i forgot to add the Dunlop Sport Max TT to my previous post, i thought the sport max series was only available in 17" and higher until i looked at the booklet tirerack just sent out last week. i know the DW tire life will be more the the star spec, but as we know, it is difficult to compare tire UTQG ratings across different brands and compare the DW tire life (340) vs Sport Max TT (240) vs star spec (200).

on a side note, i do currently drive 1-2.5 hours for work related meetings sometimes about once or twice every 2 weeks giving a coworker a ride (star spec does have tire growl, but the S2000 is pretty noisy all things considered).

 

Bought the Dunlop Star Spec z1's for my ap1 wheels, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. Very satisfied and will buy again. I recently bought ap2v1 wheels on a thread here and will be buying z1's for them, too.

Will be checking tire rack for the review.

 

Stiffness of the stock AP1 sizes is absolutely FINE. PLENTY stiff for street and track usage.

I've tracked my S on the stock-sized Star Specs and then on Kumho DOT-R compounds (Victoracer and V700 Ecsta) back-to-back. The R-comps are stiffer, no doubt, but the StarSpecs are quite good in this regard, IMO.

 

You typically need to make one or the other a priority. In other words, better grip tends to come with the cost of less tread life.

 

 

No, I speak from experience behind the wheel too. The grip levels are still great, and wet grip is great. The ride quality is better, it smooths out more bumps, but the handling response is sub-par.

You can even try the jiggle test. Sit on the ground next to the wheel, grab a spoke and shake violently (put your weight into it). Then let go and watch your S2K jiggle like bowel of jello Now try the same type of maneuver on the road, jiggling the steering for the same effect, but now with snap oversteer! Granted, the grab and jiggle test doesn't really test the compression of the sidewall, only its flex side to side. The S02s flex side to side too, but they do not compress vertically near as much. Just a useful visualization of whats happening to the sidewall while executing that round-about slalom.

I'm not kidding around here people.

 

[QUOTE=ZDan,Apr 7 2010, 08:30 AM] Stiffness of the stock AP1 sizes is absolutely FINE.

 

I've been beating on these the last two days. The 40 series Specs are definitively the best tire I've ever tried. Even in the wet the grip is astounding.

 

I doubt that S02's are stiffer than Kumho V700 VictoRacers or V700 Ecsta R-comp tires.

But even if they *are*, the point is, sidewall compliance isn't an issue with AP1 size StarSpecs. They are more than up to trackdays, autoX, and the hardest street usage imagineable.

If snap oversteer is a concern, more lateral stiffness isn't necessarily always "better", anyway. Some lateral compliance will allow the tire greater transitional grip. Of course excessive compliance would be a problem, but StarSpecs do not exhibit excessive compliance in AP1 sizes on the S2000.

 

There is trade off when it comes to sidewall stiffness/compliance. With a stiffer sidewall, you might get better "feel" and quicker transition, but you sacrifice forgiveness and warning when at the edge of the grip level.