to work very well at Big Willow where heat cycle is an issue.

At the top of my list right now for the track is the Toyo Proxes R888.
This is however subject to change as I am still looking for more input.


Dave

 

[Cligedy]

The rs3 Hankook has a reputation for really holding up to the heat. I think the Bfg Rivals are pretty tolerant too, and the wear is supposed to be great. I'll know more about the bfg as auto-x season progresses.

 

[ohskigod]

I was under the impression the oem tires that came with the car were pretty good summer tires (been on all seasons since I got the car due to winter). Looking forward to getting them back in...but is there a lot of performance left on the table for want of better tires ?

 

[D1JL]

The. OEM tires are great for the streets just not good on a high speed track.



Dave

 

[McRib 1s Back]

I was under the impression the oem tires that came with the car were pretty good summer tires (been on all seasons since I got the car due to winter). Looking forward to getting them back in...but is there a lot of performance left on the table for want of better tires ?

Good street tires and track tires are very different. Today's UHP tires are much better and bridge the gap, but heat cycling and outright grip are still much higher with R compound DOT track tires (not slicks). Street tires still need some wet traction, good noise characteristics, ride comfort, etc.

There are tires a step up, like my Dunlop Direzza DZ IIs, the Nitto NT01 -- an even bigger step up, but I'm after a dedicated track tire with no regard for street use.

I'm really leaning toward the BFG R1s. You would not run these on the street, we're just talking about track time here.

 

[RodMoe]

Anyone with you folks run a BFG rival at all ? or the Toyo Proxie R1R I know Dave was looking into the R888 too

 

[wash]

I intend to get some Rivals but it may be the summer before I do.

 

[RodMoe]

I'm waiting on my wheels to get here before i pop for tires but i am so limited on size as I want to fit 15x8s on the car and run a 225 cuz nobody makes a good 215 that i have found... last I was into the DZll's and liked them but they not make that size ..

 

[McRib 1s Back]

Anyone with you folks run a BFG rival at all ? or the Toyo Proxie R1R I know Dave was looking into the R888 too

Oh yeah, the Rivals...I've heard that they match up nicely with my DZ IIs. I don't know the newish R1R at all. These guys are very big on the RS3s.

Those R888s have a huge following, and I'm looking at them too. So many choices!

 

[RodMoe]

SOmeone tossed out on facebook on our local club chatter page about a RS4 in the works ?? I have heard nothing ... But I know the RS3 is well likes once it gets warm.. So for lapping it looks good and cost effective..

 

[McRib 1s Back]

SOmeone tossed out on facebook on our local club chatter page about a RS4 in the works ?? I have heard nothing ... But I know the RS3 is well likes once it gets warm.. So for lapping it looks good and cost effective..

I'm not surprised to hear about an RS4 in the works. The Korean companies seem to be innovating faster than most in this space (Kumho and Hankook, specifically). They are also priced more competitively.

Aren't you running 15s for autox? What are the specs for the wheel and tire sizes? Even though I'm certain a brake upgrade is in my future, I might put it off and just change my fluid and go with SS lines in the meantime. The allure of cheaper 15" tires is great!

 

[McRib 1s Back]

The rs3 Hankook has a reputation for really holding up to the heat. I think the Bfg Rivals are pretty tolerant too, and the wear is supposed to be great. I'll know more about the bfg as auto-x season progresses.

At SoW, I rode in a built BRZ (supercharged, big brakes, coilovers, etc.) and it had some well-worn RS-3s on it. The one thing I immediately struck by was how quiet they were! The driver said you need a full warm up lap to get them up to temp. No sooner than he said that, we lost the back end and went a couple tires off the track (though he recovered very nicely). He said that even near the end of their life, they were okay but dropped off a lot.

How a tire behaves through it's lifecycle is interesting to me. I don't expect a tire on its last legs to be the same, but it's something I'm trying to figure out. I added the qualification of "for a FiST" because you can read plenty of stuff about how a Mustang, Camaro, or other bigger and heavy car do with brand X. Since the FRS/BRZ cars weigh a similar amount, I've been reading their boards. We're all looking at the same tires at this point. RS-3s rate highly and do appear to hold up nicely to heat cycles.

 

[wash]

We are going to stress our front tires more than their rears due to the weight distribution and braking.

Not a huge deal on the street but when you want the perfect tire, its not going to be the same on those two cars.

 

[djdennehy]

How do the OEM tires hold up for autocross? Has anyone tried them yet?

 

[McRib 1s Back]

We are going to stress our front tires more than their rears due to the weight distribution and braking.

Not a huge deal on the street but when you want the perfect tire, its not going to be the same on those two cars.

Of course -- I'm just referring to a car of similar weight. I think that a tire that works well on one should be a good starting point in terms of understanding some of the elements of heat cycling, etc. We're pretty much pioneers in the USDM. I don't see much from our mates in the UK -- and when I do, it's brands that are quite foreign here. As a group, they actually run more track days than we do!

I've been doing broad searches in the 16" rim diameter, but I'm going to expand it to 15" choices. Who doesn't like cheaper tires?!

 

[wash]

I think you will find better answers looking at what the Minis and GTIs are running.

 

[McRib 1s Back]

I think you will find better answers looking at what the Minis and GTIs are running.

Good point. There's not much difference there either. Also those aren't a class of car that have lots of people sharing dedicated track tire stories. Also, it's funny how opinions work -- you really need to know someone first-hand on something like this.

I may try the BFG R1 tires next. The Sprint version seems better suited for colder conditions or maybe for setting a couple fast laps. Now I just need to figure out what size and diameter!

 

[D1JL]

you really need to know someone first-hand on something like this.

Well I HAVE first hand experience using Toyo Proxes on a 2004 Mini Cooper S JCW with 220 WHP at Willow on the big track.
I even posted a photo with a Cobra being blue flagged to let me by.

The BFG R1s were on the Mustang (also photo posted).


Dave

 

[McRib 1s Back]

Well I HAVE first hand experience using Toyo Proxes on a 2004 Mini Cooper S JCW with 220 WHP at Willow on the big track.
I even posted a photo with a Cobra being blue flagged to let me by.

The BFG R1s were on the Mustang (also photo posted).


Dave

Yep, those Toyos look great. The new(ish) 888s might be the hot ticket. You're sticking with the stock size still, right?