mdbickell

Hey all....

I recently started tracking my '81SC. I'm having a blast and considering buying a 2nd set of fuchs and mounting some tires just for the track.

I'm currently running S-03's and they seem to work very nicely. I've really never gotten my head around tires and how they are typed and categoriezed, but I understand that I can use R-compound street tires in the class I'm running.

Any suggestions on what I could get. This would be a dedicated track tire, but would have to be dot approved / street legal.

I'd love to hear some thoughts.

thanks,
Matt

DanS911

I have been using the Yokohama Ao32r tires for years and have always been pretty happy with them. Nice to be able to drive to the track on them and not feel nervous. The fronts usually get hard (heat cycles) before they show cord.
The "hot" tires now are the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires. Expensive but supposed to last much longer. The only bad rap I have heard is that they take a little longer to get up to temperature. So maybe not a great autocross tire. I have never used them but have a set now waiting for my Yoko's to go!

Dan in Florida

Drats. Just when I thought I'd start passing Dan, he goes for the MPSC!!

Seriously, Matt, I'd stay with the S0-3s if you can for several events. They wear well and are more forgiving that the R rated tires. As a new DE'er, there is no rush to go for R rated; you won't need it and I think you're better off without them on the track until you've had more seat time. In the early stages, you'll learn a lot more about your car and how it handles with the S0-3s. I drove on S0-2s for over a year before I changed to..............the MPSC. You'll be glad you waited.

Mark in Baltimore

I think Dan gives some good advice. When you can outdrive the R compound guys who are in faster or equal cars, then you're ready for R comps. The limits of the street tires are lower and will mask fewer driver errors than stickier tires. It's premature for drivers looking to "get faster" to buy the R's; you should be fast based on your own ability to brake deeper, get on the power sooner, and turn in and apex more efficiently than the other guy.

That said, for DE, the MPSC's are pricey and slippery when cold, but they can stand many heat cycles. Most club racers are on the faster Hoosiers, the new compound being DOT-approved and supposedly longer lasting than the old one. BTW, I actually found the MPSC's to be much more forgiving at the limit than the very well-respected Michelin Pilot MXX-3 street tires I was running, a nice surprise contrary all of the warnings I had heard from other people. YMMV.

kenshi

Toyo RA1s get my vote.

racer

Victoracer V700's... mmm "r" compound!

Alan G.

The Toyos get my vote too. If you have 6" Fuchs in the front, you should not put 225s on those rims. With 7's and 225s on the front you will have to (at least) roll the fenders and run more negative camber than your street titres will be happy with.

Kumhos do not make 205 or 215 in 16" tires. The Toyos are the best compromise for my $$

Alan

Bill Gregory

Matt,

R compound tires are wonderful on the track. And there are a number available. Here's some thought/observations:

Yoko A032R's seem to be liked or disliked - one comment is that they are pretty noisy on the street. On the track, due to the deep grooves they make a good all purpose dry/rain tire, and they can be run in any direction in the dry. Not as popular as Kumho's or Michelin's.

Kumho Victoracers are probably the price performer of the R compound tires, which came into extensive use when BFG R1's were discontinued.

I don't recommend the Kumho Ecsta V700's, as I found they got consistently greasy on the track after around 10+ minutes of use. Probably works great for autocross, though.

The Michelin Cups, available through the Tire Rack, are pricey. Once warmed up, they stick well and wear well (upwards of 50 heat cycles has been reported by a number of people). While there are opinions on whether they are better than Hoosiers, the sense I get is that, when considering performance vs longevity, the Michelins easily are on top, but when you consider pure performance, the Hoosiers are on top. Work reasonably well in the rain when new.

Hoosiers may be best saved for racing. They are lightweight, stick well, wear quickly, and won't hold up as well as other R compound tires for street usage. Not good in the rain.

Toyo RA-1's are good R compound tires. At full tread, I know several racers that use them as their rain tire. I believe they are also the tire for one or more spec racing series. Limitation with RA-1's are the available sizes, especially as you get into 18" rims.

Pirelli makes an R compound tire, which you don't hear about too often. Maybe someone else who uses the current version can comment on it.

DanS911

Hey Dan, have no fear.........I see you are signed up for the 48hrs at Sebring! Lots of chances to pass me there!

MikeF

Khumo Victoracers get my vote. Good bang for the buck and great stick for the occasional DE'er. Supposedly they stay sticky right to the cords.

Tony356993

I agree with Mark and Dan. Stick with the 03's for about 8-10 track events. Street tires will "talk" to you on the track and give you much better feedback for you to get better. Track tires have less margin for error. When they are going to go they will go. Just my 2 cents