I'm running these on my AP1 wheels currently and I agree with all your sentiments

 

I've been looking at these and comparing them to the Extreme Contact Sport and the Firehawk Indy 500 (yes I know that's 3 classes of tire). I really want something reasonably composed on the street and grippy enough to be fun on a back road. I don't want a harsh, loud, rock tosser. I've read a lot of really mixed reviews about these. I almost wonder if they classed them as Max Perf Summer if they wouldn't get the bad press I've seen on BMW and Miata forums.

 

This is where I am as well. I'm a back country public road driver. No need for super sticky shoes.

 

I like the Extreme Contact Sport (Continental) UTQG 340. They were excellent for the AP1 I had. I have had them on my AP2 for 2 yrs and run max camber front and rear. After 2 years and 15000 kms (2 dragon trips and touring around), the front inner shoulders are fairly worn. I will need to replace them next summer. I run RE71R for autocross. For non autocross uses, I find the 340 UTQG vs. 200 UTQG a non issue and about equal in terms of longevity- the camber wear kills tires, but I prefer the advantage around the cones.

Thanks for the information on the 007. Firehawks and RT 615K are on the short list.
darcy

 

Also highly recommend the Continental ExtremeContact Sports. I daily them with occasional track days, canyon runs, etc on my AP1 rims. Quiet, amazing grip, looks, and reasonably price. I will be buying them again.

 

I'm glad that this thread was posted as I've been eyeing these tires since I first saw them pop up on my radar.
I, too, used to work for Bridgestone and have been checking the Japanese site from time to time for information on these, so I'm glad to hear they're making the 255/40R17 and hope it will trickle into the American market. I think they'll sell enough of them if it does.
Since moving away from BFS, I have tried tires from the likes of Toyo, Michelin and Sumitomo, and have been pretty pleased for the most part, but obviously I still gravitate to Bridgestone products. Seeing as how my tires get tested in the back roads of Arkansas during the Boston Mountains Tour events that I go to twice a year, I need something with good grip, but I'm finding that as I get older I care more about having something that doesn't annoy the hell out of my while I'm driving, so this sounds like it will fit the bill nicely when it comes time to drive to Arkanasas again this October.

Thanks for the input so far. Let us know what you think as the tires get more miles on them!

 

I still enjoy them...but I'm probably only at about 1000-1200 miles on them. They're very composed on the highway, I've driven from Milwaukee to Chicago and Milwaukee to Green Bay a few times each on them and they've done very well.

 

Any word on 255/40R17 being introduced to the US market? Would love to get a square set of these

 

Good to know! I will try the ECS on my next set. From what I've read, their dry performance is on par with Michelin PSS, which should put these tires between S-04 and S007A. Also they come in 255/40 too, and their tire weight is lighter than most in the same size. Wet performance is decent too. Really seems like a win-win tire for the street.

 

any word on these 255/40/17s coming to America? Id buy a set now.