Looking for feedback - aggressive tires mainly for the street

[997Sbeebe]

i don't want this thread to take a wrong direction, but i'm looking for an aggressive tire choice - even though the car will see mainly street use. i have many years of autox, track, instructing and race experience, so this is not something new to me. i'm just curious of what people think about the following tire choices below (i have only previously used 2 of the exact tires listed below). tires will be in 17 and on my '87 Carrera with superior handling in mind. this car sees semi-moderate use, so the treadwear durability will not be a huge issue. just looking for a ton of grip and a fun ride, short of full-on R compounds - minus the RA1 choice. due to front tire sizes, i feel like i'm limited to the choices below. if i have missed a great option, please advise. all feedback appreciated. thanks.

in no particular order:

- falken azenis RT615K
- hankook ventus R-S3
- toyo proxes RA1
- toyo proxes R1R (too noisy?)
- bridgestone potenza RE11
- dunlop direzza Z11
- kumho ecsta XS

[gliding_serpent]

I am new to 911's, but I run the RE-11a for the street in stock sizes (205/225). I am quite happy. Given significant negative rear wheel camber, I am curious to find out how long they will last.

I run the Falken 615k's for my 2002Tii and I think they are a great tire on road and track also. in 195/14 sizes they are near free. I would get them for the 911 also but it strikes me the sizing is not ideal. (they do 225's, but not 205. Did not look at larger sizes).

Overkill yes, but they are great for fun driving and the track. Like you, I don't much care about tire wear given my use of occasional spirited driving or cruising, but they should hold up with 200 wear ratings.

[KTL]

I recently got to experience the RE11 on my former '87 Carrera with the new owner at the track and I was very impressed with their grip level. So for fun street use they would be a great tire.

I'm a big fan of Hankook tires. I have used their Z211 (R comp) Z212 RS-2 (street tire) and Z214 (next generation R comp) and I have been pleased with all of them. Hankook seems to give you very good bang for your buck, so I wouldn't hesitate to run the RS-3

[Sicklyscott]

The Azernis I've used in the past had a greasy feeling when heated up for long times. You could feel it after a. 20 minute highway drive or 5 mins in spirited driving. They were good for autox but anything longer than that minute lap and you were SOL.

I used to run the older Kumho MX tires which were replaced by the XS. The MX was perfect, had tons of grip and good warning when they were to let go. I have no experience with the XS but I'd probably go that route.

[douglas bray]

I've got about 700 miles on my Hankook Ventus R-S3 LOVE THEM!!!! Had the Toyo Proxes and thought they were crap.

the Hankook are so sticky that my rear bumper looks like I collect small rocks as a side hobby.

Simply can not break them loose on the street.

[porsche0nut]

RE-11a, they transformed my car from the Falken's previously on it.

[chrismorse]

Hi Sbeebe,

Take a look at the tire Rack's extreme summer tires. They are rated for a broad variety of characteristics, so you can pick the things that are most important to you in deciding.

Here is the link:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=EP

I have the Direzzionales on my two cars and am very happy with their performance.

I am looking forward to a few track days with the 74 coupe.

Good luck, HTH,chris

[Rodek]

FWIW, I have Toyo Proxes 4 plus tires on my car and I'm very pleased with them.

[midnight911]

I really like Dunlop Z1 which I have on my 911. Z2 is nothing less and is great. I take my E30 out on track with Z2s. Similar could be said for RS3, Rival. RA1 i would reserve it strictly for track use for its scarcity, performance, and price. R888 is also popular but again more like a track tire. talk to those who do chump car and lemon races. they have to be 180 or higher wear rated street tires. they know which ones grip best.

[kjchristopher]

Originally Posted by 997Sbeebe

i
- hankook ventus R-S3
- dunlop direzza Z11

My preferred.

[NY65912]

RE-11's.

The kumho ecsta XS were difficult in any type of wet condition, even a damp road.

[997Sbeebe]

fantastic information, guys! thanks very much.

i was also a big fan of the k-MX and ran several sets. i was running the victoracer @ autoxes and DEs when everyone was saying "who's kumho?".

i've been through the tirerack site for all available tires in extreme summer through dot-R, just to make sure i knew what was available now and that's mainly how i came up with my list to begin with.

really appreciate the feedback and the specific info on certain tires!!

[Cajundaddy]

RS-3, RE-11, and Dunlop are all essentially in the same grip category... phenomenal street tires with very little difference in track lap times. I run the RS-3 because I deal with a lot of heat in the SW deserts and they hold up great. Guys in cooler regions lean towards RE-11s and if you drive in a lot of rain, Dunlops for wet grip. I have right-seated all three tires and would have no hesitation owning any of them.

[Travis Neff]

Another vote for the RE-11A

[Driven97]

Also note the next gen should be coming out soon. Dunlop z2 star spec has already replaced the z2.

The BFG Rival should be getting a new compound.
Kumho is replacing the XS (finally!)
And I think we'll see at least one more new or revamped tire before April.

[Kevin911sc]

I am loving my Toyo RA-1's....they warm up to operating temp's about the same time as my engine oil hits its happy place.

[997Sbeebe]

so, the 'star spec' is just an update of the Z2? sounds like more of a specific application/use. wouldn't the ZIII have been easier?

i've run the RA-1 quite a bit in the past and it would be very grippy for the street, but i'm looking for a little longer tread life. i think i'm down to the RS-3 and the Z2.

[Trackrash]

I am running Toyo RA-1s. This is a tire that you can drive to the track and is great on the track.

The down side is they are greatly affected by temperature. At normal ambient temperatures, say air temp in the 60s, when casual street driving probably you won't notice any advantage over say Continentals. If you drive aggressively they warm up and they are like bubble gum.

In cold weather, especially near freezing, they are actually dangerously slippery.
You will need to either shave them or do donuts when they are new, or they are really greasy until scrubbed in.

They have a two tier tread. When they are half warn they have half the tread left.
Not a tire for an everyday driver, perhaps.

I commuted and autocrossed my car with RA-1s for years, but that was San Diego.....

BTW I use 205-55/16s and 225-50/16s, so depending on the sizes you will need it could make a difference.

[Trackrash]

After a day at Sonoma. These tires had three DEs, about 30 autocrosses and 3K miles on the street.

[Driven97]

Originally Posted by 997Sbeebe

so, the 'star spec' is just an update of the Z2? sounds like more of a specific application/use. wouldn't the ZIII have been easier?

i've run the RA-1 quite a bit in the past and it would be very grippy for the street, but i'm looking for a little longer tread life. i think i'm down to the RS-3 and the Z2.

Yeah, and z2 ss is just a compound change. Supposedly just "better," but not much testing has been done over on this side of the pond yet to see how (or if) it is better.

The Hankook rs3 v2 was very successful at SCCA nationals. Never tried them, but obviously very fast.