I’m driving 3k miles from FL to COTA for 2 day HPDE in 2017 GT350. I have fairly new Continental Extreme Contact Sport 2 (ECS2) that I just did a 2 day track event at Barber plus about 4k road miles. I’m debating running the ECS2 again or getting some EC Force TW200 tires. I have camber caster plates.

Background: I’m 70 yrs old and just retired from motorcycle road racing which I did
For past 18 years at expert level. I had done car track days prior to that. So I’m getting back into the car scene to be able to still get on track. Barber was my first track day in 20 years. My goals are to just have fun, enjoy the car and keep improving skills. I will have an instructor at COTA (first time there - true bucket list). I do have spare set of Shelby wheels to mount track tires. At Barber I could feel the tires becoming limiting.

So do I buy the ECF ($2k) and drive on them 3k miles round trip or just stick with the ECS2 tires knowing I’ll be limiting their life and giving up a lot of grip. As I’m learning I am moving to intermediate group. Advice would be appreciated.

@krisk runs ECF, maybe he can chime in on whether they have enough life to drive the full 3000 miles.

Are you going to change your camber settings once you get there?

My personal opinion is that this is a bucket list item for you (your words), so run the stickier tires.

I would definitely get the extreme contact force tires. There are fine on the road and you will be happier with them when you get to COTA.
I’ve done the same trip, FL to COTA but in a golf gti. Have fun!

Mike_FL said:

I would definitely get the extreme contact force tires. There are fine on the road and you will be happier with them when you get to COTA.
I’ve done the same trip, FL to COTA but in a golf gti. Have fun!

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Thank you both! My wife won’t be happy but I did my research

Junkyard Dog said:

@krisk runs ECF, maybe he can chime in on whether they have enough life to drive the full 3000 miles.

Are you going to change your camber settings once you get there?

My personal opinion is that this is a bucket list item for you (your words), so run the stickier tires.

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Yes I will change the camber settings there. Have the Vorshlag plates.

I will differ. The ECS2 is a great street performance tire. Somewhere on that trip you will be in rain. The ECF is not good wet, especially on the street where it is likely to be mixed with other slippery stuff. I did a weekend at VIR in my Corvette C7 on ECS2. Of course they got greasy but they held up and I had a good time.

ECF definitely better track but I think the street time is more critical.

What is your daily driver vehicle? Could you tow the Mustang on a U-Haul trailer?

Thank you for your insight. I’m starting to think that is the best route. The ECS2 are new with a 2 day session and about 4k miles on them. They did ok at Barber where it was very warm. While my Jeep Grand Cherokee could pull my Shelby - part of the reason I got it was to drive it. There is something special to drive a car 1500 miles, blast around a track, then drive back home. I will be getting the ECF for next year’s track events with Daytona and Sebring less than 2 hours away.

I would echo the warning about making that long of a trip on ECFs. In a very light rain with no puddles, the ECF would be fine, but I wouldn’t want to be trying to drive on them in any significant amount of rain. I’ve run the ECS02 on track, and they wear much quicker, have less grip and do heat up and get greasy if you push them, but they still function fine knowing the limitations. If it was a short trip and the forecast called for clear weather, I’d absolutely recommend the ECF over the ECS02 on track. FWIW, I run the ECF on track, but always carry my set of ECS02 in the event of any significant rain so I can switch at the event. As long as it’s a very light rain or just a damp track I run the ECF.

One comment though is if you already have two track days on the ECS02, watch your wear at the next event. I only got 521 track miles out of the front set of ECS02. That was 18 heat cycles, although wear, not heat cycles was what made me replace them. Contrast that with the ECF, which seem to lose grip at around 25-30 heat cycles, but still have plenty of tread.

Thank you so much for the insight! I will stick with the ECS2 and watch the wear. Will change camber when I arrive and reset before drive home.

You might do a quick check of Tire Rack and Grassroots Motorsports and you will notice the comments on the Sport Contact 02 are solid for wet and dry and durability. Surprisingly the Extreme Force does not fair much better on track and as noted once it is wet plan on slip sliding away. I recommend many of my HPDE friends who like to drive to the track to check out the Sport 02 as it offers a good compromise for mainly street with an occasional track day. Have fun, it is a " Bucket List " event for virtually anyone on this site.

Bill Pemberton said:

You might do a quick check of Tire Rack and Grassroots Motorsports and you will notice the comments on the Sport Contact 02 are solid for wet and dry and durability. Surprisingly the Extreme Force does not fair much better on track and as noted once it is wet plan on slip sliding away. I recommend many of my HPDE friends who like to drive to the track to check out the Sport 02 as it offers a good compromise for mainly street with an occasional track day. Have fun, it is a " Bucket List " event for virtually anyone on this site.

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My experience from tracking with both tires is the biggest difference is when the weather is really hot. I tracked the Sport 02 in July in Florida with temps in the mid 90s. After about 15 minutes on track I noticed the tires losing grip and they wear pretty quickly. The ECF can run in those same temperatures without much change in grip after 20-30 minute sessions, and they don't hardly wear. In more moderate temperatures I expect the difference between the two tires is much less significant.

Thank you all for the insights. Yes I felt them get greasy when at Barber In August especially the second day when my pace increased significantly. I will use the ECS2 but watch tire wear. Thanks again.

OR . . . just bring an extra set of 12" wide wheels with Michelin racing slicks using your back seat and trunk . . .

Junkyard Dog said:

OR . . . just bring an extra set of 12" wide wheels with Michelin racing slicks using your back seat and trunk . . .

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Best of both worlds. Not to mention spare tires for the trip. A small trailer and hitch and you have a way to move your spares, tools and have a rear facing tow hook.

In that vain will 4 mounted tires (305/30/19) fit in the trunk and back seat (pulled down)

I used to daily drive a Honda s2000 in the UK all year round on 200tw, not a problem just drive according

Grandpa ray said:

In that vain will 4 mounted tires (305/30/19) fit in the trunk and back seat (pulled down)

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No you need to load 3 on the rear seats and 1 in the trunk but it's dangerous and not very comfortable as they are hiding the rear view mirror.


It can be done but really annoying. Which is why now I drive on my 200TW tires daily and just don't bother with switching tires and riding them to the track. Hope this helps.

Thank you! That would make a 3k mile
Trip not real comfortable. My plan will be on long trips to tracks use the ECS2 and local tracks the ECF on my spare wheels.

Sorry, Grandpa ray. It was a joke.

I did not think anybody would take my suggestion to stick four extra wheels and racing slicks in the car for 3000 miles of driving seriously . . .



Have fun and try to get some video for us.

@Grandpa ray - first, love the username ha

Second, COTA is my home track. Personally, I think driving all the way to COTA and running a true street tire like the ECS2 is going to be pretty disappointing (unless it rains). If you want to buy some 19in slick take offs, I'd be happy to bring em on my spare wheels for you to use. (Normally I'd offer the tires too, but the wheels don't currently have any tires on them). I can also ask the local FB groups if anyone has any 19s they'd be willing to sell.

Outside of something like that, I'd highly suggest a proper track tire. COTA is extremely demanding track for tires and I think you'll hit the grip limit of your stock tires so early you'll be bummed.

I might have missed it, but what event are you doing?