What are your fav brands and sizes? usually, how many track days do you get out of your set...?

 

I run Hoosier R6 on my 997.1 TT. 19" stock factory size front and rear ( 235X35 and 315X30 ). I get between 8 and 12 good heat cycles depending on track and how hard I'm pushing the car. I've also run Toyo R888 but I love the Hoosiers and won't go back to Toyo's. Tires are an expensive "habit" but once you try the Hoosiers it's hard to be happy on any thing else.

 

Thanks, I have heard good things abt Hoosiers, may be I will try those this summer....I usually use the Michelin Sport Cups but honestly they are just too expensive

 

Then Hoosiers will be just as bad or worse considering their short lifespan. You may be better off with a Nitto NT01 or a Toyo 888. Both have a considerably longer life, however, they won't have the same high grip level as the Hoosiers, but still much better than street tires. That's the trade off, longer life= less grip, better grip= shorter life.

 

Sport cups are going to be your best all around bet. Hoosiers grip way better, but you'll need another set of rims and you can't drive to the track.
Like landjet said, it's all a trade off.

 

don't skimp on the track tires for your $130k car. You can never have too much grip, especially when you are hurtling sideways off the track at 130mph...

 

Opinions please: On a track where a Hoosier can turn a 2:00 minute lap, what will the same car turn with r-comps and with street tires (RE-11's, PS2's etc.) Thanks,

 

As it's been stated, tires are always a compromise or trade-off.
Over the years I've tried many but if one things remains true is that prices keep going up.
All through the 90's I was a full enclosed trailer guy but now am a more simple track guy (no trailer) so I seek a tire that's competitive and streetable.
The Hoosier R6 is great but a strickly a track tire therefore must be prepared to trailer or change at the track. I'm no longer that guy.
Loved the Pirelli Corsa's (come up to temp faster than the MPSC) but prices have become "stupid money".
The MPSC are good but are CRAP in the wet plus pricing is also ridiculous.
Have tried others in the process of the quest but have ended up with IMHO the best street and track competitive R-compound tire, the Toyo R888.
They have reasonable wear for a treadwear of 100 R cpd tire. The rears do 3 or 4 weekend track events plus all the DD use in between.
Great strong sidewalls, great dry grip and good wet grip. Have driven them on the street in a savage So. Florida downpour w/o an issue at hwy speeds (80 mph).
Good tread design for water displacement. STD sizes for GT3/RS in 19".


As an aside, all the Heffner Motorsport TT Gallardo builds with >1000 whp are getting the Toyo R888's.

Cheers
Ranger

 

If you are looking for an all around tire consider the new Corsa N1s. They hold even better than the old ones and also are perfect for everyday, wet etc..
To do better than that you ll have to either have track rims with slicks or compromise on wet and wear&tear big time..

 

So, I get the idea that you guys have been using the track tires on ur regular rims and have been riding on those during the summer months? I have historically had a separate track set up and as it has become more challenging to torque wheels accurately everytime they are changed it has become a headache for me. I am inclined to just change them once I get into the summer months so that I can use the tracks for street use. The Toyos seem to be a good option and I want to try them this summer. For some reason I have never had too much faith or Pirelli except the Sottozeros....and Corsas are as expensive as the Sport Cups if not more?

 

I agree with you but I am a track junkie and spending $2K + every couple of months is getting to me

 

In response to Steamboat's question IMO fresh Hoosiers are worth 2-3 seconds ( at least! ) vs. street tires. I would agree with others that Hoosiers are not for street so you must trailer your car, but that is another topic for debate. Once you go to track tires another set or two of wheels is a must ( especially if you heat cycle new tires yourself ). To the Op, if you are serious about being a track junky I think it's a natural progression to move to a Hoosier type tire, but I would not do that unless you are fairly experienced and have many track days under your belt. The feedback you get from a street tire on the track is a nice safety feature as your progressing because the Hoosiers have great grip to the limit but when they let go there is no warning.

 

Wow great thread and great reports by "seasoned veterans."
The Pirelli Corsa, as GT3 ranger said, is borderline "stupid money." This is approximately what I was quoted a few months ago IIRC (anyone please correct me as needed):
Pirelli Corsa N rated about $2400 for the set
Michelin Cup N rated about 2100
Michelin Cup non N rated about 1700
Toyo R888 about 1500 (???)
I went with the Pirelli Corsa because a few people think it has better wet performance than Michelin and overall the "best" - YMMV, and I want to see what it feels like. But my next set I will try something else, perhaps the Michelin Cup, just so I could learn something. I've heard great things about R888 (thanks GT3 Ranger for the nice report), the only I don't like about it is the weight.

Questions please:
1. Anyone has opinion about using Michelin non N rated tires? After all, Toyo is not N rated either, so what's the big deal?
2. What about that new Pirelli, Trofeo?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...-turbo-14.html
Here is my informal tire weight ranking, courtesy of Tire Rack's Tires for Porsche 997 Turbo 235/35-19 front, 305/30-19 rear (pls pardon and correct any mistake).
The number in bold are the weights of one front plus one rear tire:
Michelin Cup: front/rear 20/27 = 47 lbs
Pirelli Corsa: 21/26 = 47
Continental Extreme Contact DW: 21/28 = 49
Michelin PS2: 22/28 = 50
Continental SportContact 3: 22/28 = 50
Pirelli Rosso: 22/29 = 51
Bridgestone RE050A: 24/31 = 55
Hantook Ventus V12: 24/32=56
Toyo R888: 25/31 = 56
Bridgestone RE11: 27/31 = 59

 

Can, thanks for the weights. Can anyone supply the Hoosier R6 weights? Also, can anyone comment on running a 295/30 rear as they are significantly less expensive.

 

Non-N cups are softer and don't have the extra rain groove. They are track only and will be gone in 2000 street miles