So What Tires are Currently Available?

[2Fass240us]

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=34

sweet, thanks. I'll probably grab a set or two.

 

[Speedboosted]

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=34

I bought a set from him yesterday. $260 shipped for a nice set of takeoff slicks is pretty damn hard to beat! Should've bought two!

 

[C7 B8]

For autocross, the Rival S and RE71R are heads and shoulders above everything else.

Tier two IMO is RS3, Direzza Z2, RE11, Regular Rival.

You're looking at either a 275 or 285 and a 35 or 40 sidewall.

Agreed. I haven't run Rival S or RE71R's as those weren't available in my size 275/18s when I last bought tires.

For dry, I like Rival 35 series. I moved to the NW where I needed better wet performance so went to RE11s 40 series. I liked the Rivals on the track more. And both Rival S and RE71 should be far better.

 

[Sky Render]

Well, I think I'm leaning towards the Bridgestone RE-71Rs. Decent pricepoint, and I've heard some good things about them, including from fellow S197 autocrossers.

Now I need to decide if I want to keep my heavy AMRs or splurge for some Forgestars from Vorshlag.

 

[2Fass240us]

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=34

sweet, thanks. I'll probably grab a set or two.

Thanks again for the link Jim.

I bought 2 sets and picked up another for my friend:

 

[oldVOR]

Well, I think I'm leaning towards the Bridgestone RE-71Rs. Decent pricepoint, and I've heard some good things about them, including from fellow S197 autocrossers.

Now I need to decide if I want to keep my heavy AMRs or splurge for some Forgestars from Vorshlag.

What size(s) are you looking at?
In 18's its a 275/35.
In 19's its a 285/35.

Too bad there aren't more mfg's making 295/35 or 315/35 in an 18" fitment.

 

[Sky Render]

I'd be running the tires on 18x10s.

 

[2Fass240us]

Too bad there aren't more mfg's making 295/35 or 315/35 in an 18" fitment.

agreed

I ran ExtremeContact DW in that size and loved them, but it's a 340TW tire and not in the same league as the ones originally listed by the OP.

 

[Speedboosted]

Thanks again for the link Jim.

I bought 2 sets and picked up another for my friend:

Did all those show up in good shape? A couple of mine were pretty worn in a few spots. Oh well

 

[csamsh]

The perfect setup IMO is a 305/35/18 on an 18x11....but the only thing you can have that in is Nitto NT01, which is the most useless tire ever if you're running competitive anything.

C'est la vie

 

[Sky Render]

Yeah, you'd think there'd be more 285s and 305s available with the popularity of autocrossing Mustangs.

Won't a 305 technically fit on a 10" wheel? I've got 285s on one now, and there is zero sidewall bulge.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk

 

[CobraRed]

The perfect setup IMO is a 305/35/18 on an 18x11....but the only thing you can have that in is Nitto NT01, which is the most useless tire ever if you're running competitive anything.

C'est la vie

I spent 2 months at NA Nitto corporate, i promise you their head is so far up their own ass they have no plans on making it competitive either. Just pump more into marketing.

I swear, they are convinced track numbers are subjective over there. Their culture does not breed the acceptance of reality.

 

[DocB]

I have a call in to the head Sports Car Product Manager at Hoosier (for a while now) to make the R7 in 305/35-18. cmash, I am with you. This is a very practical size for a race tire and would be especially suited to/for the R7, a DOT rated tire. If available, they would sell a ton of them. Would fit on 10-11" wheels and would fit the front of a Mustang nicely, only small spacer required.

Maybe more of you fellas could call in and request this tire in this size.

 

[csamsh]

A7 too!

 

[DocB]

OK, the A7, too. Some do use this tire for short sprint races.

JK. Don't forget the autocrossers.

 

[oldVOR]

I'd be running the tires on 18x10s.

With the RE-71, the 275/35 is the largest offering right now and it's a short tire at 25.5"

As csamsh indicated, a 305/35 on 18x11's would be perfect.

The only thing close in a Rival S is a 315/30-18 (another short tire at 25.5").

Anyone run smaller overall diameter tires (25.5 or less) on their S197 and have feedback?

 

[Mark Aubele]

Anyone run smaller overall diameter tires (25.5 or less) on their S197 and have feedback?

Pretty much anyone racing these cars on Hoosier runs the short tire. Beyond the change and gearing and increased fender gap there really aren't many disadvantages. Car is really low, when I drive the car on the street with the race setup (315/30r18s)
It scrapes on everything.

I seem to remember Terry running on a tall Hoosier or V710 they don't make anymore (295/40r18?) and I think he said they sucked. Sidewall gets pretty tall when an 18" tire gets much over 26". One thing people forget when they bitch about big wheels is as the tire gets taller the wheel has to get bigger to avoid having a huge sidewall.

 

[Sky Render]

Oh, I forgot the Bridgestones only come in 35 profile. Might go with the RS3s instead, since I can get them in a 285/35.

 

[oldVOR]

Had to break out the calculator since I was envisioning a greater rpm change going from OEM tire diameter of 27.0'ish to race tire diameter of 25.5'ish. It works out to a little less than 200 rpm's higher to maintain same mph, not as big as I was initially thinking.

Car is really low, when I drive the car on the street with the race setup (315/30r18s) It scrapes on everything.

Curious, how much clearance do you have at the front fascia to ground and chassis to ground?

 

[csamsh]

Pretty much anyone racing these cars on Hoosier runs the short tire. Beyond the change and gearing and increased fender gap there really aren't many disadvantages. Car is really low, when I drive the car on the street with the race setup (315/30r18s)
It scrapes on everything.

I seem to remember Terry running on a tall Hoosier or V710 they don't make anymore (295/40r18?) and I think he said they sucked. Sidewall gets pretty tall when an 18" tire gets much over 26". One thing people forget when they bitch about big wheels is as the tire gets taller the wheel has to get bigger to avoid having a huge sidewall.

Yeah I agree here....gotta run the 30's. Best thing you can do is run 3.31's in the axle, and...if you're feeling bold, raise that rev limiter.

The taller tires you mention are the 315/35/18 Kumho V720 (not competitive, incredibly expensive, hard to find) and the 295/40/18 Hoosier A (not made anymore). I remember they did a comparo at an event between the 295 Hoosier on a 10" wheel and the 315 on the 11/12 stagger, and the 295's did not fare well. Maybe they would have done better on the 11...who knows...but it's somewhat of a moot point as they're not available anymore.

This is what you end up with using a 25.5, 3.31, and 7000rpm. Not terrible. Maybe iffy for a really fast autocross, great for tracks, at least around here. It's rare to break 120 with stockish coyote power in Texas or Oklahoma unless you're at TWS or COTA.