baiwldrnner Posted November 20, 2009 Posted November 20, 2009 Hey everyone. So here's the deal: I drove on Buttonwillow Raceway CCW back in Nov 7-8. At the Riverside sweeper, I tend to get scared and ease off the throttle since I'm afraid of losing traction (I have Falken RT-615's that are almost bald). I was talking to a friend of mine about switching from the RT-615's to R-comps (either Toyo RA-1/R888's or Nitto NT01's), and he said that I shouldn't switch if I don't know the limits of my street tires because he says that if I'm already nervous with street tires, then I'll be more nervous with r-comps since I can go faster with them . I want to follow his advice, but I also want to drive with R-comps. What should I do about this? And on the sidenote for future reference, which of the three r-comp tires I listed above is the best? Thanx and have a good day. Quote
Trevor57 Posted November 20, 2009 Posted November 20, 2009 You aren't going to be more comfortable on R compounds if you aren't comfortable on street tires. R compounds are also more expensive. Street tires also have a more progressive breakaway. Quote
kbrew8991 Posted November 20, 2009 Posted November 20, 2009 You aren't going to be more comfortable on R compounds if you aren't comfortable on street tires. R compounds are also more expensive. Street tires also have a more progressive breakaway. this x alot. You also usually get really good audible feedback as well from streets - they should be singing nicely throughout the corners before you make the jump imo. R-comps generally don't make noise until you're already backwards ime R888 - junk, unless you can get 'em cheap imho. I'd take the RA1 over the NT01, but it may come down to whats cheaper in your size. Don't forget to factor in the cost of shaving the RA1 slightly to avoid the chunking/feathering problems they tend to have with dry use at 100% full tread. Quote
laze1 Posted November 20, 2009 Posted November 20, 2009 (edited) Stay with good street HiPo tires until you can constantly perform 4-wheels drifts/slides thru every corner on the track. The street tires should be squealing so loud that the corner workers grab the yellow flag because they think you are spinning...but you are NOT...then think about R-Comps I ran HPDE for 2 years on street tires before moving to R-Comps! Edited November 20, 2009 by Guest Quote
sscguy Posted November 20, 2009 Posted November 20, 2009 <--- Street tires for 3 years before making the move up. You NEED to be confident and comfortable with street tires before going there. If you're saying to yourself, "If I use R-comps I'll feel like the car can hold itself together better" that's the wrong attitude. When street tires get boring and slow is when you are getting ready If you still get scared with them, forget it. laze's squealing description is a decent one to go by. Quote
soundguydave Posted November 20, 2009 Posted November 20, 2009 Same experience here, so advice x1,000,000 I just made the move at the end of last year, and it's a whole different ball game. You need to KNOW what your chassis is doing, and be comfortable driving the street rubber VERY hard before even thinking of making the change. With the R-comps, you will have perfect grip until suddenly, you have none, and if you can't run on the edge with street tires, you'll never get the R-comps figured out. Quote
Cheap_Thrills Posted November 20, 2009 Posted November 20, 2009 I was in the same boat as you. I had decent street tires that I did about 5 track days on. Everyone knew where to find me on the track because I could be heard squealing all the way around. I spun out a few times and did some 2 & 4 wheel offs, mostly because I exceeded the limits of my street tires. It's like I got used to the squealing and kept pushing, I guess. So I dont agree with the thinking to learn on crappy tires. It's like saying, go learn to ride a bike on ice. OK, you'll be a better rider if you master it, but you'll have alot more boo-boos learning. I went to RA1's and it's a whole new experience. I haven't had any spins or field trips since, and I feel much safer if I overcook a corner a little. I've broken them loose a few times and saved it when I know I would have lost it on my old tires. And RA1's aren't really full R-comp, they are still DOT approved for the street. Mine do give a little audible warning before letting go. Quote
laze1 Posted November 20, 2009 Posted November 20, 2009 A Squealing Tire is is a Happy Tire This is what I teach my HPDE students... Quote
baiwldrnner Posted November 20, 2009 Author Posted November 20, 2009 Awesome stuff guys. Thanx for all of your advice. Definitely gave me a more "mature" perspective on what tires are really all about. So, I definitely need to change my tires very soon. Which street tires do you guys recommend? Quote
Gian Bowles Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 Definitely gave me a more "mature" perspective on what tires are really all about. RRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....lol.. Sorry couldn't resist. BTW love you number...>>>old 510 nut OK.. Now for a more informative answer. Tires are like shoes, everyone has different tastes. If your doing to start doing more track days. You should think about getting a second set of rims. Tires are the biggest consumables besides fuel, at the track. Have one set for the track and one for the street. I know it's hard. Cost, Storage and having room to transport to the track is always a pain. But in the long run it's more cost effective, and better for tire wear. All though it's true you’re most likely wasting money on R tires till you get up to speed. It will not hurt to get them now.As someone stated already, cost for your application is a big factor. I used a Nitto has a good street tire as well as Sumitomo (not sure of the spelling)has a good bang for the buck tire. The Michelin pilot is also a very good (high $$) tire. I personally do not like the Falkin's. They seem kind of slick (not good traction) to me. Maybe why the drifters use them.. Not sure. But for now. Get something that fits your budget, that will work for you everyday drive. Deal with the way they perform on the track, while you learn how a car reacts to your inputs. Put your money away for some extra rims then go for the R's baby! Quote
Jon62 Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 Just finished a full season of DE driving on Kumho Ecsta XS tires...Absolutely loved them. One other I am looking at is the Dunlop Star Spec. Almost as good in the dry as a XS but apparently has better wet performance... Either one of those would be a great choice... Quote
soundguydave Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 I'll throw in another vote for the Dunlop Star Specs... I bought a set for street rubber that would double as rain tires, and they are quite nice on the track. Grippy enough, audible feedback, and they're VERY good in the wet. Tire Rack just did a comparison of the Star Spec against the Kumho, and while the Kumho drew better marks by the thinnest margin for the dry categories, it got killed in the wet categories. Also take a look at the Yokohama AD-08 as well. Quote
drivinhardz06 Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 I'll throw in another vote for the Dunlop Star Specs... I bought a set for street rubber that would double as rain tires, and they are quite nice on the track. Grippy enough, audible feedback, and they're VERY good in the wet. I recently drove a 200+ hp car in the rain with them, and could use full power in 1st gear with no wheelspin, which is pretty amazing. I dunno how they channel water at high speed, but the rubber compound sticks in the wet. we also ran them on our lemons car in sept (in the dry) and they did well. Quote
Alan_Wolfe Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 At my last DE I flat spotted one of my Hoosiers during the second session on Saturday. (How you do that with an ABS equipped car is beyond me. Conclusion of me and my track buds is that I blistered the tire, then popped it in the brake zone.) The local performance shop supporting the event had nothing that would fit my car. I was not looking forward to running the rest of the weekend on my Kumho runflats. A buddy of mine came to the rescue by letting me run his street tires - Dunlop Direzza Star Specs. Oh My G.d!! These tires were freakin awesome! I've run RT-215s, RT-615s, RS-2s, and Sumitomo tires with similar treadwear ratings - the Star Specs will spank them all. I was running within a second of the lap on the Hoosiers (they were new old stock). And its always a lot more fun using the extra couple degrees of slip angle "street" tires require to go fast. I say screw the R-comps till you get to HPDE3 if Star Specs are available. Alan Quote
JamesL Posted November 25, 2009 Posted November 25, 2009 <-- spent 3 years on street tires before moving to 2nd tier Rcomps(RA-1s, R888s, etc). Ran this entire season on R888s, and plan to run the next season on RA-1s or A048s. Still haven't made the move to Hoosiers or the like. While the R888s/etc are more audible than Hoosiers/Kumhos/etc, they give far less feedback than street tires. It is much easier to find the limit in a street tire shod car. Quote
howsoonisnow1985 Posted November 28, 2009 Posted November 28, 2009 Just finished a full season of DE driving on Kumho Ecsta XS tires...Absolutely loved them. One other I am looking at is the Dunlop Star Spec. Almost as good in the dry as a XS but apparently has better wet performance... Either one of those would be a great choice... +1 on the Kumho XS They are the cheapest tire $86 at Tire Rack for 205/50-15 And they tend to thrive in heat make in it a good track tire, especially summers at Buttonwillow, Thunderhill, Willow Springs, they don't get that greazy feeling the RT615's get after 2nd session and they don't chunk like the Star Specs. Quote
baiwldrnner Posted November 28, 2009 Author Posted November 28, 2009 Just finished a full season of DE driving on Kumho Ecsta XS tires...Absolutely loved them. One other I am looking at is the Dunlop Star Spec. Almost as good in the dry as a XS but apparently has better wet performance... Either one of those would be a great choice... +1 on the Kumho XS They are the cheapest tire $86 at Tire Rack for 205/50-15 And they tend to thrive in heat make in it a good track tire, especially summers at Buttonwillow, Thunderhill, Willow Springs, they don't get that greazy feeling the RT615's get after 2nd session and they don't chunk like the Star Specs. I'm starting to lean towards the Kumhos as well . So far I haven't found the Star Specs in 205/50/15 size. Quote
kbrew8991 Posted November 29, 2009 Posted November 29, 2009 the Star Specs run very wide for their size, I wouldn't feel bad about putting their 195 on my car if that was all that they had in 15. Quote
Ev Posted January 14, 2010 Posted January 14, 2010 baiwldrnner, nice car... Here's mine. Stay streets for as long as you dare... Quote
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