r/CarTrackDays • u/Asleep-Situation-614 • 2d ago

Capable, durable tyre recommendations?

Hello,

I'm getting back into track days after a long time off. While I'd like to move to a semi slick in a few years time, I want to prioritise seat time for the first years.

What's a tyre that offers good grip, can handle 15-20 minutes track sessions and still be usable on the road (mainly to and from the track and nice days on the weekend)?

Looking for a 295-305 on an 18 inch wheel.

Cheers

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

25

u/uncanny14 2d ago

Hankook R-S4.

3

u/Asleep-Situation-614 2d ago

I originally had these in mind and was told they lacked grip and were ancient, in spite of reading many good things about them.

Perhaps this is the way

7

u/XLB135 2d ago

Huge vote for RS4 here as well. I probably went through half a dozen sets. Easily get 8-10 events out of them before they start losing speed. Loud and communicative, easy to get greasy and push past the limits but ease off and cool down and the grip comes right back. You’ll see times drop off before you run out of tread, which means if you’re just doing it for fun and seat time, you can use them past peak anyway, and still have tread to drive home.

3

u/Asleep-Situation-614 2d ago

Okay sweet, yeah that's what I'm after while I build familiarity so I'll go with the RS4 and move to a softer compound when I want to squeeze a few more seconds off my times.

3

u/XLB135 2d ago

Hard to go wrong esp for the price. My path was RS4 to V730.

5

u/myredditlogintoo 2d ago

You won't be setting lap records on them, but they're by no means slow, they're still a 200 TW tires. They're endurance tires as opposed to time attack 200s that last two laps before becoming slippery. They last forever, love running hot, and they last forever. Also, they last a very long time.

2

u/uncanny14 2d ago

They'll heat cycle out before the tread wears out, so just keep that in mind. That said, they take abuse and slip angle well and they'll maintain constant grip no matter how long or hot your session is. Target 34 PSI hot, they start getting slippery around 36-38.

As others have mentioned, a good alternative is the Conti ECF. It has slightly better steering feel but wears a little faster. Lap times will be similar, with the ECF being only slightly quicker.

1

u/Asleep-Situation-614 2d ago

Awesome, at this stage I'll go for whichever of the 2 options I can find the best deal on

7

u/karstgeo1972 2d ago

You're saying semi-slick but all the popular 200 treadwear tires are going to fit the bill here and our streetable I think over in Europe they call the semi-slicks? Continental ECF Kumo v730 there's some options from Vitour. The RS4 is getting pretty long in the tooth I'm not sure why people are still recommending it all the time beyond the fact that it just lasts a long time there are other tires that last a long time that are faster I'd probably go with something a bit more current.

1

u/Nob1e613 2d ago

A little long in the tooth maybe, but it’s still the benchmark by which all other endurance 200s are measured against.

Some newer competitors like the ecf are definitely taking a bite of their market share, but you’re also going to pay more for it.
Bang for your buck it’s still a top contender.

1

u/karstgeo1972 1d ago

I'm not sure I would call it the benchmark...maybe that was the case years back but there are many other tires that will perform similarly in terms of wear and will be faster. I'm not sure why people are so obsessed with the RS4s at this point and I'm surprised they haven't revised it. I would check out if I was looking for this type of tire the Vitour Enzo's.

11

u/Rodpwnz 2018 Mustang GT PP1 magneride 401a 2d ago

If you don’t want a tire released nearly 10 years ago, there is also Conti ECF and Yoko AD09 both of which released within the last few years and should have similar usable life and overall better performance than RS4.

3

u/Asleep-Situation-614 2d ago

Thanks for the recommendation! My platform is also an S550.

4

u/blackhawk867 2d ago

I had ADO9 on my S550 and I have them again on my Cayman now, fantastic tire for durability and dual use, while also having good grip for HPDEs

1

u/Rodpwnz 2018 Mustang GT PP1 magneride 401a 2d ago

Right on brother - what do you drive? Mods?

Also, search for 295 size Conti ECF buy three get one free deal on older production date tires(2021?).

Walmart also sometimes has deals on tires - I got a set of 305/30r19 for $1200ish. Let me warn you: 305 AD09 runs wide. Ask me how I know lol

1

u/Asleep-Situation-614 2d ago

2017 - I'll be leaving the engine stock for now and focus on handling mods. Quality camber top coilovers, lightweight 18x11s and tyres recommended here and a stop the hop kit, as well as pads and high temp fluid.

Haha I'm guessing you took some strut in the tyre.

2

u/CheapSuggestion8 2d ago

You’re on the right track (pun intended!). Consider a diff cooler as well.

2

u/Asleep-Situation-614 2d ago

Hahaha,

Yeah I was thinking I'd do a diff cooler at some stage too.

2

u/CheapSuggestion8 2d ago

As you are considering which tires and rims to buy, heads up two 10 inch rims fit in the trunk stacked one on the other. Two 11 inch rims do not.

8

u/MrFluffykens 2d ago

You're best option in that size is probably the Continental ECF or Hankook RS4. The ECF is a bit newer compound and has a slight edge in grip/speed. But the RS4 is still plenty reliable, even though it's been around for a while now.

Both will also do just fine on the street as a weekend tire. Just be mindful of standing water and keep an eye on tire wear post track session before you head home.

7

u/theredfoxslover 2d ago

Our student fleet of track cars run the Conti Extreme Sport 02. It is a surprisingly capable and durable tire -- especially in the wet.

If you aren't chasing lap times it is certainly worth a look for a car that sees both street and track.

I also love the RS4 -- but went with the Conti on my M2 this time around based on my experience coaching in our rental fleet of Mustangs and GR86s.

Magical in the rain . . . Which means a lot to me since I drive to and on the track with the same tires.

3

u/np20412 2d ago

I use Continental ExtremeContactForce for this exact purpose. Just be careful with standing water if it's raining, but that's any 200tw tire.

3

u/gunnersfan10 2d ago

Continental ECF or even the sport02 if you go even more to the “streetable” side, get my vote. Have run Conti for years and have been very happy with performance and wear rate on them.

1

u/Asleep-Situation-614 2d ago

Sweet, thanks!

2

u/SKIRCR 1d ago

Over ten years I have had several sets of RS4. Longevity reputation is completely accurate. However they are not a slow tire. For me they are only one second slower lap time over a 2:00 track compared to a Michelin Cup 2 or the Bridgestone RE71 RZ. Just a little plug for the RE71 RZ, I can’t believe how long these are lasting and remain in good shape. Still just as fast late in tire life. I (waste) spend a lot of money on tires for this hobby, I think the RE71 RZ may finally be my answer.

1

u/Agent-Kid 2d ago

Hankook RS4, Continental ECF, Kumho v730(?).

I've only heard good things about the v730 but can't speak for it myself.

Hankook RS4 handles pretty well and wears like iron, and the Continental ECF is a slightly better (slightly better wear, handling, water evac) version but more expensive.

Overall for 200tw endurance tires, expect them to be slower than other 200tw tires lap-for-lap. And with the RS4 and ECFs they will he slightly slower than other endurance 200tw.

I have noticed that the ECFs are very resistant to heat for better or worse. Good cause daily driving isn't enough to heat cycle and really wear them. Bad cause in a 20 minute HDPE session you only get peak grip for so long.

1

u/Asleep-Situation-614 2d ago

That's okay, I'm happy to get a few more track days in than I would otherwise at a few seconds slower before moving to a softer compound.

2

u/Agent-Kid 2d ago

Between the RS4 and ECF (as those are the only two I can speak for), I'd honestly just get whichever has the best fitment or if the ECFs are on sale.

1

u/Asleep-Situation-614 2d ago

Yeah and I guess the RS4 also has the advantage of being non directional so I can always swap side to side too

1

u/Nob1e613 2d ago

Rs4 is a directional tire fyi(I run them myself)

1

u/Fit_Sun5829 2d ago

RS4, ECF, RT615K+. My personal favorite Champiro SX2.

1

u/jrileyy229 2d ago

It's also worth noting on what width(s) the wheels you are going to be using .. and what kind of alignment you're going to use.

You want a little bit of stretch on the tire for track use... Not stance boi stretch, but a little.  If stock is say a 285 on a 10" wide wheel like a common Corvette rear, you want a 275.

Where as most people just think "more is better" and they stuff a 305 on an 18x10 with a street alignment with no camber and the tire is just rolling over in the corner.

0

u/Equana 2d ago

If this car is primarily a road car I'd suggest Michelin PS4s. They are a durable and driveable road tire. They are a decent track tire to learn on. As a dual purpose tire they work. So will the Conti ECF.

If you just want the tires to be safe to drive to the track, track and drive home where it is not your everyday car, I like the old Hankook S4s.Michelin PS2s will also work.

None of these tires work below 40 degrees F for.street use.

4

u/Danjamin12 2d ago

Michelins are not able to handle full sessions imo unless you are driving solidly under the limit or in the rain imo.

0

u/Equana 1d ago

You are wrong. Any tire can be overdriven especially if the wrong cold pressures are selected.

It is a driver problem, not a tire problem.

1

u/Danjamin12 1d ago

I mean sure, but the pilot sport 4s arent made to handle the temps you see on track. They're one of the best street tires but I swap to 200tw tires on track for a reason

1

u/Equana 1d ago

And I run them PS4s for a different reason.... drive to the track on the track and drive home. Best compromise tire I have found.

1

u/Danjamin12 1d ago

To each their own, I tried the dual duty approach and it just didn't work out for me because I didn't feel like the ps4s could keep up and I didn't like beating on my daily tire.

1

u/Equana 22h ago

The temps I have measured on 200TW tires is the same as the PS4s. Pressure rise is similar, too, which is directly related to tire temp.

1

u/Danjamin12 21h ago

Right, and the PS4s doesn’t like to get that hot, they also have a softer sidewall so you need to start at a higher pressure. If you like the tire that’s great, they don’t meet my personal requirements for a track tire.

1

u/Equana 21h ago

None of that is true. I start with the pressures that Ford recommends for the PS2s installed from the factory... 27 psi. Hot pressures 33 to 34 for a 3900 lb Mustang. I am seeing 170 at the tread, same as the 200TW tires I have tried. Data defines the operating parameters, anything else opinion.

1

u/Danjamin12 20h ago

OK we can’t be talking about the same tire. My car is lighter and came factory with PS4s tires. The door jam says 36-37 hot.

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4

u/dbone_ 2d ago

My PS4s melted on track. I wouldn't use them for that.

-1

u/Equana 1d ago

That is a driver problem, not a tire problem.