Street or R-Compound Tires?

[thstone]

Ok, I've been going to the track regularly all year and have accumulated 16 track days thus far. I've been driving on low UTQG-rated street tires (~180). I should have about 22 track days by the end of the year and plan for a similar track schedule in 2012.

My car is a 1999 base model with stock suspension. Alignment is maxed out at -1.5 deg camber. Otherwise, all I've done is add safety equipment such as a racing seat, 6-pt harnesses, and a Brey-Krauss roll bar extension.

My goals are to continue to work on my driving skills and become more competitive in my class in time trial events (recently TT licensed). I'm thinking about a RoW030 or PSS9 suspension upgrade early next year (tax return money).

But right now, I'm thinking about making the move to an R-compound tire such as the Toyo R888. I would get second set of wheels for the R-compound tires and swap them prior to each track event.

Is this a sensible move or should I stay with the street compounds?

[Topless]

Welcome to the slippery slope Thomas. My general recommendation is to run DEs in your car for 1 year on street tires and re-evaluate. You are here... join the party!

Some considerations:

R-comps crave negative camber so you may want to do PSS9s first to get the most performance and life out of them. Otherwise you will shred the outer edges of your new soft compound tires and tire costs will soar (ask me how I know this ). $$$

You may find that you actually need two sets of wheels/tires with R-comps. 1 fresh set for timed runs and one older set for practice runs. $$$

888s are really nice tires for the first 10 HC but fall off fairly steadily after that. They also run best with -3 deg camber which requires lots of suspension $$ to get there. NT-01s have softer sidewalls and are more camber forgiving on our cars. They also seem to be more consistent throughout tire life. If I manage my tires well I can get 50 HC (10 days) on a set of NT-01s.

Lastly, R-comps are marvelous once you have them dialed in and are totally predictable during all day lapping. They have often been compared to crack cocaine in terms of addictive properties except that R-comps are a lot more expensive. $$$

So if none of this frightens you, put $2k in the bank for your 2012 tire budget and start shredding some soft rubber.

If you come out to the PCA Pomona Fairplex TT in Nov, look for me & I'll take you out for a session. My car is a fully developed BSX Boxster on PSS9s, comp sways and NT-01s at min. class weight.

[j.fro]

At our last autocross, the DE/AX chair wanted to show us just what the difference between R-comps and street tires is. He did 3 runs on street tires, then swapped wheels and did 3 on R-comps. The car is a modified 914 with a late 911 SC 3.2. On the street tires he was high 50's...the r-comps consistently dropped 3-4 seconds from his times.

Using R-comps, I can get about 16-18 AX's from the rears (a bit over 1 season), and 25 or so from the fronts (end of the second season is pushing it!) I drive to and from events on these tires, which is 120-150 miles round trip.

Just did the math...looks like I'm paying about $50/event for tires! That's just under $10/run. Nothin cheap about racing Porsches!

[BYprodriver]

Michelin Super Sports

[MikenOH]

A couple of thoughts:

As a former '99' MY owner I'd suggest the ROW 030 suspension--very cost effective.

Regarding tires and assuming you're on stock 7"/8.5" 17" rims, think about these as alternatives to R comps if you aren't trailing your car:

Nitto NT05
Kumho XS
Hankook RS-3

All can be driven on the street, have way better traction than regular street tires, good for minimum 10-12 track days depending on how bad you beat them up--and best--not real expensive; I think the Hankooks are under $500 for the set--dirt cheap.

A second set of wheels is the way to go, BTW; used boxster style wheels are pretty cheap ($500?).

Last I didn't hear anything about brakes; if you're doing DE's think about a pad for tracking; Pagid makes a few that will work if you use OEM pads on the street.
Same thing about fluid; I like Motul 600

[Mrmaddbrad]

Bottom line:

If you want to be competitive in a stock class you need to run R-compounds. (hoosiers or 710's are by far the best)...

Now if youre just looking for fun to money ratio, performance street tires will get you what you need with a ton of fun behind them... But R-compounds will always be faster (unless theres standing water on the track), so you just need to decide if its worth the money to you.

[j.fro]

+1
"If you want to be competitive in a stock class you need to run R-compounds. (hoosiers or 710's are by far the best)..."

[Topless]

As I understand it Thstone is a track guy looking for a good track tire. He doesn't do SCCA Solo at all. Different game, different rules, different tools. YMMV

[jsceash]

Have you tried something like the Hankook RS3. Still a street tire has a 140 tread wear and a pretty solid block patern. My last Instructor recommend these as a step before the R compounds. His reason was they will still howl a little before they break loose. R's are likely to break loose with no notice and at track speed that, well.

[thstone]

@ jsceash - thanks for the feedback on the Hankook's! Sounds like I will try them next. My current set of Kumho XS's will be done after next weekend's pair of DE's.

@Pat - Hmm. I've heard oil starvation mentioned in passing but nothing in detail. I'll start a new thread in Boxster racing to see what everyone has to say. Thanks for mentioning this - sounds important!

[thstone]

Down the slippery slope I go.... Bought a set of used 17" OEM wheels today. $350. Its a buyers market. A little scuffed here and there but perfert for mouting the R-comps.

[Topless]

Yahoooooooooooo!!!!