RE11 vs Dunlop Star Spec vs Kuhmo XS
07-29-2009, 06:09 PM
#2
Lots of opinions on these tires. If you are talking about Solo, you might browse this forum:
http://sccaforums.com/forums/32/ShowForum.aspx
Although not much of it is RX-8 specific.
I run Toyo R1-Rs, and have had good results from them, but I do not know if they are truly the top choice for STX. I suspect the Yok AD08s are, but I don't have data for that.
The Toyos are not a good choice for dual-driver/hot climate combos, however.
http://sccaforums.com/forums/32/ShowForum.aspx
Although not much of it is RX-8 specific.
I run Toyo R1-Rs, and have had good results from them, but I do not know if they are truly the top choice for STX. I suspect the Yok AD08s are, but I don't have data for that.
The Toyos are not a good choice for dual-driver/hot climate combos, however.
07-29-2009, 06:19 PM
#3
Power!!
I just recently made this choice. I went with the Dunlops because they were much cheaper.
I've heard the Kumho's are terrible in the rain and cold weather, which we get a bunch of up here.
I've heard the Kumho's are terrible in the rain and cold weather, which we get a bunch of up here.
07-30-2009, 08:15 AM
#6
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StarSpec, Re11, XS, Yok AD08, Toyo R1R are very even. It's basicly a pick'em. Which ever suite your driving style is the one for you. There are current tests @Grassroots Motorsports, Tire Rack. XS is the cheapest but not good in the rain. Re11 may be the most consistent. The StarSpec may have the best "feel"(stiff sidewall). The Hancook RS3 is something of an unknown quantity for now. There's not a bad one in the bunch and none are decisively quicker than the others.
07-30-2009, 08:18 AM
#7
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Its a cool time for tires in ST classes. They are all good. The Star Spec seems to hit the sweet spot for all-around tire, but if you have the money for multiple sets of various brands, that might be the way to go.
There is always contingency money to consider, if you are good enough. I never consider contingency when I make these decisions.
There is always contingency money to consider, if you are good enough. I never consider contingency when I make these decisions.
07-30-2009, 12:06 PM
#8
Not if you have any interest in being competitive.
StarSpec, Re11, XS, Yok AD08, Toyo R1R are very even. It's basicly a pick'em. Which ever suite your driving style is the one for you. There are current tests @Grassroots Motorsports, Tire Rack. XS is the cheapest but not good in the rain. Re11 may be the most consistent. The StarSpec may have the best "feel"(stiff sidewall). The Hancook RS3 is something of an unknown quantity for now. There's not a bad one in the bunch and none are decisively quicker than the others.
StarSpec, Re11, XS, Yok AD08, Toyo R1R are very even. It's basicly a pick'em. Which ever suite your driving style is the one for you. There are current tests @Grassroots Motorsports, Tire Rack. XS is the cheapest but not good in the rain. Re11 may be the most consistent. The StarSpec may have the best "feel"(stiff sidewall). The Hancook RS3 is something of an unknown quantity for now. There's not a bad one in the bunch and none are decisively quicker than the others.
07-30-2009, 12:46 PM
#10
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Personally I don't think anybody has even seriously tested the NT05s at the ST autocross level. At least that's the impression I get from snooping around sccaforums. Nobody knows what they'll do and so nobody touches them. I think part of that has to do with the fact that Nitto really seems to be targeting the NT05 more towards the Time Attack crowd than the autocrossers.
07-30-2009, 12:53 PM
#12
Yes, the T1-R is a nice street tire. I liked mine a lot when I had them. But the other tires mentioned in this thread are a significant step up from a performance perspective.
For the record, the reasons I chose R1-Rs are it's reputation of having excellent grip both in the dry and wet, which is important here in the Pacific NW, as well as their reputation of having better longitudinal grip than some of the other tires. I figured this might help mitigagte some of the advantage the AWD cars have over me in STX.
While I have heard that the R1-Rs don't hold up well to the abuse of STIs, WRXs, and M3s, they are holding up great for me. And I'm not being gentle on them. Trophied at both the national level events I have entered so far, and even got some of that contingency money.
For the record, the reasons I chose R1-Rs are it's reputation of having excellent grip both in the dry and wet, which is important here in the Pacific NW, as well as their reputation of having better longitudinal grip than some of the other tires. I figured this might help mitigagte some of the advantage the AWD cars have over me in STX.
While I have heard that the R1-Rs don't hold up well to the abuse of STIs, WRXs, and M3s, they are holding up great for me. And I'm not being gentle on them. Trophied at both the national level events I have entered so far, and even got some of that contingency money.
07-30-2009, 01:42 PM
#13
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Don't miss the summer extreme tests over at Tire Rack:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=118
They were posted at the end of June this year, but over at Miata.net we asked for and got an early preview of the results and impressions a month early. All 4 tires (AD08s, Z1 Star Specs, Kumhos, RE-11s) were very close in the dry and the top 3 were within 2/100s of a second in the wet, with the Kumhos a little further back.
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=333857
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=332221
Kumhos are the best value for dry autocross, but the Star Specs would be the best value on the street because of their wet performance.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=118
They were posted at the end of June this year, but over at Miata.net we asked for and got an early preview of the results and impressions a month early. All 4 tires (AD08s, Z1 Star Specs, Kumhos, RE-11s) were very close in the dry and the top 3 were within 2/100s of a second in the wet, with the Kumhos a little further back.
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=333857
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=332221
Kumhos are the best value for dry autocross, but the Star Specs would be the best value on the street because of their wet performance.
Last edited by robrecht; 07-30-2009 at 01:45 PM.
08-01-2009, 02:56 PM
#17
Power!!
08-06-2009, 01:20 AM
#19
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For the record, the reasons I chose R1-Rs are it's reputation of having excellent grip both in the dry and wet, which is important here in the Pacific NW, as well as their reputation of having better longitudinal grip than some of the other tires. I figured this might help mitigagte some of the advantage the AWD cars have over me in STX.
While I have heard that the R1-Rs don't hold up well to the abuse of STIs, WRXs, and M3s, they are holding up great for me. And I'm not being gentle on them. Trophied at both the national level events I have entered so far, and even got some of that contingency money.
While I have heard that the R1-Rs don't hold up well to the abuse of STIs, WRXs, and M3s, they are holding up great for me. And I'm not being gentle on them. Trophied at both the national level events I have entered so far, and even got some of that contingency money.
I just picked up a pair of R1-R's in 235/40/17 to mount on my 17x9 RPF1's, they seem very soft to the touch and after reading a bit about them, seems like I will need higher pressures?
08-06-2009, 10:19 AM
#20
I run the 255/40 on 17x9s. For pressures, I've settled on 34/32, which seems low, but they have a lot of grip at these pressures. If you put more air in them, they will stiffen up, but I'm not certain if they are faster or not. I do plan to do more testing over then next two weekends.
With the 235/40s, your tire should be naturally stiffer, so 34/32 may work well for you. Also, they will feel better as you take some tread depth off. I drove mine daily for a few months to help wear them down.
[edit] I will also say that at the lower pressures, I did have to "re-learn" how to drive the car fast in transitions, as compared to my V710s when I was in BS. The sidewalls do flex quite a bit more, and the slip angles are greater. Once you learn to trust the tires, however, as I said above they do grip well.
With the 235/40s, your tire should be naturally stiffer, so 34/32 may work well for you. Also, they will feel better as you take some tread depth off. I drove mine daily for a few months to help wear them down.
[edit] I will also say that at the lower pressures, I did have to "re-learn" how to drive the car fast in transitions, as compared to my V710s when I was in BS. The sidewalls do flex quite a bit more, and the slip angles are greater. Once you learn to trust the tires, however, as I said above they do grip well.
Last edited by GeorgeH; 08-06-2009 at 10:26 AM.
08-06-2009, 08:58 PM
#22
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I run the 255/40 on 17x9s. For pressures, I've settled on 34/32, which seems low, but they have a lot of grip at these pressures. If you put more air in them, they will stiffen up, but I'm not certain if they are faster or not. I do plan to do more testing over then next two weekends.
With the 235/40s, your tire should be naturally stiffer, so 34/32 may work well for you. Also, they will feel better as you take some tread depth off. I drove mine daily for a few months to help wear them down.
[edit] I will also say that at the lower pressures, I did have to "re-learn" how to drive the car fast in transitions, as compared to my V710s when I was in BS. The sidewalls do flex quite a bit more, and the slip angles are greater. Once you learn to trust the tires, however, as I said above they do grip well.
With the 235/40s, your tire should be naturally stiffer, so 34/32 may work well for you. Also, they will feel better as you take some tread depth off. I drove mine daily for a few months to help wear them down.
[edit] I will also say that at the lower pressures, I did have to "re-learn" how to drive the car fast in transitions, as compared to my V710s when I was in BS. The sidewalls do flex quite a bit more, and the slip angles are greater. Once you learn to trust the tires, however, as I said above they do grip well.
I am currently running on stock size Star Spec's with stock wheels, and have just picked up the set of RPF1's, unfortunately they came with staggered tires, 235 CS2's and 255 615's, so it was giving me braking problems when I was just testing them out. I then came across a deal on a pair of 235 R1-R's, so I couldn't pass it up.. I also have a pair of 245 Sumitomo's, but I don't know what combination of tires I want to try first. Ideally I know I should be running the same tires front and rear, but I can't justify dropping 300 plus for a new pair right now.
Last edited by ~Rev Free~; 08-06-2009 at 09:07 PM.
08-06-2009, 10:01 PM
#23
As you know, that's not an ideal situation. The R1-Rs, as a rule, have more grip than the 615s. But, a 235 vs. a 265 I suspect you will have understeer, but you never know until you try. Do report back!
Best bet is to just run these until you save up some money and buy a set of matched 255/40s, whatever tire you settle on. They are all good.
Best bet is to just run these until you save up some money and buy a set of matched 255/40s, whatever tire you settle on. They are all good.
