High Performance Tires for 17" 98 Box

[jonasjmac]

Looking for rec's on extreme high performance tires for track days, 98 Boxster. Not R compound ready yet. My local tire ship says the boxster is limited due to its tire size

Tires 205/50/17
Tires. 255/40/17

They recommended Yokohama Neova
No go on Re-71(they don't come in the right size). Have those on my 911 and LOVE them
any other thoughts?

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by jonasjmac

Looking for rec's on extreme high performance tires for track days, 98 Boxster. Not R compound ready yet. My local tire ship says the boxster is limited due to its tire size

Tires 205/50/17
Tires. 255/40/17

They recommended Yokohama Neova
No go on Re-71(they don't come in the right size). Have those on my 911 and LOVE them
any other thoughts?

I think the RE-11 comes in those sizes. But if you go to 225/45/17 in the front it opens up around 9 extreme summer performance tires. I am running Hankook RS-3 in those sizes, but there are several other good choices, I think including the new RE-71:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?frontWidth=225%2F&frontRatio=45&frontDiameter=17&rearWidth=255%2F&rearRatio=40&rearDiameter=17&zip-code=

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE-71R&frontTire=245WR7RE71RXL&rearTire=54WR7RE71RXL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

225/45/17 is run by a lot of folks and helps dial out some of the understeer, and if you call Tire Rack they will tell you it is an approved size for the Boxster in the front. A lot of folks on here run that size besides me, they are the ones I got the idea from.

[Top_Ramen]

x2 on Hankook R-S3's (225's in front 255's in back)

[Topless]

RS3, RE11, RE71R, BFG Rivals all offer awesome dry grip. RS3 and RE11 are decent in the rain as well. 225/255 is the ticket.

[jsceash]

The Hankook RS3 work well on and off the track. There were several good comparison threads if you search "RS3" or "RE-11"

[pharaohjb]

I've been very happy with my Kumho Ecsta XS. Good grip on the track. The best part is that they're NOT unidirectional, so I can at least just swap left/right after each event to help distribute wear and get some additional life out of them. I'm currently on my second set. 225/45 up front, 255/40 rear.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Top_Ramen

x2 on Hankook R-S3's (225's in front 255's in back)

+3 on the R-S3's and please go to 225 in the front. With a 205 in the front the car will suffer from terminal understeer on the track - the 225 will give the car more balanced handling.

[CrashTest]

Another vote for 225 in the front.

I put on some HTR ZIII's this season and really like them on the street. No track days yet.

[JayG]

I am buying a set of 17's for track and AX and intend to put RS-3's on them

They are coming with brand new Sumi HTR III 201/255 on them. I'm gonna do the next AX with them and see how they preform. May even try them at the the track in late OCT, but from the comments on using 205's, may just have to get the RS3's before the track

[steved0x]

My first two track weekends were on sumis with 205 front. They were fine but I was so new I was barely pushing it. You are more experienced so you will be pushing harder, and when you go to a 200 TW tire with 225 front you will really be able to feel it. But if the sumis are free with the wheels... You may as well thrash them on the track or use that set as your street tires and get RS3 for the other set, what do you have on there now?