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Looking for a good 200tw tire

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76
51
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
Dothan, Alabama
I'm still fairly fresh with HPDE (6 days on track). I've pushed my continental extreme contacts to their limit, and I'm ready for some more grip. Especially with some of the new stiffening suspension mods I've done recently.

I'm looking for a 200tw tire to fit on some 18x10s. I'm running 19" wheels right now with 275/35/19. I'd like to stay at that width but maybe a 40 series profile.

I've heard good things about the hankook rs4s and the dunlop direzza zIII, but I want to see what kind of tires you guys have had luck with.
 
167
218
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
Irvine, CA
I have heard good things about the RS4 but keep in mind a 275/35R18 is a pretty short tire. Depending on your driving style that could be a good thing or a bad thing. There is a 285/35R18 also available but more expensive and not much taller. If I could I would have waited until next season for RS4s in 295/40 or 275/40, both of which are sold out right now.
I just bought a set of Bridgestone Potenza S007As in 275/40R18 since I loved my RE11s which they no longer make. Supposedly the S007A is the replacement and they are cheap, should be a good compromise between grip and durability, like the RS4.
 
52
35
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
Under 3 Years
CA
I don't have experience with other 200tw tires but I run the 295/40/18 falken RT615K+ and they're pretty awesome to me. 27" OD and they're a bit narrower than most 295 (more like a wide 275 or about avg 285) so they fit perfect on an 18x10 wheel IMO.
 

xr7

TMO Addict?
708
822
Exp. Type
Autocross
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Minnesota
I have the 295/40/18 Falken RT615K+, mounted on 18 x 11 apex wheels. 20mm spacers and ARP wheel studs all the way around. I can rotate tires to keep wear even. Running 2.5 degree camber, 1/8" toe-out. I autocross and the tires and suspension mods have allowed me to keep up with the newer S550 cars. Tire wear has been pretty good. Rivals or RE71s would probably be a bit quicker.
 

Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
5,237
4,227
Santiago, Chile
I was suprized how well the Michelin Super Sports did.... They were not far off a Semislick and last for ever... Until they dont.... mine have turned into drift tires but thats after more then 3 years.
 

Norm Peterson

Corner Barstool Sitter
939
712
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
a few miles east of Philly
Yeah I would definitely love to be on a 40 sidewall. I'll take a look at those Bridgestones as well!
Is this because of some speeds-in-gears issue? Ground clearance? Ride quality? Other?

Going with 285/35-18 tires vs 285/40-18's provides about half an inch of lowering without screwing up the suspension geometry. Steering response tends to get sharper, and steering generally more precise.


Norm
 
76
51
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
Dothan, Alabama
Yeah idk if I'd want to be a half inch lower. I'm sure it would be okay, but haven't moved to coilovers yet so don't have that adjustability. I will probably go with a 35 anyways due to availability. To be honest I do love the meaty look of the 40 series as well.
 
173
72
Isn't the life of the tire shorter than most? That's just what I've heard. Just weighing some options with cost/effectiveness kinda thing.

Yes, Bridgestones are definitely top performer in the extreme performance category and probably the least longevity. There is always a compromise. Not sure on sizing of new Dunlop Direzza z3, but that tire is just a bit slower than the Bridgestones and have more longevity. I’ve run these two and the RS-4 in endurance racing and the Dunlops are a nice compromise between performance and wear. I was not a fan of the RS-4, but they do wear the best. The RS-4 is numb and vague compared to the other two, and they give up much quicker under threshold braking.
 
Do the RE 71R’s have s shorter life span than SC2’s?
 
173
72
Hard to say because I’ve only run the Bridgestones on the race car in an endurance race. Our strategy was to rotate in a new left front at Portland after each two hour stint and it worked well. Pretty sure it was a 9 hour race and pretty sure left rear was swapped after about six hours. This is on a 2800lb fox body. I haven’t run the Bridgestones on the 350. If I had to guess I think the Bridgestones would last longer. I also think the Cup2s have more grip, but the Bridgestones have at least as much grip as the R888 and NT01.
 

drano38

Wayne
1,130
318
I have RE71R and RS-4 mounted on my 2 sets of track wheels, and I like the RS-4 better.
RE71R get greasy after about 5 laps. Maybe the grip is still there, but my confidence in them goes down so I back off on my driving a bit. They also seem to wear faster, and sluff off tire boogers quite a bit.
RS-4 look new after about 6 sessions. At Hastings NE in Sept, I ran a bit faster with these on the second day.
Some posts I've read say the RE71R is a better autocross tire than road course because it's cold grip is better, but gets greasy with a heavy Mustang on the road course.
Tires are a personal choice, but I won't buy another set of RE71R.
 
173
72
Interesting....I wouldn’t buy another set of RS-4. Real surprised to hear your different experience with each of these.
 

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