HI!

Getting psyched for the summer season. I need both summer street tires and possibly track tires. I do 3-5 DE days each year and am running in the fast group now (about 20 days experience).

First thought was to do what I have done in the past and had separate R compund (Nitto NT01) on my 18 in wheels for the track. To make it affordable, I would then get cheaper street tires than the PS2s that are now done for - likely the continiental DW or the Hankook for my 19in summer wheels.

However, I am definitely intrigued by the reviews of the new Michelin Pilot Super Sports and their ability to provide great performance and have extended longevity on the road and track.

I am not racing or even being timed. I also realize that the limiting factor as to my track speed is my technique and not the car or tires.

Tire rack is offering the Super Sports at $1500. This is a couple of hundred less than getting the other 2 sets described above ($800-$900 each).

I'd love to save a few $$ and also not need to swap wheels for my track days, even if it means these new tires will be dead by the end of the summer, as then it will be time for my snows again...

Any advice or thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance!

 

If you look at what Michelin tested the Super Sports against, like the Bridgestone RE050A, you come to the conclusion that they are not as sticky as the best street tires now available. I haven't seen any third party tests, but the tires would seem to be in the same group as the Bridgestone RE050A, not up with the top dogs - Bridgestone RE11, Yokohama AD08 and Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. We'll find out when the Tire Rack does their own test on these tires. I was hoping Michelin would come out with a tire to compete with the best street tires. I've always tracked with street tires, not R compounds, and you can do that with a lot of tires. But, the three I've mentioned will work well and handle the stress of track events.

Just as a point of reference for your decision as to driving street tires for DE, I'll get about 7 - 8 DE days on a set of Yokohama AD08s. I'm to the point in my DE driving that I'm driving the car fairly hard, so that may be a conservative number.

 

Do those tires, i.e the yokohama AD08 come in the standard size: 235/35/19 and 305/30/19? I see the first but not the second size listed on tirerack...

I do see the RE11s...

thanks!

 

No, which is why the first tire I will be trying is the Bridgestone RE11. But, the second tire will be the AD08, using the 295/30R19 in the rear. That way I can compare the tire feel, and my lap times.

 

For now the RE-11 and AD08 are your best options. Give me a call please! Thanks.

 

My street/DE tires are the N rated cups. I'm seriously considering these as well (The MSS).

 

I've always considered the Cups to be an r-compound tire, but I know people say the N rated Cups are not as soft as the 'old', non-N rated Cups. I drove the old Cups for a DE, and they certainly act like an r-compound tire.

TT, how long do your N rated Cups last you? I think you'll find the RE11 or AD08 will be closer in performance than the MSS, but, of course, won't last as long.

 

Real cups last no more than 2k miles on the street and are unusable in the rain.
N rated cups have an extra rain groove and are indeed harder. Mine are at the wear bars now after >10k street miles, 1/2 a dozen DEs, and do fine on the rain.
I've had re11s, they last a long time on the street, but get very greasy after a few heat cycles on the track, plus they are heavy as crap. I'm torn between another set of N cups at 1900 or try the MSS at 1500.

 

I'm using N rated PS2 for the street and R-compound Pirelli Trofeo's tires for the track. I've used PS2's for DE and they have good grip in a variety of weather conditions, but the trofeo's are magnificent on the track - don't expect them to last more than 5-8 events.

 

The re11 are a nice tire but as you said. very heavy i had them for a week. they slowed my car down a tenth and half from 60 to 130. i went back to sport cups and love em

 

It appears the Toyo R888 is now available in 235/19 and 305/19 sizes.

 

I went with cups on my first change. put 3 track days and another 1000 miles and toasted them,with little to show for it. I ran 1:46s consistently on the PS2s and high 1:44s on the cups Can't say 1.5 seconds is worth 3K, unless you're Bryan Spilner.

 

The website says that the 305/19 can only go on a 11.5" wheel. I asked them if they would work on the 12" wheel from my 997.1 GT3 and they said NO. Politically correct?

 

A bit blunt, but we in the trade have to answer this question a lot.

Will you get them on? Yes. Will they be stretched onto the rim? Yes. Is it safe? NO. Keep in mind the sidewalls on these are very small, and not really designed to be overly stretched. It very well could do damage to the shoulder area over time. I would not recommend over stretching a tire either. Keep in mind that on the track the reduction in sidewall exposes the rim and greatly increases your chance of de-beading a tire on a rumble strip or if you get off the track a bit. And that's when things go wrong fast.

 

It is strange that this is the size that comes from the factory and is recommended by Porsche, but on 19 by 12" rims.