2009 Street Tire choices

[Chad Stubblefield]

I hope this hasnt been beaten to death
I just want to run the best. So what will be the best in 2009?

1. Kuhmo XS

2. Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R

3. Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

4. Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD07

5. Toyo R1R

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Depends on the car and the class. STU has a totaly different best tire than STS,

[Chad Stubblefield]

Hmmm
Lets just say for a Lotus Exige/Elise }:) For the CST class.

But also just overall better tire,

[Tom Denham]

Rim width and dia????

[Sebastian Rios]

Well the horse is currently being beaten pretty hard, we need more data.
I had these comments on our TeamBlew forum.

Let's see who is paying contingency.
This year year was only Bridgestone, Toyo, and Kumho. Yokohama and Hankook pulled their contingency $.
Unless the Nitto or Hankook is so much better than the tires offered by the companies that pay contingency $, I can't see them being a big hit in our little world.
In order to be legal for 2009 they have to be available by 4/30/09.

In your case it will probably be the tire that is the size you want.
Look at the Kumho Ecsta XS, Dunlop Direzza Z-1, Toyo R1R, Bridgestone Re-01, and the Yokohama Advan Neova.
There's a remote possibility that the new tires from Nitto and Hankook will be good.
Both the Bridgestone and the Yokohmama are on the verge of being replaced with a new model.

[Chad Stubblefield]

Me personally, not worried about contingency this year.
I should be running a 205/45/16 front and a 245/40/17 rear.
I have advice from good advice givers. I just want to hear others comments.

[Mako Koiwai]

Just don't run a mixed set like I did with the Elise ... 615's in front and Yok's in back ... only tires that matched Kestler's R sizes. Thought it was important to run the same size and rake as JK ... bad mistake!

[Chad Stubblefield]

I need to get the ball rolling on this.
Less then a month away from first event.
dont want to drop the first three events of the year like I did in 08.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

I need to get the ball rolling on this.
Less then a month away from first event.
dont want to drop the first three events of the year like I did in 08.

With a light car you might be able to get away with the toyos, but they're way soft and may not be happy come the summer months. Dunlops got max and annie championships on the STi

[Michael Sullivan]

Well, since I will be running the class too, I would highly recommend something from the Sumitomo line.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

The Toyos suffer from the same issue that the TS-1s did, the sidewall is soft. Andy Hollis ran them on the back and the Bridgestones on the front at the Pro. He didn't like them on the front. It's a sticky tire, and if it's as good as the previous version in the rain it might be good for a set of rains.

Mike, are you sure you don't mean Pep Boys Futuras?

[Chad Stubblefield]

Im leaning towards the Dunlops
price, good. sizes, good. people seem to like them.
They do good with heat, dont they?

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Im leaning towards the Dunlops
price, good. sizes, good. people seem to like them.
They do good with heat, dont they?

They start to go off after 4 runs on the STi in the Summer.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Im leaning towards the Dunlops
price, good. sizes, good. people seem to like them.
They do good with heat, dont they?

They start to go off after 4 runs on the STi in the Summer.

So a light car with three runs should work pretty well, right?

[Kurt Rahn]

Okay, I was going to post separately, but since there's already a thread started, I'll just post here. How about on a 3800-pound whale with a 300-pound driver? I'm seriously leaning toward the Star Spec, but then I noticed that the Kumho XS comes in my size as well (245-40-18s). I know a lot of people who have used the Star Specs and highly recommend them. Anyone have any experience with the Kumhos?

[Leonard Cachola]

Okay, I was going to post separately, but since there's already a thread started, I'll just post here. How about on a 3800-pound whale with a 300-pound driver? I'm seriously leaning toward the Star Spec, but then I noticed that the Kumho XS comes in my size as well (245-40-18s). I know a lot of people who have used the Star Specs and highly recommend them. Anyone have any experience with the Kumhos?

My only experience with them was watching Dana Lucas place 2nd in PAX on them last weekend in San Diego against us SK2 guys. He drives the much-vaunted (and controversial) 2007 MX-5 MS-R.

[Sebastian Rios]

The Toyos suffer from the same issue that the TS-1s did, the sidewall is soft. Andy Hollis ran them on the back and the Bridgestones on the front at the Pro. He didn't like them on the front. It's a sticky tire, and if it's as good as the previous version in the rain it might be good for a set of rains.

Mike, are you sure you don't mean Pep Boys Futuras?

The Toyo R1R is less responsive, but more than makes up for it with grip...you just have to turn earlier. I know they are going to wear quickly though even on my sub 2000# car. They did heat up and fall off enough that Jon and I sprayed to cool them even on the wintery day we had yesterday. I don't know how well they'll work on Fontucky summer day.

[Jonathan Lugod]

The Toyos suffer from the same issue that the TS-1s did, the sidewall is soft. Andy Hollis ran them on the back and the Bridgestones on the front at the Pro. He didn't like them on the front. It's a sticky tire, and if it's as good as the previous version in the rain it might be good for a set of rains.

Mike, are you sure you don't mean Pep Boys Futuras?

The Toyo R1R is less responsive, but more than makes up for it with grip...you just have to turn earlier. I know they are going to wear quickly though even on my sub 2000# car. They did heat up and fall off enough that Jon and I sprayed to cool them even on the wintery day we had yesterday. I don't know how well they'll work on Fontucky summer day.

probably melt... LMAO

:gpower:

[Richard Jung]

Im leaning towards the Dunlops
price, good. sizes, good. people seem to like them.
They do good with heat, dont they?

The Star Specs are one of the best heat tolerant ST tires, worked at the 100 deg Wendover Pro w/no spraying.

They also pretty reasonable $ wise. I recommend shaving the Z1s for even tread wear. Check to be sure there is a front tire size that fits your car.

I don't think there will be a definitive answer about the new crop of street tires until after the national events in March.

Rick

[Jonathan Lugod]

Im leaning towards the Dunlops
price, good. sizes, good. people seem to like them.
They do good with heat, dont they?

The Star Specs are one of the best heat tolerant ST tires, worked at the 100 deg Wendover Pro w/no spraying.

They also pretty reasonable $ wise. I recommend shaving the Z1s for even tread wear. Check to be sure there is a front tire size that fits your car.

I don't think there will be a definitive answer about the new crop of street tires until after the national events in March.

Rick

i agree with the shaving for tread wear. Mine are really worn at the shoulders at 200 runs, but the center is still at 4/32nd.

[Chad Stubblefield]

$300 difference from the Bridgstones and the Kuhmos.

[Darren Cole]

I'm in the same boat, I like the Dunlops, but i can get 20mm wider tires front and back (S2000 225 vs 245 Front and 255 vs. 275 Rear) if i go with the Kuhmo XS. Is the extra tire width on the XS going to surpass the Star Spec performance?

[Aaron Goldsmith]

I'm in the same boat, I like the Dunlops, but i can get 20mm wider tires front and back (S2000 225 vs 245 Front and 255 vs. 275 Rear) if i go with the Kuhmo XS. Is the extra tire width on the XS going to surpass the Star Spec performance?

There is no real consensus on the XS yet.. could be better depending on your car.

[Richard Jung]

I hope this hasnt been beaten to death
I just want to run the best. So what will be the best in 2009?

1. Kuhmo XS

2. Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R

3. Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

4. Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD07

5. Toyo R1R

I just noticed your list is outdated. Missing are new '09 models coming from Bridgestone, Yok, Nitto and Hankook.

From your list, if you need tires now I would recommend the proven Z1 over the others, with the XS as a dark horse.

[Mako Koiwai]

Are the Toyo's available in the sizes you want? Get them as a cool weather tire for now ... shaved, or not shaved if you're beating on rain. It's going to take a while to learn the Xige anyway.

You can order tires that The Tire Rack doesn't carry here ... with Shaving Service:

http://thetireshoppe.com/default.asp?ID ... data=tires

Check out the various tire threads on http://www.sccaforums.com