The time has come to replace the tires on the S2000 simply due to the age of them. All I do these days with the car is track events so I'm looking for a recommendation for a good tire for track use.

Video below is of the track I am most often on if it matters. Thanks for your time!

 

Need more info about what you're shooting for here.

What sizes on what size wheels? All out lap time? Do wet manners matter? If so, how much do they factor in? Need 20 minute sessions without drop off or is it more worth to have outright speed for the first few and have drop-off as they overheat? Street tires or slicks? 200TW or any treadwear limitation at all? Does wear matter at all?

 

For best lap times? A052.

 

215/45 R17 87W Front
245/40 ZR17 95W Rear

Yes really all about lap time and grip. Wet does not matter as it's never driven in the wet. Would like consistent grip for entire session. Wear doesn't really matter but I also don't want to be going through a set every few track days. I'd say street tires as I still drive 30 miles to and from the track. Appreciate your thoughts.

 

If you want consistent laptimes for the entire run session, AVOID the Yoko A052 - it's only good for 2 hot laps, after which it drops in lap times (but still maintains good feedback, response, and break away characteristics). It's really tailored for Time Attack and Auto-cross. I'd only get this tire if you were looking to immediately set a fast hot lap in the session and come into the pits early - ending the session with your fast banker lap.

Falken RT660 - not as fast as the A052, but better session consistency. Will still get greasy and drop off in the session. Think of it as a slightly better RE71R

Kuhmo v730 - not as fast as the RT660, but consistent for an entire session. Great wear characteristics. Takes about 1.5 laps to get heat into them. Think of them as a much improved Nitto NT-01.

Bridgestone RE71RS - supposedly, the new tire to get. Improved on all of the RE71R characteristics, including lapping consistency for an entire session (i haven't run them yet. My next tire that i'll be picking up this summer).

Hankook RS4 - Old technology tire. Out classed by all of the previous aforementioned tires above, except that they wear like iron and last forever. They have great lapping consistency, and are easy to recover driving characteristics if you over drive them. I'd rather get the v730 if I was looking for longevity and consistency.

That's the short list of 200 TW worth mentioning.

In the 100 TW category, I don't think there's anything worth running anymore. They've all been out classed by the latest generation 200 TW tires. Everything in this category needs an update. Nitto NT-01, Toyo RA-1, Toyo R888, Toyo R888R. They all under perform the Kuhmo v730.

 

^That's a great guide. I personally went with the Kumho v730 this year. My car has been on A052's as a competitive autocross car but is moving to a HPDE and eventually Time Trials car. I still want to be able to show up at an autocross and not get wiped though. V730 is fast enough unless you're trying to compete in the pointy end of the field at autocross/time attack. Aside from that, it's probably about 1s off per 60s on course, as far as I can tell, but will last much longer than A052's,660s, and probably the RE71RS. I have heard not great things about them in the wet. I just got mine on and have no real impressions yet except for the street which doesn't count for anything.

 

Thanks much for the detailed advice! Looks like I'm going with a set of V730's!

 

You can read my more extensive review on them here. I now have 5 track days on these. I'll get one more on them. And, like mentioned above - they're garbage in the wet. Outer blocks wear to nothing (great in the dry, not in the wet), so you end up with only the two circumferential grooves after about 2-3 track days.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/wheels-t...-v730-1205904/

 

Falken RT660 meet your criteria, if value for dollar is a consideration.

You're just doing HPDE, as it seems. Not trying to win any TA or race series.

So to help answer your question....

• do you still feel like you have a lot to learn, from a driver perspective? Or do you fancy yourself as well seasoned?
• And how much of a consideration is money spent on tires?
  • How much track time do you do per year?

 

Thanks. Correct not trying to win any series, just have availability to go on track anytime I want to try to improve my own skills and want to go with a tire that will work well with that.

Kind of middle of the road on what I need to learn. Was fairly well seasoned, been to over 20 events, but am just getting into track events after a decade off.
Money isn't a huge consideration, looking over the options already presented they aren't that different in cost that I'd use that as a determining factor. Plan to do about 6 full day track events a year in this car for the next year or two but will eventually step up to many a month.