track/street tire ?

[Deschodt]

The search is not my friend today - no returns on "track tires" on pelican ? You gotta be kidding me ! ;-)

Anyway... Is there such a thing as an R-rated tire that sticks like glue on track and yet will be street legal and relatively OK in the rain ? What kinda of mileage can you expect in a commute situation for such a tire ? Are we talking 200 miles or 6000 ?
If there are several flavors, is there one that is a serious improvement over standard road tires yet lasts at least 6/8000 miles ?

Thanks !

PS: No space/money/practicality for a set of spare wheels

[Jim Richards]

Toyo RA-1's at full tread depth would work.

[IROC]

I used Yoko A032Rs as street/track tires for years. Worked fine. I would get about 6k miles out of the rears (depending on # of track events) and about twice as much out of the fronts. The A032Rs were scary in heavy rain, though.

I'm switching over the RA-1s, but don't have them mounted yet.

Mike

[Jack Olsen]

RA1's would work for a while. Once they start to wear in, though, I woudn't want to drive them in the rain on public roads.

Are Falken Azenis available in SC sizes?

[Deschodt]

Thanks guys ! Any indication which of the above 2 is best on track ? Keep 'em coming, if any !

Oh, and size wise, I have not decided whether they'd be for the SC or the boxster. The boxster is running 18", the SC 16". IF that is a limiting factor, let me know ! In fact, availability of such a tire will help me decide which car "wins" track duty assignment ;-)

The 987 is faster, easier, safer, quiet... faster is nice, as I am already outgunned in my group (997s, Turbos, even a carrera GT each time)

The 911 is slower, harder to downshift fast, less safe in a crash, no PSM, no ABS, but it costs a lot less if something were to happen. It's also definitely more involving and it sounds great ;-)

My thought was that a set of sticky rubber might make the SC as fast as the boxster, and might make the boxster definitely faster too.

But both cars are commuters as well and I don't want to mess with 2 sets of wheels ! ;-) I need something better than the current Michelins that squeal like pigs in all corners and go away after 20 minutes. Everytime I ride in an R-compound tire car, I am blown away by the braking and cornering...

[IROC]

Originally posted by Deschodt
The 911 is slower, harder to downshift fast, less safe in a crash, no PSM, no ABS, but it costs a lot less if something were to happen. It's also definitely more involving and it sounds great ;-)

Sounds like a blast!! :>) I'd put some RA-1s on the SC and have fun. You're never going to be the fastest car out there, but who cares. It's all about having fun.

Mike

[ozz]

In a 16", the Falken Azenis RT-615 is available in 205, 215 and 225- in an 18" many sizes from 225 to 315.

I've used the RT-615s this season and love them. On track, they warm up quickly, are predictable, and have very good grip. Maybe not that of an R compound but light years better than the yoko intermediates that I used to use which were no slouch for a street tire. The open tread works pretty well in the wet but the trade off is that they do generate a little noise on the street. In summary, these wear closer to that of a street tire and perform closer to that of an R compound - all at a decent price.

[JeremyD]

Alot of race teams use the RA-1's as a rain tire, full depth -

I'd also look at the Hankook RS-2

For non R - The Yokohama Sports I have a good tires - nowhere near the R limits - but an excellent rain tire (which is what you need in Sunny/Rainy Florida)

[Deschodt]

I agree with you, but up to a point ;-) I know I'll never have the fastest car out there, but if you show up in the fast group (solo and instructors) with a bone stock SC and you are surrounded by Turbos and 997Ss and prepared 73RS clones with 993 motors, you are going to spend a lot of time driving your mirrors ! And that, my friend, is no fun! All drivers are decent in the solo class and unfortunately for me, that region seems to have more Turbos than 914-4s ;-)

The boxster is clearly mid pack - in stock form - faster than early 911s, SCs, carreras and 968s that are also stock. I am hoping the SC with R-tires will gain some cornering and braking and put me right where I am right now with the 987, except for $30K less risk ;-)

Also, AFAIK, the 911 is a true dry sump and will take sticky tires like a pig to mud, while the 987 is not a true dry sump and might get oil starvation issues in hard cornering... So yeah, I am leaning towards the ol' girl (who's getting a front cooler as we speak because she'd incinerate her 178K motor on the stock oil cooler) but I'd like to still be able to pass someone now and then ;-)


PS: Where do you get those ? I checked tire rack for any of the above suggestions and it returned zip !!! only a kuhmo ecsta..

[JeremyD]

I'm afraid that at Sebring to be the fastest out there it will take a check book like Bill Gates or the driving skill of Vic Elford, or a combination of both. Lots of fast cars in that group -

The SC will get eaten in the straights (like the carrera does) but it's fun to hold your own, or gain some in the corners. Unfortunately Sebring is a HP track -

It's always better to drive a slower car fast, than a faster car slow....

[Deschodt]

>The SC will get eaten in the straights (like the carrera does) but it's fun to hold your own, or gain some in the corners.

That already where I'm at with the 987 ;-) I'm hoping the SC with 180hp and sticky R tires could keep me there... mid pack somewhere ;-)

PS: they let us drive in the pouring rain this saturday ! I was grateful for PSM on a couple of occasions, that was fun. Not sure the SC would have liked that as much ! (it would have liked the temperature drop though)

[ozz]

PS: Where do you get those ? I checked tire rack for any of the above suggestions and it returned zip !!! only a kuhmo ecsta..


For the Falkens - I got mine at Vulcan Tire - IMO the best price/service around

http://www.vulcantire.com/azenis_rt615_t.htm


For the RA-1 - guys that I run with have been happy with Frisby Tire at:

http://frisbyracetire.com/toyo_RA1_spec.htm

[JeremyD]

or applacian tire for RA's

Hankook at Discount tire

[Dixie]

Are Falken Azenis available in SC sizes?

Not that I could find.

My recommendations?

• Kuhmo MX - You can get a full set (205-55/16 & 225-50/16) for about $400
• Hankook RS-2s - I just bought a set (205-55/16 & 225-50/16) for $364. Mounted, I have $404 wrapped up in track tires!

[Conekiller]

i have to agree with ozz on the falken's i have them on my 911 and love them for track/autox, and so far they have lasted better than i thought

[Porsche virgin]

How far off is a 215/45-16 (avail in the Azenis) vs. stock 205/55-16? Not a big enough difference to matter much?