Hi all,
So I'm getting ready for this years race season by slowly buying suspension bits. A buddy if mine has a set of 18x8 Rial Porto wheels. I need to buy tires. I would like to get either 255 or 265 all around. Any suggestions? It's hard to find extreme/max performance tires with an XL load rating. Can we get away with a 97W load rating? All suggestions are welcome!

nitto invo's are a nice street tire, or if u are just going to use them for auto-x or road course the nt01's would be a good choice 275/40 but the feeling is kind of mixed on running that size on a 8in wide rim it seems

Admins could you please move this to the wheel/tire section? I might get more input there. Thanks!

I've had Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs and Kumho Ecstas and was happier with the Dunlops. A lot of other guys running them in AutoX have been very fast. Remember the full name, there's a difference from the other Direzza's.

Bridgestone RE-11

Vredestein's

I'm pretty happy with my new Pilot Sport PS2s. Just did a track day with them yesterday, they felt great and held up very well.

I put 11 or 12 autocross races on the Hankook V12's last season plus everday driving and they performed very well. They seem to be wearing good as well. Not the best tire out there, but one of the best for the money IMO.

I've had Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs and Kumho Ecstas and was happier with the Dunlops. A lot of other guys running them in AutoX have been very fast. Remember the full name, there's a difference from the other Direzza's.

Yeah, people in ST classes seem to be big fans of this Direzza. They say that it's also very good in the rain. Much better than Bridgestone umm forgot the model, maybe RE-11.

On the other hand, for the street use I can't complain about the stock Bridgestone summer tires. They're not like race tires for autocross but on the street they are quite good. I've got them half-worn by autocrossing a few events, and they are still pretty good in the rain, and quite amazingly even in the snow. I've been moving the car to another corner of the parking lot after we've got over a foot of snow, and I've been surprised at the amount of traction they provided.

I'll have to post up what I have on my fronts later. They were terrible summer tires (worse than OEM tires). I bought some all seasons that were better than both my stock tires and the summer tires.

Perhaps this article may be of interest to you (from Tirerack blog):


AutoCross! Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec VS Bridgestone RE-11 (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 by (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)Mac McNabb (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller)
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(http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/bridgestone/bs_potenza_re11_ci2_l.jpg (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tirerack.com%2Fa.jsp%3Fa%3DT Z7%26url%3D%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%26tireMake%3DBridg estone%26tireModel%3DPotenza%2BRE-11)http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/dunlop/du_dir_spt_z1_starspec_ci2_l.jpg (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tirerack.com%2Fa.jsp%3Fa%3DT Z7%26url%3D%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%26tireMake%3DDunlo p%26tireModel%3DDirezza%2BSport%2BZ1%2BStar%2BSpec )Is your car forum buzzing with comments about this tire or that tire but you just don't know which one wold be best for you? We have tested these and have some good information to help you decide! (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)

The (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)Dunlop Direzza Z1 (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tirerack.com%2Fa.jsp%3Fa%3DT Z7%26url%3D%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%26tireMake%3DDunlo p%26tireModel%3DDirezza%2BSport%2BZ1%2BStar%2BSpec ) has recorded some of the fastest times on our test track. This is a tire that has a very fast lap speed for the price for sure. But buyer beware: This tire has a very narrow sweet spot that can frustrate beginners as much as it rewards experienced drivers. The (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)Bridgestone RE-11 (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tirerack.com%2Fa.jsp%3Fa%3DT Z7%26url%3D%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%26tireMake%3DBridg estone%26tireModel%3DPotenza%2BRE-11)however, is the most predictable and progressive handling (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)Extreme Performance Summer tire (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tirerack.com%2Fa.jsp%3Fa%3DT Z7%26url%3D%2Ftires%2Fsurveyresults%2Fsurveydispla y.jsp%26type%3DEP) in the catalog. The (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)Bridgestone RE-11 (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tirerack.com%2Fa.jsp%3Fa%3DT Z7%26url%3D%2Ftires%2Ftires.jsp%26tireMake%3DBridg estone%26tireModel%3DPotenza%2BRE-11) actually posted the lowest average time for our test drivers even though it is not the fastest running tire. That basically says to you that a fairly large range of skill find this tire easier to reach the limit than any other in the category. (http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)

Give them a try and let us know which you find better, too!
(http://tires.autoguide.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.tirerack.com%2Fblog%2Fhot-seller%2Fautocross-direzza-sport-z1-star-spec-vs-bridgestone-re-11-)

Extreme max performance summer.... Mickey Thompson ET Street radial is the best by far!!! At least as far as traction is concerned.

I've personally been very happy with the stock RE050A's. I've done two track events with them and they were great.

Extreme max performance summer.... Mickey Thompson ET Street radial is the best by far!!! At least as far as traction is concerned.

I know the Mickey ET is great for straightline traction, but how good is it in the corners?

Is the sidewalls stiff enough for autocross events?

I know the Mickey ET is great for straightline traction, but how good is it in the corners?

Is the sidewalls stiff enough for autocross events?

Sidewalls are a little soft as thats whats gives it the best straight traction, look at the Hoosier tires for traction in turns or auto-x.

I've personally been very happy with the stock RE050A's. I've done two track events with them and they were great.

I like them too and I just bought a set of 20" ones for my Camaro rims.

I'm running the Hankook Ventus v12 evo k110 (damn that's a mouthful) and I really like them. Lots of dry and wet traction, quiet, and most important, affordable. Check the car and driver tire comparo from a few months back.

They don't make the Dunlop Star spec's in 19s :(

They don't make the Dunlop Star spec's in 19s :(

That sucks. I have the 18" though.