Down to THREE tire options -- advice greatly appreciated!

Jordo!

Based on price, test results (Tire Rack, GRM), and anecdotal reviews on here, I have narrowed it down to three possible set ups.

Assume all are within $100 for the set, so my major goal here is to select the tire combo that will afford the BEST dry (even at the cost of some wet, but it can't be strictly for dry days...) traction for spirited DD, and possible random Autox day.

Wheels are 19" sport pack with 20mm spacers in F and 25mm in R.


Here are the contenders with links to Tire Rack reviews:

1. BFG G force Rival: 255/40 F, 285/35 R

2. Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Spec: 245/40 F, 275/35 R

3. Potenza RE11s: 245/40 F, 285/35 R


Relevant Comparison tests:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...t.jsp?ttid=197

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...t.jsp?ttid=118


I prefer a wider rear (i.e., prefer 285 over 275), but the Dunlop's seem to blow away the other two so much in performance, it's tempting to go back to OEM widths.

Is wider in the rear preferred over stickier but narrower?

Thoughts, suggestions? Alternate recommendations (provided they are not approaching $1200 for a full set -- I have to pass on the Advan Neova's because they're just too pricey....)?

Again, goal is unparalleled bubblegum sticky dry, decent wet, and ultimate performance summer with UTQG ratings <200 defining the short list. Noise is not an issue to me.

NOTE: If I'm mistaken and the Dunlop's DO come in 285/35/19, then please post link to purchase and I'm set on those!

EDIT: Whoops -- the RE11's should be listed as 245/40 F in the poll

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JARblue

I only have direct experience with RE-11s. In the wet, they leave A LOT to be desired. However, they are perfectly manageable with decent tread. Once you get down to ~4/32 or less tho, I recommend you stay off the highway if there is any water collecting on the road surface. Even at 40 mph I found myself hydroplaning occasionally when driving through a puddle with any sort of depth.

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AntiVenom

Also, take a look at the Tire Racks Survey results. I've used this in the past with success.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...ay.jsp?type=EP

Edit: Looks like my personal bias made me blind to what the Tire Rack Surveys were reporting. Looks like both wet and dry the Yoko wins, but with some penalty to hydroplaning resistance. That combined with JAR's experience with wet traction on the RE11. Maybe the Yoko Neova is the right choice.

Jordo!

Yeah, but check out the Dunlop ZII in the spider charts linked in my OP. They just decimate everything, but I'd have to go back to OEM rear width

The BFG's are close to the Dunlop's in dry, but fall short on the wet...

This is my quandary....

EDIT: So far, I see a lot of love for the Hankook RS3's in that thread -- I thought about them, but it seems they only really excel in the wet.

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cjwsrt6

Id suggest running a wider front, I'm using 285 rival squared at the moment and like the set up a lot. The more front tire you have the better you'll turn in, but if you up to a 285 you might need to loose the spacer

Read T

If you want dry traction Kumho XS is a pretty grippy tire for the price and mine seem to wear very slowly. I use them for track days/autocross only but drive to events on them.

I'm actually looking to "upgrade" to all seasons on my Z next time around.

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Jordo!

I absolutely LOVED the XS's, and ran them on my old SC'd Celica -- but I don't think they have sizes for me for the front.

I could run mismatched tires, I guess... but they don't seem to really excel relative to the other three options I arrived at

What do you guys think about going back to OEM widths vs. wider rear? I definitely felt running 285's to be superior to 275's in straight line, and (at least given my limited abilities) more stable on turn in too.

But those ZII Dunlops are pretty beloved right now... arghhhhh.....

P.S. I should mention I live in Floriduh, so notwithstanding torrential rain, I can run ultimate summer madman tires all year long -- no need for all seasons.

Hmm. I'm pretty biased towards over as is, the little extra push of the wider rears made the car feel more neutral on turn-in (assume I am very modestly skilled diving into a corner). Of course, I could go back to OEM 275 rears... I'm really torn on the loss of wider rears.

Which is "better" -- grippier but narrower or not quite as grippy, but wider? I realize that's a potentially tough call...

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Jordo!

Reviewing the data again, I'm leaning towards the BFG Rivals -- they lag behind the Dunlop's in the wet, but they are no slouch either. Also, I could run wider F and R tires (255 F, 285 R).

I think I'm leaning towards them now... anyone prefer the RE-11's over those?

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cjwsrt6

I wouldn't go with the xs if you're going to ruin stock class autocross.. stock class requires 200 treadwear now. .
Everyones driving style is different, I like the widest front tire possible with whatever rear will hold the car in place and not spin out of corners. 285 so far is good, I ran the xs in 285 wit a new tire up front and old ones on the rear and the car lift off oversteerd quite a bit, now with the rival I can turn fast and power out quick so I'm happy.. but everyone drives different. You can run a 285/305 setup and still get great turn in

Jordo!

I'm definitely not going with the XS's -- good tires, but I'd be forced to mismatch F and R, and there are others that outperform them now.

This is mainly for spirited DD -- I'm leaning towards the BFG G-force Rivals now, which will give me a 255/40 F and 285/35 R. They seem to dominate dry traction, even over the RE-11's, although the latter are a bit more predictable in the wet.

If anyone knows whether the Dunlops ZII's come in a 285 or 295 for 19" wheels, I will go with that. I can't find them in that size...

I liked the RE-11's, but I feel stickier tires are out there.

Anyone here running BFG GF R's?

Edit: Are you running the BFG Rivals?

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kenchan

im glad you arent asking between v12, falkens, and some nitto tires.. lol

RE11 no question.

cjwsrt6

Yes I'm using the rivals. So far I like them a lot, warm up quick, stiff sidewalls, great traction

Z1NONLY

I go through about 3 sets of tires/year and have tried a lot of different tires on my Z as well as other people's cars at the track.

I think the ZII's are the fastest cold and thus probably best for autocross, but they don't like heat. (I ran ZII's on my brother's Mini)

Star Spec ZI's may have been the fastest tire I ran on my Z. (Haven't ran ZII's on my Z yet)

The Rivals are "good" cold and hot, but the set I just took off of my Z ran out of grip long before they ran out of tread. (Heat-cycled kind of soon)

I have only driven the Bridgstones on other people's cars and liked them, but I have been told by other competitors that they are not as fast as the other options.

I'm now running RS-3's and they are a top-tier tire. (at least when they are new)

Jordo!

Thanks guys!

I think, given that the Dunlops would require me to run a narrower tire than I'd prefer, and I've already tried (and not been overly impressed) with the RE-11's, I think I'm going to give the BFG Rivals a try

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kenchan

Loled at BFG

Besides re11 only other choice is PSS and DW or S04 for most