I'm trying to figure out which tire set to use for a rainy track day.

I've got a couple track days (Thunderhill and Laguna Seca) coming up in mid-Dec. My Dunlop Direzza Star Specs have ~12k miles on them and have about 5/32" tread remaining. I also have a dedicated track set of R888 with 2 track days, so plenty of tire remaining. Both sets are in 215f/245r/17" OEM sizes. In case it threatens rain on those days, which tires do you recommend I use? I'm running in high intermediate, but have only run one partially wet track day under my belt (Laguna Seca 2 years ago). I've got time to switch tires between the two days but am driving to each track and can't bring a backup set with me.

Thanks for your thoughts...

 

Full tread 888s are a fantastic rain tire (better than RA-1s).

 

Check the weather and make sure. The Dunlops with the lower tread depth is going to be great in the dry but limited in standing water.

 

Sounds like my track set of R888s are the way to go, rain or shine. Hope it's a moot point, that the fall sun stays high until a light mid-afternoon clouding so I can see the exit of Turn #8!

Jim, with only 5/32s remaining, I'll be giving you folks some more business in the not-to-distant future...

 

FWIW, full tread depth for R888's is 6/32, so if yours are worn at all, they have the same tread depth as the Direzza's. The Direzza's also have two circumferential grooves which should provide better standing-water channeling capability.

On Star Specs I was passing everything that moved during a rainy session at NHMS earlier this year, even faster cars on Hoosier wets! After the session, a fellow instructor approached me about the fantastic wet performance of the street tires on his student's BMW. Yup, they were also Star Specs.

I haven't tried the R888's, but depending on conditions, it could go either way. If it's just wet, I'd probably go with the R888's. If it's a downpour and there's standing water, I'd probably go with the *Specs.

 

The r888 is way more temperature sensitive. If you get the thill cold winds the stars will work better.

 

I'll sacrifice a couple chickens in the name of a dry track day...

 

Looks like it'll be a cold, windy, and wet day at Thunderhill Saturday, but warmer and dry at Laguna Seca on Monday. I'm going to go with the Direzza Star Specs at Thunderhill, with the likelihood of lots of standing water I just feel more comfortable with the two grooves to channel away puddled water. Will switch to the R888s for Laguna. Thanks all...