Help deciding on tires
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 529
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From: Tallahassee, FL
Help deciding on tires
Hey guys, Im buying a new set of wheels for my s (17x7.5 +45 front and 17x9 +63 rear) and i'm having trouble deciding which tires to go with or if I should just swap my tires over to the new rims. Im running ap2v1 rims right now with 225/45/17 and 255/20/17 tires. Id prefer not to roll my fenders and id like to keep running the same tire sizes since I don't have any rubbing issues right now and the new rims will only stick out another 16 mm in the front and 8mm in the back. I was wondering what the best street/ autox tires would be. The car is my dd so i'd like to get at least 20k miles out of the tires and not be scared to drive in the rain. Right now i'm looking at michelin pilot super sports, CONTINENTAL
EXTREMECONTACT DW, BFGOODRICH G-FORCE RIVAL, DUNLOP DIREZZA ZII STAR SPEC, and HANKOOK VENTUS R-S3 but i'm open to all suggestions. Can anyone running these tires chime in and tell me how they handle and how many miles you expect out of them?
EXTREMECONTACT DW, BFGOODRICH G-FORCE RIVAL, DUNLOP DIREZZA ZII STAR SPEC, and HANKOOK VENTUS R-S3 but i'm open to all suggestions. Can anyone running these tires chime in and tell me how they handle and how many miles you expect out of them?
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,863
Likes: 125
From: Pawtucket, RI
Honestly, the Michelin Pilot Super Sports are a big disappointment for me on the FD. At the track they are actually kinda OK, but surprisingly real-world street grip even in moderate temps (like 55F) is not anything like as good as the RS3-V2s I have on the S2k, or even the Nitto NT01s I had on the FD for Summer duty. Worse, when they give up grip in street conditions, they *really* give it up, their sliding grip is abysmally low.
Best street/autox would probably be Bridgestone RE71R, but tire life might be short.
I've been happy with RS3 and RS3-V2 on my S2k, I've gotten 20k miles out of them. It's critical to have low toe-in, I run 0.2 degrees total rear toe rather than the AP1 spec which is twice that or more.
You might run 215/45-17 up front with +45 offset. 255/40-17 rears on +63 is no problem at all, only 2mm off the stock AP2 CR fitment.
Best street/autox would probably be Bridgestone RE71R, but tire life might be short.
I've been happy with RS3 and RS3-V2 on my S2k, I've gotten 20k miles out of them. It's critical to have low toe-in, I run 0.2 degrees total rear toe rather than the AP1 spec which is twice that or more.
You might run 215/45-17 up front with +45 offset. 255/40-17 rears on +63 is no problem at all, only 2mm off the stock AP2 CR fitment.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 529
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From: Tallahassee, FL
Honestly, the Michelin Pilot Super Sports are a big disappointment for me on the FD. At the track they are actually kinda OK, but surprisingly real-world street grip even in moderate temps (like 55F) is not anything like as good as the RS3-V2s I have on the S2k, or even the Nitto NT01s I had on the FD for Summer duty. Worse, when they give up grip in street conditions, they *really* give it up, their sliding grip is abysmally low.
Best street/autox would probably be Bridgestone RE71R, but tire life might be short.
I've been happy with RS3 and RS3-V2 on my S2k, I've gotten 20k miles out of them. It's critical to have low toe-in, I run 0.2 degrees total rear toe rather than the AP1 spec which is twice that or more.
You might run 215/45-17 up front with +45 offset. 255/40-17 rears on +63 is no problem at all, only 2mm off the stock AP2 CR fitment.
Best street/autox would probably be Bridgestone RE71R, but tire life might be short.
I've been happy with RS3 and RS3-V2 on my S2k, I've gotten 20k miles out of them. It's critical to have low toe-in, I run 0.2 degrees total rear toe rather than the AP1 spec which is twice that or more.
You might run 215/45-17 up front with +45 offset. 255/40-17 rears on +63 is no problem at all, only 2mm off the stock AP2 CR fitment.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,863
Likes: 125
From: Pawtucket, RI
NT05s look cool but aren't in the same league as RE71R, ZII, RS3-v2 et al.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kASM04zuHlo (times compared at 9:27)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kASM04zuHlo (times compared at 9:27)
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,354
Likes: 2
From: Mukilteo, WA
Any other modifications done to your car, or is it basically stock? I'm not sure I'd just throw on NT-01's and start autocrossing. But I'd be interested in knowing just how long your differential and clutch last afterwards. Usually the people running NT01's already have a fair amount of modifications done first. 
NT-05's I have no experience with, but from what I've heard they aren't as grippy as the R-S3 VII, ZII SS, or RE-71R.
Funny how I spent forever typing up my post, and the more experienced ZDan just basically said the same thing as what I was thinking about the NT-05.
And for the NT-01's my experience involves riding shotgun around the Ridge Motorsports racetrack, I'll have to ask him next time what all of his upgrades are other than a wing and coilovers and weight reduction, but he was nearly keeping up with much fasters cars being N/A--with the exception of the long straight (GTR's, 911's, etc.)
I highly doubt he's on his original clutch and differential.
Another thing to consider, for autocross I've heard the NT-01's can put you up against the same class that runs Hoosiers, so in a sense it would make you (much) less competitive. Budget friendly though for such a grippy tire, and with the right setup it would make for faster times if that is your main concern, just remember upgrades are necessary for true competition tires or stuff is more likely to break on the car--$.
My advice is stick to extreme performance tires, go with the R-S3 V2, ZII SS, or Bridgestone RE-71R and use as a competition and summer street tire. ZII SS and RE-71R are known to go on rebate from time to time.
Keep your other/old (uhp a/s or summer, max performance)?! tires you already have for street during the winter, can't it occasionally reach freezing or below in Tallahassee?
NT-05's I have no experience with, but from what I've heard they aren't as grippy as the R-S3 VII, ZII SS, or RE-71R.
Funny how I spent forever typing up my post, and the more experienced ZDan just basically said the same thing as what I was thinking about the NT-05.
And for the NT-01's my experience involves riding shotgun around the Ridge Motorsports racetrack, I'll have to ask him next time what all of his upgrades are other than a wing and coilovers and weight reduction, but he was nearly keeping up with much fasters cars being N/A--with the exception of the long straight (GTR's, 911's, etc.)
I highly doubt he's on his original clutch and differential.
Another thing to consider, for autocross I've heard the NT-01's can put you up against the same class that runs Hoosiers, so in a sense it would make you (much) less competitive. Budget friendly though for such a grippy tire, and with the right setup it would make for faster times if that is your main concern, just remember upgrades are necessary for true competition tires or stuff is more likely to break on the car--$.
My advice is stick to extreme performance tires, go with the R-S3 V2, ZII SS, or Bridgestone RE-71R and use as a competition and summer street tire. ZII SS and RE-71R are known to go on rebate from time to time.
Keep your other/old (uhp a/s or summer, max performance)?! tires you already have for street during the winter, can't it occasionally reach freezing or below in Tallahassee?
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,863
Likes: 125
From: Pawtucket, RI
NT01s are going to be quicker than the "street" RE71R, RS3, etc., but still way off of Hoosier R7/A7 and BFG R1/R1S. But they do have the benefit of being streetable. I drove around most of the year on NT01s on the FD a couple of years ago including a road trip to Watkins Glen, no problem. They actually have more cool-weather street grip than PSS! But avoid standing water...
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 529
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From: Tallahassee, FL
Any other modifications done to your car, or is it basically stock? I'm not sure I'd just throw on NT-01's and start autocrossing. But I'd be interested in knowing just how long your differential and clutch last afterwards. Usually the people running NT01's already have a fair amount of modifications done first.
NT-05's I have no experience with, but from what I've heard they aren't as grippy as the R-S3 VII, ZII SS, or RE-71R.
Funny how I spent forever typing up my post, and the more experienced ZDan just basically said the same thing as what I was thinking about the NT-05.
And for the NT-01's my experience involves riding shotgun around the Ridge Motorsports racetrack, I'll have to ask him next time what all of his upgrades are other than a wing and coilovers and weight reduction, but he was nearly keeping up with much fasters cars being N/A--with the exception of the long straight (GTR's, 911's, etc.)
I highly doubt he's on his original clutch and differential.
Another thing to consider, for autocross I've heard the NT-01's can put you up against the same class that runs Hoosiers, so in a sense it would make you (much) less competitive. Budget friendly though for such a grippy tire, and with the right setup it would make for faster times if that is your main concern, just remember upgrades are necessary for true competition tires or stuff is more likely to break on the car--$.
My advice is stick to extreme performance tires, go with the R-S3 V2, ZII SS, or Bridgestone RE-71R and use as a competition and summer street tire. ZII SS and RE-71R are known to go on rebate from time to time.
Keep your other/old (uhp a/s or summer, max performance)?! tires you already have for street during the winter, can't it occasionally reach freezing or below in Tallahassee?
NT-05's I have no experience with, but from what I've heard they aren't as grippy as the R-S3 VII, ZII SS, or RE-71R.
Funny how I spent forever typing up my post, and the more experienced ZDan just basically said the same thing as what I was thinking about the NT-05.
And for the NT-01's my experience involves riding shotgun around the Ridge Motorsports racetrack, I'll have to ask him next time what all of his upgrades are other than a wing and coilovers and weight reduction, but he was nearly keeping up with much fasters cars being N/A--with the exception of the long straight (GTR's, 911's, etc.)
I highly doubt he's on his original clutch and differential.
Another thing to consider, for autocross I've heard the NT-01's can put you up against the same class that runs Hoosiers, so in a sense it would make you (much) less competitive. Budget friendly though for such a grippy tire, and with the right setup it would make for faster times if that is your main concern, just remember upgrades are necessary for true competition tires or stuff is more likely to break on the car--$.
My advice is stick to extreme performance tires, go with the R-S3 V2, ZII SS, or Bridgestone RE-71R and use as a competition and summer street tire. ZII SS and RE-71R are known to go on rebate from time to time.
Keep your other/old (uhp a/s or summer, max performance)?! tires you already have for street during the winter, can't it occasionally reach freezing or below in Tallahassee?
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,037
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From: SoCal
You won't get 20k miles out f RE-71R's. But they would be my choice.
225 fronts will most likely rub and require inner liner mods and/or rolled fenders. Even the 215 fronts will rub a little with 17x7.5 +45. A better match for the +63 rears would be the +50 fronts.
225 fronts will most likely rub and require inner liner mods and/or rolled fenders. Even the 215 fronts will rub a little with 17x7.5 +45. A better match for the +63 rears would be the +50 fronts.
