Lets beat a dead horse...R compound tires for street use.

[pharmacypimp]

My Ultralite has Nitto NT-01 tires that are now way beyond their life span...stamped with 2010 markings!  So even though they are barely worn they are wornout, hard and borderline dryrotting.  The car only sees 50 degrees and up zero rain but sadly has seen zero track use over my ownership (6 years).  I do have extra wheels and equally worn out racerubber if and when I find myself on the track.  I have been trying to track opinions on running R comp 100 TW (NT-01, R888R, R1R) vs a 200 TW extreme performance tire.  I know Im not putting enough heat into the tires on the street to truly benefit from the compound so am I better off running a 200TW? 

Here are some posts that I found over from some older 911 users that exemplify what I am looking to answer.

My current Nittos were most likely subpar when I first purchased the car (tires were 6 years old).

How much time should the R compound tires last with street use....less than a 200..correct?

 

 

You guys are crazy for using an R compound tire as an everyday street tire. I admit, I drive them on the street when I'm at Summit Point but that is because I am only 40 mins drive from SPR. Otherwise, I have some plain jane Hankooks for the times I do take my car on the street. Can the triple 8s handle street use...absolutely. A cold track tire on a street in the fall with wet leaves going around a bend is just a recipe for disaster. Before the barrage of comebacks and comments start coming, stop and think about what your doing. You are using a tire that was designed to operate under extreme pressure and heat. To be at it's best when it's rubber is gummy and soft, not the daily commute to the office in stop and go rush hour traffic or going to the Starbucks for coffee early on a Sunday morning before the wife & kids wake up. Listen, I'm all for having the best equipment but the best equipment for one thing is not always the best all around. I apologize in advance if I've touched someone's nerve.

 

 

No "barrage of comebacks" here Michael. I could not agree with you more. A cold R compound tire does not grip as well as a high performance street tire at the same temps. If you're cruising around town on a cool morning on R's, then suddenly decide you're going to break the track record getting on the circular freeway onramp, that is a "recipe for disaster" 

The R888 is certainly not an optimal street tire. I do think the R888 is the lessor of the evils, compared to Hoosiers and Kumho V710, but for those of us running 15" Fuchs, with RS, ST, or RSR flares, there is no other choice. My car on 205's and 225's looks like a Hummer H1 on bicycle tires.

Look at Magnus Walker's cars. He runs Hoosier R6's on all of his hot rods and sports focused builds. Magnus is no slouch behind the wheel. He is a seasoned POC racer, and there's plenty of video of him burning up downtown LA at 5:00am, or shooting up Angeles Crest Hwy like it was Laguna Seca. You just have to build gradual heat and be aware of what your doing.

 

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/715886-r888-lifespan-mostly-street-use.html

 

Edited February 26, 2022 by pharmacypimp

[KnifeySpoony]

For mostly street driving, absolutely go with any of the modern 200TW tires. They are amazing at street temps. RE71R, A052, etc will all do much better than a 888R on the street and will be stickier on track as well.

[pharmacypimp]

I'm willing to dive right in and say yes to the street... but why would you say they are sickier on the track...are you the first person...that I have seen to propose that the car is so light that it never gets the tires up to temp?

Devils advocate over here.

 

Everyone please chime in on a redundant conversation...please.

[KnifeySpoony]

Full disclosure, the only tire I've ever driven my 7 on is the Avon ZZS. So limited experience there. However I have driven other cars on street/track with 200TW tires with great success. Lap times don't lie. RE71R and A052 are faster on track than 888R on most cars I believe. The gap will be even wider on the street where it is impossible to get an 888R up to temp. NT01s are a highly regarded track tire (better than an 888R by call accounts); reasonably sticky and very durable and tolerant of heat. However it wouldn't be my first choice for street driving, even on a big heavy car.

 

 

 

[sltous]

I just swapped my 13" wheels/ZZS at 22psi back for 13" wheels/R888 at 25psi now that it's warming up and for me the R888 have a lot more compliance and are a nicer ride.  I'm not chasing lap times and get more confidence from the R888 on warm days on the street