Tire Choices with UTQG of 140 or higher

[Jack Olsen]

Next year's Open Track Challenge has raised the minimum treadwear rating for the Touring Groups' tires from 60 to 140, which means Yokohama A032R's are no longer legal. The new minumum is a treadware rating of 140.

What's the best dry track tire in this category?

Here are some candidates:

Bridgestone Potenza S-02 (140, but NLA)
Bridgestone Potenza RE71 (140)
Bridgestone Expedia S01 A/M (140)
Pirelli/PZero System Asimmetrico (140)
Michelin Pilot SX MXX3 (140)
Yokohama AVS Sport (180)
Bridgestone Potenza S02 Pole Posiiton (180)
BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD (200)
Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position (220)
Kumho Ecsta MX (220)
Michelin Pilot Sport (not the 'Cup') (220)
Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar (220)

[widebody911]

A friend of mine has AVS Sports on his M3 and they seem to perform well.

[KTL]

RE-71's are old-tech and cheap and dwindling in supply. Good tire nonetheless although noisy (who cares on the track). One of the best tires out there in its day (late eighties?????).........

I've always thought BF Goodrich Comp T/A's have been a good compromise tire. Good wear, grip and price. Nobody seems to talk about them around here and i'm not sure why. Seems like a good quality tire to me.

Sorry, but these are the only tires with which I have experience. Can't comment on the others. Always thought Michelin and Pirelli were overpriced and wore too quickly on other people's cars, but that's just my opinion. Like I said, I have no personal experience with them.

[Bill Verburg]

I would use SO-3s, I'm sure you've seen this Tire Test

Unfortunately they are not available in 275/40x17

There are also a lot of other tires which I have no experience w/

[Jack Olsen]

The feedback I've been getting from elsewhere is that the two best tires for this application are the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar.

Both are new to me.

My guess is that for this application it would be best to get the tread shaved down, and plan on two sets (~$2,000?!) for the week.

Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar

8.9 dry/6.1 wet $263 (275/40) $215 (245/45)

BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD

9.6 dry /6.8 wet $272 (275/40) $240 (245/40)

Anyone out there used the KD's?

[philfran]

Jack,

Since Iwork for Goodyear I would HAVE to suggest the F1! If you go with them let me know and I will send you a set of employee coupons that will get you 20% rebate from Goodyear.

Phil Francoeur

[thabaer]

Jack,

I put 225/45-17 AVS Sports all around on a 3600lb 300bhp 200 quattro. Huge grip and they handle 1" standing water going faster than I could see thru the rain. It's hard to break them loose in straight line braking w/ 996tt calipers over 993tt rotors on the same car.

They are also noiser 'an'ell on concrete interstates.

I've also heard good things about the Toyo Proxes T1-S, especially that they are very light in addition to being on-par with the others on your list. Planning on going for those on some 17lb wheels to get just under 40lbs per corner with 245/40-17 mounted.

[rvanderpyl]

Also:

Yokohama A520 (180),

I don't know if they are available in your size, but whatever you get plan on doing a few events before hand with them so you wean yourself off the gumballs.

[ChrisBennet]

I wouldn't pretend to know which of those tires is best but here are some data points (forgive the obvious ones):
- S-03's didn't melt or chunk at the track and seemed quite sticky when I pressed my "SUV" (944S2) into track service the other day. I'm used to Kumho's V700's on my '86 911.
- Wear ratings are not really comparible between manufacturers.
- With the advent of new silica containing tire compounds in the last few years, tires wear longer. Even though the they both have the same 140 wear rating, the RE-71 is not going to be as sticky as the (silica containing) S-02.
- Tread width varies between different tires in the same nominal size. My 245/45x16 Bridgestone RE-730's were about an inch wider at the tread than the Bridgestone S-03's in the same size.
-Chris