Tire choice

[GBOLT]

I know toyo r888 and the RA-1 are popular tire choices. Does anyone have any experience with the RE-71R? Current tire size is 205/50/15. Car is used for road use only, Brunton super stalker. Love the car, not a fan of my original tire choice of falken Azenia.

 

Thanks for any experience you can share.

[xcarguy]

GBOLT,

 

Another good tire choice (at least, I've had positive experiences with them) is theToyo R1R. Great all around tire in the dry…and the wet. Ran these as a rain tire on my Stalker at NJMP a couple of years ago (rained the first day of the event). If interested, this is how they performed on that very day:

 

:cheers:

Edited March 2, 2016 by xcarguy

[jlumba81]

I'm new to RA-1 tires in 205/60r13 and even at 30-40 degree weather gravel flies everywhere. I can't imagine how sticky they will be in 60-70 degree weather. I was looking into getting the Toyo R1R but couldn't pass on 13x6 Panasports that Bruce had on sale. The softer sidewalls make for a more comfortable ride, but I did lose 1/2 inch of ground clearance going from a 205/45r16.

[GBOLT]

I forgot to ask one additional question. Other than TireRack, any other sellers to look at?

[teamking]

RE71R's are very good tires on my S2000 for autocross, but they hydroplane easily so I would say not acceptable for wet weather tracking.

[jimrankin]

I have had good luck with the Nito NT01's as a good all around tire. Use them as my street tires but they were also very predictable with good response on track days before I went with track only rubber.

[MichaelD]

[h=2]Continental Acquires Hoosier Racing Tire Corporation[/h] October 4, 2016

The international technology company Continental today announced the acquisition of Lakeville, IN-based Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., a manufacturer of specialty tires for racing applications.

 

Anyone know moe on this development?

[FE07]

Michael,

Hoosier was a family run business and I understand it was sold when the younger members of the family didn't want to take it over. According to the scuttlebutt on some SCCA related boards, shouldn't be too much of a change but no one knows for sure.

They certainly make great race tires and have always had great trackside support. Would suck to have them go all 'corporate'.

 

Jim

[MichaelD]

I figured that but the new website layout makes it very difficult to find all of our tire options.

Edited October 8, 2016 by MichaelD

[The Stig]

Aligned with the UK thread, there are a number of other tires discussed on Blatchat available for shipping from there. It was always a reasonable option, now even better.

[SuperV8]

I've fitted Federal 595 RS-R's on the back. They are working well, supposed to be similar to R888 (although I have never personally used R888's) but only half the price. Feel quite soft to the fingernail and give a lot of traction when the road's not too cold. When it's cold out and damp/greasy they aren't too great but then I don't think you'll find any tyre to work with a very light weight high power rear wheel drive car in the cold!

 

All I can say is avoid tyres designed for regular sporty cars as the rubber is way too hard for very light cars (to get decent life when fitted to a car two to three times the weight!)

 

Tom.

[Klasik-69]

Michael,

Hoosier was a family run business and I understand it was sold when the younger members of the family didn't want to take it over. According to the scuttlebutt on some SCCA related boards, shouldn't be too much of a change but no one knows for sure.

They certainly make great race tires and have always had great trackside support. Would suck to have them go all 'corporate'.

 

Jim

 

Well they still make a good tire but the prices have gone up a good bit. I used to pay $215 for a 20.00x9.00-13 R35 compound (bias ply), now they're $255 each. However, even with the price increase, it is hard to beat the performance. IMHO, Toyos are good but nowhere near the stickyness.

[Lotusfan]

Bumping this thread. I just bought a set of 13x6 Panasports to change my "93 16" 205/45x16 out. Primarily street use. Suggestions on 185/70x13 tires, Kuhmo or Vredestein available or 205/60x13 Goodrich or Vredestein available at Tire Rack. Other vendors to check or size suggestions?

Thanks!

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Bumping this thread. I just bought a set of 13x6 Panasports to change my "93 16" 205/45x16 out. Primarily street use. Suggestions on 185/70x13 tires, Kuhmo or Vredestein available or 205/60x13 Goodrich or Vredestein available at Tire Rack. Other vendors to check or size suggestions?

Thanks!

 

Try Pirelli CN36 in 185/70r13. I've been really happy with them on my bmw 2002 and they have a great retro tread pattern. performanceplustire.com has free shipping.

 

Other options are Toyo R888R, but may not be the best for street driving - especially if you encounter rain often.

[Lotusfan]

Thanks for the reply and suggestion which I'll keep for my vintage rides, but for my Caterham I'm more interested in handling and the feel. Thoughts on 185/70 v. 205/60 or should I go 185/60 and then just change the ride height? I think the gear ratios as they are are about right so I was inclined to keep the same rolling diameter.

Thanks

[Croc]

Caterham standard fitment in the 13s are Avon ZZS - good tires in a performance setting but can handle the rain too.

 

185/55 and 215/55 options. The 215/55 is too big for your panasport rims. However, the 185/55 probably shrinks your rolling diameter too much?

 

While I have not driven on the tires you suggested, the 205/60 would be my size choice based on performance expectations.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

205 is a bit wide on a 6" wheel. 185 is perfect. Pirelli CN36 are a modern soft compound; I think you'd like the handling and feel, but the sidewall is a bit tall at a 70 aspect ratio (although close to your original 16" spec). Avons are nice, but quite expensive. I'd vote for the Toyo R888R in 185/60, if you can live with the change in diameter.

[Lotusfan]

205 is a bit wide on a 6" wheel. 185 is perfect. Pirelli CN36 are a modern soft compound; I think you'd like the handling and feel, but the sidewall is a bit tall at a 70 aspect ratio (although close to your original 16" spec). Avons are nice, but quite expensive. I'd vote for the Toyo R888R in 185/60, if you can live with the change in diameter.

While I don’t intentionally go out in the rain, where I live rain is unavoidable. How bad are those Toyo’s in the wet? Also, 6” is within the recommended specs for 205 tires, is there really that much of a downside to that combination?

thanks again for the replies!

[Kitcat]

Tire Rack doesn't recommend Toyo R888R's for standing water. My Toyo R888's were ok on moist roads, not in downpours. They were really the worst of both worlds, a so-so track tire and a so-so rain tire. I think the R888R is supposed to have fixed the track day problem, but not the rain issues.

[JohnCh]

Toyo states that 6" is the preferred wheel width for the 205/60-13 R888 and RA1. I checked with them before buying my wheels back in 2012 and they confirmed this recommendation. Given they do recommend wider wheels for 205/50 and wider still for 205/45, there is likely something about the 60 profile that works better with the narrower rim.

 

Having run both tires, I prefer the RA1 to the R888 for road use. The RA1 has a 10% softer sidewall -- better for a very light car like a se7en -- and I found it more forgiving when pushed. That's not to say the R888 isn't a forgiving tire, but on my car the RA1 feels more playful in the corners, and hence, more fun. I can't comment on lap times differences since my car is used exclusively on the street and back roads. I also don't have experience with either tire in standing water, but it's probably worth a call to Toyo to ask. They've always been very helpful to me in the past and likely have a quantitative view on this aspect of the tires.

 

-John