Tire advice for the street / track

[s.hammer]

Did my first road course track day about a week ago. Juggernaut Power put on an awesome event at Thompson Motor Speedway. Had 11000 miles on the tires knowing this would be a good way to send them out. Looks like I am going to be doing a couple more road courses over the course of the summer. Need some advice, what are the best combo of street/ road track tires that come in sizes to fit our cars? Car is not a daily driver, not driven in the rain ever, and usually is stored once the temp drops. Leaning towards the MPSS 275/40/19, 295/35/20, am I leaning in the right direction?

 

[phil123]

I just replaced rear MPSS with Toyo R888 in stock size. The MPSS are great but the R888's handle much better. They are not supposed to be great in the wet which doesn't seem to be an issue for you and I doubt they will last anywhere near as long. Other than than that perfect tire for the car.

 

[biminiLX]

Second the R888 or talk to Van.
I loved my MPSS a on another car but some here had issues with them on our year GT500s with not lasting thru the road course use, just a heads up.
-J

 

[Speedboosted]

The G2 Goodyear's are a good option for a street/track tire...why not just get another set? If you want to chance it up, go R888 or BFG Rival

 

[JAJ]

Looks like I am going to be doing a couple more road courses over the course of the summer. Need some advice, what are the best combo of street/ road track tires that come in sizes to fit our cars? Car is not a daily driver, not driven in the rain ever, and usually is stored once the temp drops. Leaning towards the MPSS 275/40/19, 295/35/20, am I leaning in the right direction?

You're leaning in a direction that might disappoint you. The Michelin Super Sports are a great high performance street tire but they're not a track tire. They won't be as good on a road course as the Goodyears that came with the car. The GY's are great when they're hot and they'll deliver about the same level of track performance as most other R-Comp tires (check the owner's manual - your car comes with R-comps - that's why people complain about how the tires work when they're not hot). Other R-Comps, like Nitto NT-01's or Michelin Pilot Sport Cups (a step-up from the Super Sports) don't actually outperform the GY's. I've datalogged track events with all three as well as Pirelli Trofeo R's and despite many claims of superiority of one brand over another, they all deliver about the same lateral G's. I've driven on R888's on another car and their handling is about the same as the NT-01's, but the NT-01's last longer on the track.

 

[s.hammer]

I was hoping to get an equal to the GY on the track with a little better grip on the street, but if the GY is the best option for both I can always grab a set of NT05rs for the rears for the street. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[93 347 Cobra]

GYs are definitely not the best for the street, they're extra-sensitive to heat as mentioned. When cold they slip like hell. Even on an 80-degree day on hot tarmac they slip like hell. Another poster claimed R888s were very good in the rain and he couldn't tell a difference in handling. I don't intentionally drive my car in the rain but sometimes it's unavoidable, especially in the Rockies in the summertime. I'd like a little more input from others on the wet handling but overall they seem to be the best route for what you're looking for.

 

[cluscher]

R888s are not very good in the rain and don't compare to a street tire in that regard, especially with a bit of wear in them. The Hankook Rs-3 is a really good dual purpose tire. I'm not sure about sizing though.

 

[biminiLX]

You couldn't pay me to run the GYs on the street here, they're dangerous til hot.
-J

 

[BlueAngel2014]

Michelin MPSS for street (ok in rain). I have these on the car now.

Toyo R888 but no rain for street or track.

NT05R for drag radials. They grip like friggin glue. No spin even in first gear WOT with 3.31 gears. I have these in the garage now mounted and ready to go on stock wheels. They don't like curves at high speeds; sidewall is too soft.

HTH

Mike

 

[BlueAngel2014]

You couldn't pay me to run the GYs on the street here, they're dangerous til hot.
-J

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