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Pirelli Slicks in 19s

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Bill Pemberton

0ld Ford Automotive Racing Terror
8,425
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20+ Years
Blair, Nebraska
Would agree if you want multi use that the RE71 is a good chioice ---sure can't drive on the street with Pirellis,ha? HR692 , you should also find out how quickly tires wear at the track you intend to run the most ---- VIR, Summit Point,NJMP? Some tracks will eat tires quickly, whereas others can be super easy on rubber. Heartland Motorsports Park ( Topeka, Ks. ) was repaved less than two years ago and tires there seem to hardly wear at all - I got virtually 3 weekends on used Pirellis.

Hopefully gathering all this info will help you decide on what you want to acquire for tires? Assume you are getting a second set?
 
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Said it before...I would put the "hoosierstones" RE71's up against the Cup2's any day, definitely do not believe the cups would give more life than the stones.
There are many Porsche owners on Rennlist that also prefer the RE71 R over the SC2. One member that puts down a 1:55 on the Thunderhill 3 mile is his basically stock 991.1 GT3 and is faster on the RE71 and also thinks they last longer and are more consistent. If I buy track wheels I'm going to try the RE71 first. The SC2's are faster than stink in their first session and first day but fall off noticeable after that.

As a side note I was instructing at the track event yesterday and had a student in a GT350R. After a couple of laps of him scaring me half to death I asked if he wanted me to drive and show him the line. Anyway I drove the rest of the session. After a couple of moderate laps to show him the line I pick up the pace to show him what his car can do. I'm thinking there's no magic in this car and my old GT350 felt much faster. We pull into the pits and I check his tires and he had put Hankook Ventus V12's on the car. No wonder it didn't handle well! I asked and he said the previous week he had a blow out with his worn SC2's and had to replace the tires as he was stuck. The Hankook's were all they had in stock that would fit. :rolleyes:
 

Bill Pemberton

0ld Ford Automotive Racing Terror
8,425
8,354
Exp. Type
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20+ Years
Blair, Nebraska
A lot has to do with the track surface I tend to believe , and no argument that the RE71 is a great dual purpose tire. Still would recommend Hoosiers, used Pirellis when available , over most others , though I still tell folks, ask around at the tracks they run as some brands just don't do well on specific road courses? Contact TireRack , who supports this site , to get info about tires for their specific needs on their closest tracks - info about specific tire wear might be available? A lot of the guys there are active track rats, so good chance they can give you the straight skinny. Get your info, then go back through this Forum and order your rubber donuts.

One criteria is tire width too .....love my Apex rims and think 18x11 is the size for Boss 302s , so a BFG Rival in 315s is a cool choice for someone looking for dual purpose. The PSC2s come in 305/19s and 315/19s , so two choices for the 19s on a GT 350 , and of course RE71s in 305/19s are quite popular with others. Heh , we just agree to disagree , but over the years I have found track surface can be a determining factor.
 
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Bill Pemberton

0ld Ford Automotive Racing Terror
8,425
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Exp. Type
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Blair, Nebraska
....somewhere in the distant future, say, 2019, ha. World Challenge Series, Super Trofeo Series ( Lambos ) and Trans Am are supposedly running Pirellis for 2019.
 
225
312
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
Virginia
Would agree if you want multi use that the RE71 is a good chioice ---sure can't drive on the street with Pirellis,ha? HR692 , you should also find out how quickly tires wear at the track you intend to run the most ---- VIR, Summit Point,NJMP? Some tracks will eat tires quickly, whereas others can be super easy on rubber. Heartland Motorsports Park ( Topeka, Ks. ) was repaved less tan two years ago and tires there seem to hardly wear at all - I got virtually 3 weekends on used Pirellis.

Hopefully gathering all this info will help you decide on what you want to acquire for tires? Assume you are getting a second set?

Bill, I plan on running VIR, Dominion and NCCAR I don’t have a trailer so I’ll probably be driving and having a friend bring my extra set of wheels to start. I definitely will be picking up a set and run square. Looking hard at the Apex SM-10 group buy.

A friend told me he wouldn’t leave my carbon fiber wheel lying around at the track...I didn’t even think of that. Finish a session and notice those wheels gone wouldn’t be a good day.
 

j3st3r

Brian S.
604
376
Tennessee
A friend told me he wouldn’t leave my carbon fiber wheel lying around at the track...I didn’t even think of that. Finish a session and notice those wheels gone wouldn’t be a good day.

What groups do you run with?? We have never had an issue with that kind of thing.....but crap now you have me thinking about it....LOL
 

Bill Pemberton

0ld Ford Automotive Racing Terror
8,425
8,354
Exp. Type
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20+ Years
Blair, Nebraska
Sad to say as it does happen and good heads up. Have seen things disappear with SCCA, PCA, and NASA over the years. Not very common , but it seemed folks from out of State were targets in 3 occasions I remember.

692 - assume you are getting the 19x11s? The 25 mm front spacer worked slick on my Apex rims when I had the GT 350. And I love the 18x11s on my Boss 302S!
 
225
312
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
Virginia
What groups do you run with?? We have never had an issue with that kind of thing.....but crap now you have me thinking about it....LOL

I’m a newbie to HPDE...I’ve Auto X for years back in the 90’s but, never made to a road course until. GT350 Track Attack last month. Looking forward to the fun and learning/gaining experience.
 

Bill Pemberton

0ld Ford Automotive Racing Terror
8,425
8,354
Exp. Type
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Blair, Nebraska
Or buy another set of Apex rims and just store those beauties.........sounds crazy , but have one customer doing just that right now.
 
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Bill Pemberton

0ld Ford Automotive Racing Terror
8,425
8,354
Exp. Type
Time Attack
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Blair, Nebraska
To each his own, but I know of three of our customers that put those babies away ( pristine shape ) and are running on the track with aftermarket rims ( 2 purchased Apex rims ). Knowing the car collectors I have dealt with over the years, a perfect set would likely help sell an R in the future , as we all know track debris, curbs, etc. will damage all rims to some extent ( if only superficial scratches ,etc. ). VoodooBoss is correct 90% of the time, but I would have to very politely disagree with his assessment this time. Besides, the Apex rims are pretty damn light , themselves.
 
225
312
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
Virginia
Personally I'd run the CF wheels on track and get something else for the street. What's the point of having awesome ultralight and stiff CF wheels and not use them on track? Several members are doing that including @moto and @Black Boss

You make a good point but, not sure if I’d want subject them to frequent tire changes. Especially since it would not be a square set up...I wonder how the wheels holding for the guys who are using them as dedicated track wheel?
 
Mine are still perfect after twelve track days and two, coming up on three, tire changes. They have been very careful with the good Hunter tire machine.


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