So Australia has finally got its act together and the RE71R are being released later this month and the RS4 looks to be released in a month or two. Currently being offered a preorder for the RE71R but just wondering if I should hold out till the RS4 gets released?
Anyone used both yet or have a comparison of either VS the RS3? Track only BTW. Don't care about street driving. Will be going 255/40 all round.

Have used RS3 in the past and loved them. Longevity and price wise they can't be beaten imo. My lap times are also pretty fast/competitive on our local tracks.
Currently using A050 and they're amazing but just too expensive and I want to go back to a street tyre anyway.

Any information on topic is appreciated.

 

Here's a thread on the R-S4 and posts from me here and here. I ran R-S3s on an early 240Z (chassis not as refined as the S2000) so hard to say how much improvement is due to the tire, but I think the R-S4 is a significant improvement over the old R-S3.

As for comparing to RE71R, the consensus seems to be that it's a stickier tire that wears faster. So you have to decide where you fall on that continuum balancing speed vs. cost. I think that if you were happy with the R-S3, then you'll really like the R-S4.

 

From what ive seen so far the Re71 is still the top choice for all out dry grip if that's what your primary goal is. R comp adhesion levels, and then starts to fall off throughout day as most extreme summers can.

 

I have nothing but pleasant things to say about the RE71R that I ran last season. I am leaning toward the RS-4 for the upcoming season. I am considering it for 2 reasons: getting 1-2 more events out of a set would be great for my budget, and the 71r was a good enough tire that it masked several mistakes. I need to clean my line up, so scrubbing a little grip should help me to work on those issues.

 

I read through that thread after I posted this. Some good info but no one has really done any solid back to back comparisons yet which sucks.
Seems like the RE71R is the way to go if lap times and grip is the only concern. I don't drive the car other than to/from track days so my only real concern is how many days I'll get out of them. Current A050 will last about 6 track days and at $2500 a set thats just way too expensive. On the other end of the spectrum the RS3 used to last me 1.5 years or 12-15 trackdays and all the street driving in between. It'd be awesome if we could get a street tyre with the RE71R performance but the RS3 longevity but we're not at that point yet.

Thanks for the info

Yeah seems that way. Dry grip is the main focus and in Australia I'm going to guess that the pricing will be similar.
Just need to gauge how long the RE71R will last now. If I can get more track days out of them than the A050 and say get them to last around a year/10 track days I'll be more than happy with them.

Good to hear
How many events roughly did you get out of the RE71R last year? I'm hoping for around 9/10 track days which is usually what I do in a year.
I may do what you have done and just get the RE71R and then once the RS4 are released give them a try

 

I got 6 events out of them so far, with enough left for 1 more. Might have had enough for 2 more days if it wasn't for the excessive outside shoulder wear. If I would have flipped them, I would have got a few more events. Around 1500 street miles too- driving to and from events and 1 mountain drive weekend.
If you are looking for 10 events, RS-4 will be your tire.

 

Hmm going by your use though that will be 7 events + the possibility of a couple more if you rotate so that should reach my 10 track day goal. You also have done way more street miles than I would ever do on them. My local track is 10km (6 miles) from my house and the other is about 100km (60 miles). My RS3 in the past have lasted me easily 1.5 years so 12 or so track days and also I used to do a lot more street driving so they're definitely the tyre to get if you still street drive a fair bit. Not really an issue for me now though.
My main goal is lap times so I think I'm just going to grab the RE71R and test them out. Even if they last the 6 track days but have similar times to my A050 I'll be happy as the RE71R are less than half the price.

 

Where about in AUS are you? Have you ever compared the RS3 to the ad08r?
I just rotated my ad08r's and was thinking i might try the RS3.

 

I'm in Sydney.
I've used both ad08r and rs3. Brand new out of the box the rs3 is the quicker tyre but it's performance tapers off quicker than the ad08r which is more consistent for longer. Ad08r are also better in wet conditions over the rs3. Track days on the wet are scary on rs3.
For the price difference though I don't feel that the ad08r is that much better. Even with the 4 for 3 sales the ad08r is still more expensive than the rs3

 

Me too! Are you going to the SMSP Brabham super sprint in august? I was planning to go but i broke my foot and not sure if it will be healed enough by then and i need to figure out a random CEL im getting.

Thanks for the input about the tyres, i got my AD08Rs for $350 a tyre (255/400R17) but i know sometimes there is a 4 for 3 deal. How much for the RS3s generally go for?