Tire good for auto-x with 'reasonable' life to them...

[Hercules]

Is there such a beast? I'm not yet competitive in autocrossing my car enough right now, that I would say I need to get the ULTIMATE TIRE (ala Hoosier) but something with reasonable wear (i have about 18k on these tires and they are pretty much done), and good wet/dry traction. Summer tire of course, I won't be driving in the winter.

Thanks!

[bren]

Toyo RA1 or try the Dunlop Super Sport Race that are on sale CHEAP at Tire Rack.

[rumratt]

Toyo RA1
"- UTQG Treadwear 40" :eek:

http://www.toyo.com/tires/tire_lines/high_perf/ra1.html

[Hercules]

"- UTQG Treadwear 40" :eek:

http://www.toyo.com/tires/tire_lines/high_perf/ra1.html
What does that mean? :(

[rumratt]

What does that mean? :(

http://www.discounttire.com/dtc/brochure/info/helpDeskTreadwear.jsp


I'm relatively new to autox as well, and I wouldn't recommend going nuts with fancy tires until you get more seat time. It's just a waste of tires because while you're going into corners too fast and understeering, you're just ripping the fronts to shreds for no reason.

I need new tires for next spring and I'm definitely not getting R-compounds because it would be a waste. I might be silly though and go for either a set of Falken Azenis or the BF Goodrich T/A KD's. :eeps:

The Falcon's are much cheaper, but would require me to put 225's on the rear 8.5" wheels. :eek:

[philippek]

What does that mean? :(

It means that those tires will go bald if you stare at them too long.

Most "touring" tires have treadwear ratings of 200-300.

Expect a 100-200 rating for "Performance" tires.

40 = 10k miles. Maybe. If you're gentle.

[rumratt]

It means that those tires will go bald if you stare at them too long.


:lmao:

[Hercules]

So what other suggestions do you have? :dunno:

[bren]

"- UTQG Treadwear 40" :eek:

http://www.toyo.com/tires/tire_lines/high_perf/ra1.html
Yes, but the Dunlops are an 80 (I think) and did I mention they are CHEAP :p

If all you are using them for is autox then either the RA1 or Dunlop should last through an entire season.

Actually after reading the question again I guess what he is looking for a street tire that will also be used for autox. People seem to like the Kuhmo MX for a low cost performance street tire. I didn't like the Azenis for autox...they get really greasy when they get hot. The KD's are supposed to be great but they aren't designed for wet use...I'm sure they are fine so long as the tread is new, but what happens as they wear down?

[philippek]

I'm pretty much on board with rumratt. There's no reason to shell out big bucks on rubber when you'll just be scuffing them to nothing as you figure out what you're doing.

If you could swing it, I'd say get a dedicated set of wheels/tires just for track days.

[Hercules]

I'm pretty much on board with rumratt. There's no reason to shell out big bucks on rubber when you'll just be scuffing them to nothing as you figure out what you're doing.

If you could swing it, I'd say get a dedicated set of wheels/tires just for track days.
Maybe further down the road -- right now I need to replace my tires for the day-to-day usage... still doing homework on that :)

[Hercules]

Still looking for that tire.. something with some balance -- the stock tires I have on my car aren't too bad, and yes, I need them for day-to-day usage. I was thinking of the Pilot Sports but I am not sure... :dunno:

[bren]

I was thinking of the Pilot Sports but I am not sure... :dunno:
Why not just get the new Pilot Sport II ? Everyone who has tried them seems to universally praise them...

[LarryN]

Still looking for that tire.. something with some balance -- the stock tires I have on my car aren't too bad, and yes, I need them for day-to-day usage. I was thinking of the Pilot Sports but I am not sure... :dunno:

If you're planning on keeping them on the car, then I'd recommend the Azenis as well. You won't be able to drive at all in the winter, but they are not a bad street tire (even in the rain), and a very sticky on the autox course. Plus, they are CHEAP. I'll prob only get 8k out of them, doing a complete autox season though, like 12 events total x 7-8 runs an event.

Don't get R comps if you are not fairly competitive at doing autoxes (and if you dont want to have a dedicated set of tires/wheels). You'll learn a lot more on sticky street tires.

[TD]

Are these for the RX-8 or the, er, slushie Probe?

[Hercules]

Are these for the RX-8 or the, er, slushie Probe?
For the RX-8... the Probe has brand new all-seasons on it. Granted they aren't a great tire, but I'm not dishing out money if I don't have to.

I think I will go w/ the Azenis, they seem to be the best bet for me, and being cheap is a huge plus. I'm going to wait a bit, need to save a bit of cash before I buy tires. These will last me maybe 1 more auto-x :)

[Elwood]

http://www.discounttire.com/dtc/brochure/info/helpDeskTreadwear.jsp


I'm relatively new to autox as well, and I wouldn't recommend going nuts with fancy tires until you get more seat time. It's just a waste of tires because while you're going into corners too fast and understeering, you're just ripping the fronts to shreds for no reason.

I need new tires for next spring and I'm definitely not getting R-compounds because it would be a waste...
:stupid: newbie=tire killer

Right now, my autox rubber is my street rubber. I'm still noticing major time advaces through sheer driving style, so my next set will most likely be the similar (Pilot Sports to PS2's). I'm leaving advanced tires for the future....and seperate rims.

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

You'd better hope the 18" Azenis Sports get released before April.

[JST]

For the RX-8... the Probe has brand new all-seasons on it. Granted they aren't a great tire, but I'm not dishing out money if I don't have to.

I think I will go w/ the Azenis, they seem to be the best bet for me, and being cheap is a huge plus. I'm going to wait a bit, need to save a bit of cash before I buy tires. These will last me maybe 1 more auto-x :)


Try the Toyo T1-S. I've been very happy with them on the street, and they grip reasonably well during events. You won't have the turn in sharpness of the Azenis (assuming that an 18" Azenis is available), but you'll probably get longer tread life. The nice thing about the T1-S is that they are (relatively) quite cheap.

There is a replacement, IIRC, called the T1-R. I don't have any experience with that.

[bren]

I can't decide which comment made me laugh harder... :rofl:

Are these for the RX-8 or the, er, slushie Probe?

You'd better hope the 18" Azenis Sports get released before April.

[Hercules]

Question is, where can I buy the Azenis online? Tirerack doesn't seem to offer them. I did a web search and found them in an 18" flavor though.

Additionally, any benefit to going a bit wider? I run 225/45/18 on my car, and 235/45/18 will fit and costs the same (so it seems). Any benefit to that?

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

if it isn't the azenis sport, it's a piece of crap. and there are no 18" azenis sports yet.

[Hercules]

if it isn't the azenis sport, it's a piece of crap. and there are no 18" azenis sports yet.
Thanks, just noticed that :)

[racerdave]

Oh, and look at the results of some of the street-tire classes at Nationals... Azenis rule those classes.

http://ww2.scca.com/Solo.php

[Elwood]

Oh, and look at the results of some of the street-tire classes at Nationals... Azenis rule those classes.

http://ww2.scca.com/Solo.php
I see mostly Kumho's and Ho Ho's :dunno:

[bren]

I see mostly Kumho's and Ho Ho's :dunno:

You looked at the Rcomp classes. Try these: (I'd bet that every one of these guys was spraying the tires to cool them down.)

http://ww2.scca.com/soloresults.php?ID=43

http://ww2.scca.com/soloresults.php?ID=68

[·clyde·]

I see mostly Kumho's and Ho Ho's :dunno:


Not in the street tire classes you don't (STX, STS, STS2, STU).

Like Nick said, the Azenis Sport aren't made in any 18" sizes. It's a great tire and I highly reccomend it to Rumratt. I don't understand his aversion to a 225 on an 8.5" wide wheel (ask me what tire size was on the 8.5" rear wheels of the Z4 I drove in Topeka this week), but I also don't see what's stopping him from running the 245 Azenis front and rear either. :dunno: Bren's heat issue with the Azenis...it's true. They do heat up and get greasy, but it's not a big problem and it's one that is easily cured with some spritzing with a water sprayer between runs. I really liked them as street tires on my wagon, but when it was really wet outside or a little wet and cold, you really had to be on your toes. The Azenis are great tires, IMO, for what they are meant to do. They grip like stink for a street tire, they last a reasonably long time even with moderate autocross usage and they're cheap.

Herc, for your use, the Toyo RA-1 is what I would be looking at most closely so long as there is no "penalty" for using R compound tires in the autox events that you are running. It's far from the best of the R compounds in terms of grip, but it lasts a long time (relatively speaking), is more forgiving and it works well in the wet. A lot of people use them as street tires on their daily driver autocross cars.

If you want another set of OEM RE040s that have nearly all of their original tread (I can get tread depth measurements this evening) at a very reasonable price, I just might know of a set. :D I really think you would be better off with something else, but if you might want them, let me know.

[·clyde·]

You looked at the Rcomp classes. Try these: (I'd bet that every one of these guys was spraying the tires to cool them down.)

http://ww2.scca.com/soloresults.php?ID=43

Not on Wednesday, they weren't. :eek:

[Hercules]

Not in the street tire classes you don't (STX, STS, STS2, STU).

Like Nick said, the Azenis Sport aren't made in any 18" sizes. It's a great tire and I highly reccomend it to Rumratt. I don't understand his aversion to a 225 on an 8.5" wide wheel (ask me what tire size was on the 8.5" rear wheels of the Z4 I drove in Topeka this week), but I also don't see what's stopping him from running the 245 Azenis front and rear either. :dunno: Bren's heat issue with the Azenis...it's true. They do heat up and get greasy, but it's not a big problem and it's one that is easily cured with some spritzing with a water sprayer between runs. I really liked them as street tires on my wagon, but when it was really wet outside or a little wet and cold, you really had to be on your toes. The Azenis are great tires, IMO, for what they are meant to do. They grip like stink for a street tire, they last a reasonably long time even with moderate autocross usage and they're cheap.

Herc, for your use, the Toyo RA-1 is what I would be looking at most closely so long as there is no "penalty" for using R compound tires in the autox events that you are running. It's far from the best of the R compounds in terms of grip, but it lasts a long time (relatively speaking), is more forgiving and it works well in the wet. A lot of people use them as street tires on their daily driver autocross cars.

If you want another set of OEM RE040s that have nearly all of their original tread (I can get tread depth measurements this evening) at a very reasonable price, I just might know of a set. :D I really think you would be better off with something else, but if you might want them, let me know.
How would you rate the OEM tires in relation to the Toyos in terms of wear, grip, and wet traction? I have always had some jitters with these tires in the wet, not sure if it's me or not though...

Thanks clyde, you're always a help :) Also wrt to size.. any benefit in going with a wider tire (235) over the stock? You own the car, so it would help for your input :)

[Hercules]

Toyo RA1 or try the Dunlop Super Sport Race that are on sale CHEAP at Tire Rack.
I can't find either listed on the site. I see Dunlop as a brand... Toyo isn't even listed as a brand.

[bren]

I can't find either listed on the site. I see Dunlop as a brand... Toyo isn't even listed as a brand.
TR doesn't carry Toyo.

The Dunlops are here (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=SP+Super+Sport+Race)

[Hercules]

TR doesn't carry Toyo.

The Dunlops are here (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=SP+Super+Sport+Race)
Where can I find the Toyos? Are they a similar price? And in comparison to the Dunlops? That price looks mighty good :)

[·clyde·]

How would you rate the OEM tires in relation to the Toyos in terms of wear, grip, and wet traction? I have always had some jitters with these tires in the wet, not sure if it's me or not though...

The Toyos will grip a hell of a lot better in the dry and probably a little better in the wet. The price you pay for that is that they will wear faster, be a little more noisy and ride a little stiffer. The best guess I can make is that I would expect ~60% of the miles as the RE040s with the same type of driving on each. If your car does become a garage queen/weekend toy, they will probably age faster than they will wear, anyway. When it gets cold out, you may not want the Toyos on your car, but they won't be much (any?) worse than the other tires mentioned in this thread).

Thanks clyde, you're always a help :) Also wrt to size.. any benefit in going with a wider tire (235) over the stock? You own the car, so it would help for your input :)

There are differing opinions on what is the best section width for a given wheel width. I will probably be putting RA-1s on my car for the street (and as a poor man's solution for autocrossing in the rain) in the spring. I'll probably go with 245 sizing.

[bren]

Where can I find the Toyos? Are they a similar price? And in comparison to the Dunlops? That price looks mighty good :)
I think 1010tires.com carries them...I'm sure a google search will lead you to more sources.

The RA1 is over twice the cost of the Dunlop which are on sale right now through TR (that is why they are so cheap.) I haven't seen many reports or comparisons. The Dunlop is new but those who have run them seem happy especially considering the price. I have a set but probably won't be using them until next year.