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R-Comps for HPDE?

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Last weekend I participated in my last HPDE event for the year and I am slowly getting the car prepared for mainly track only use. The idea was to prep the car for time attack but with new rules/class potentially coming to fruition it would appear that I would not be competitive for quite awhile. With this I have decided to concentrate more on just getting better as a driver. I had an experienced driver ride along with me for one session and gave me some good pointers but when we got to talking about tires I was not expecting the answer I received.

The goal is to run 5-6 HPDE events per year (each being 4-8 20 min sessions) and ideally I would like to be able to run a single set of tires per year if possible without leaving too much performance on the table. My original thought was a 285/35 RE71R as I would need to run a 200TW tire for the class I would be interested in for time attack. He suggested running a similar sized NT01/R888R as both wont have the peak grip a RE71 would have but would be more consistent over the entire life of the tire where the RE71 would fall off as it wears. Is there any validity to that statement? Just trying to see what your thoughts would be.
 
If you want one set of tires to be consistent and last 5-6 events the NT01 would be high on my list. Not the fastest tire but it has good longevity. I haven’t used them but the Hankook RS4 might be a good choice as well. I did run a set of the RS3’s and they were good too.
 
The best bang for your buck re: driver improvement is to obtain some type of telemetrics (AIM SOLO or other tool) and review the data with a professional coach. Expensive, but these days that's what separates the good drivers from the great ones.
 
The best bang for your buck re: driver improvement is to obtain some type of telemetrics (AIM SOLO or other tool) and review the data with a professional coach. Expensive, but these days that's what separates the good drivers from the great ones.

I recently purchased an AIM Solo2 and have been going over the data I got from this past weekend. This along with in car video I can see that I am fairly consistent but on a not so great tire currently. This is why I am looking for a consistent tire so I can concentrate on hitting the same points every lap so that the data I do gather can be as helpful as possible.
 
I've run Toyo RA-1's on a race car and was amazed at how consistent and long-wearing they were given that they are 40 or 50 TW tires. I assume R888's would be similar.

I have run Nitto NT-05's, Hankook S3's and S4's for track days on a car I drove there and back. You can easily run 5-6 days on any of these 3 200 TW tires plus road use. All 3 are very consistent as the number of heat cycles grow. The Hankooks are much better in the rain that the Nitto's. All would be great tires to learn on as they are quite forgiving of a less smooth, car-chucking driving style. They will reward smoothness with better times and that's what you want as a "learning tire."
 
I've run Toyo RA-1's on a race car and was amazed at how consistent and long-wearing they were given that they are 40 or 50 TW tires. I assume R888's would be similar.

I have run Nitto NT-05's, Hankook S3's and S4's for track days on a car I drove there and back. You can easily run 5-6 days on any of these 3 200 TW tires plus road use. All 3 are very consistent as the number of heat cycles grow. The Hankooks are much better in the rain that the Nitto's. All would be great tires to learn on as they are quite forgiving of a less smooth, car-chucking driving style. They will reward smoothness with better times and that's what you want as a "learning tire."

NT05s were a tire I was looking at as well. Currently the car has NT555G2 tires on it which in all honesty have done surprisingly well. Hasn't chunked and are somewhat consistent and will communicate with you quite well which I like but you can tell they just do not have the grip needed (especially while braking) to have a lot of confidence in really pushing the car to the limit
 
167
218
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
Irvine, CA
As you get faster and drive harder those NT555s will chunk.
I was originally running RE11s on the track and the durability/grip compromise was ideal for learning. I have heard and expect poor heat management and short life with the RE71R so I have stayed away from them.
After my RE11s I have been running NT01s which have incredible durability throughout a 20 minute session and put up with my abuse for 5 track days, but now they are worn down to nothing and I was hoping for more (probably could have gotten 1 or 2 more days with more camber, I'm still stock around -1 degree).
I am planning to get RS4s next for hopefully a similar grip/durability compromise that the RE11s had but with a little more of each, or at least more grip, since the RE11s lasted forever (5 track days and 16,000 miles of hard driving in the twisties for countless heat cycles without front to rear rotation).
 
As you get faster and drive harder those NT555s will chunk.
I was originally running RE11s on the track and the durability/grip compromise was ideal for learning. I have heard and expect poor heat management and short life with the RE71R so I have stayed away from them.
After my RE11s I have been running NT01s which have incredible durability throughout a 20 minute session and put up with my abuse for 5 track days, but now they are worn down to nothing and I was hoping for more (probably could have gotten 1 or 2 more days with more camber, I'm still stock around -1 degree).
I am planning to get RS4s next for hopefully a similar grip/durability compromise that the RE11s had but with a little more of each, or at least more grip, since the RE11s lasted forever (5 track days and 16,000 miles of hard driving in the twisties for countless heat cycles without front to rear rotation).

I have added some camber and hope to open my shock towers up more a little this winter to allow for more so that should help. I am also really adamant of rotating every 4 track sessions. Car is still street legal but do not intend on driving it on the street much either anymore. Just go to a cars and coffee here and there. RS4 was also on my radar but are far and away the most expensive option I was looking at. Starting to lean towards the NT05 now as it should give me a good bump in grip while still allowing myself to learn while not tearing up more expensive tires.
 

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