street tires for PNW "summers"?
10-24-2016, 01:00 PM
#1
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street tires for PNW "summers"?
Looking for advice on a set of dedicated summer wheel/tires that can handle cool/wet/dirty conditions.
My current 195/50 all seasons can't even handle N/A power if the road is damp, so I'm ready to buy dedicated summer wheels and tires to support my turbo build. This is a MK turbo build with a target of 200-225WHP.
I live north of Seattle, so even the summers are relatively cold and damp. Average low temperatures should be above 50f from late April until early October, so I plan to use the summer setup during these months. I DD the car when it isn't raining hard, but I commute early in the morning and only drive 16 miles. I'm looking for max grip in a tire that can handle cool wet conditions, but not necessarily a ton of standing water. The fun part of my drive is in the first 5 miles, so I'd prefer something that doesn't take a long time to warm up. I also live on a 700 ft gravel road, so I prefer a tread that can shed gravel quickly.
I've got a fender roller, so I'm open to any 15x8 or 15x9 options.
My current 195/50 all seasons can't even handle N/A power if the road is damp, so I'm ready to buy dedicated summer wheels and tires to support my turbo build. This is a MK turbo build with a target of 200-225WHP.
I live north of Seattle, so even the summers are relatively cold and damp. Average low temperatures should be above 50f from late April until early October, so I plan to use the summer setup during these months. I DD the car when it isn't raining hard, but I commute early in the morning and only drive 16 miles. I'm looking for max grip in a tire that can handle cool wet conditions, but not necessarily a ton of standing water. The fun part of my drive is in the first 5 miles, so I'd prefer something that doesn't take a long time to warm up. I also live on a 700 ft gravel road, so I prefer a tread that can shed gravel quickly.
I've got a fender roller, so I'm open to any 15x8 or 15x9 options.
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10-24-2016, 01:07 PM
#2
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Hoosier h20's
Jk. Neogens have a good rep, so do Dunlop dz102s. Or s drives.
My opinion: run a real summer tire and just don't push it in the wet.
Jk. Neogens have a good rep, so do Dunlop dz102s. Or s drives.
My opinion: run a real summer tire and just don't push it in the wet.
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10-24-2016, 01:51 PM
#5
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summer tires and rain tires don't always have to be different things.
the key is to get a compound that likes the temperature and a pattern that moves water.
the key is to get a compound that likes the temperature and a pattern that moves water.
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10-24-2016, 03:05 PM
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If you want grip more tire helps, but you'll notice more tramlining with a 225 15x9 combo vs something more narrow (depends on the tread pattern as well). I have been happy with S Drives for a daily.
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10-25-2016, 09:39 AM
#10
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Dunlop DZ102's & ZII star specs are listed as 2lbs lighter than all the other 205/50 tires on tire rack. DZ102's look comparable to s drives on paper, and they are cheaper & lighter. Anyone have real world experience with any of these three tires?
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10-25-2016, 10:34 AM
#11
I had S-Drives, now on ZII*. S-Drives did fine in the rain for me, and people seem to like them more than the DZ102s. The ZII* has WAY more grip though. On a whole different planet. Definitely louder, harsher, and will wear faster, but for me totally worth it.
Based on my relative positioning between last year's auto-x season finale (dry, S-Drives), and this year's opener (wet, ZII*) I'm estimating that the tire change was worth at least 2 seconds on a 40 second course.
S-Drives had plenty of life left in them when I took them off.
Based on my relative positioning between last year's auto-x season finale (dry, S-Drives), and this year's opener (wet, ZII*) I'm estimating that the tire change was worth at least 2 seconds on a 40 second course.
S-Drives had plenty of life left in them when I took them off.
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10-25-2016, 02:18 PM
#14
Traction is laughable with my 300ish whp and allofthe EFR torque, but that's what the 245 VR1s are for.
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10-26-2016, 09:20 AM
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I have Star Specs, in 255/35/18 on my BRZ and they are almost down to the wear bars and I've hydroplaned exactly 1 time. Doing 55mph on a divided 4 lane and ran across maybe a 5" deep puddle.
Other than that, don't drive like an *** in the rain. I've done track days on R888s and toasted R1Rs in the rain as well. You have to adjust to the conditions.
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10-26-2016, 09:51 AM
#16
Don't drive 95mph in a pouring rain?
I have Star Specs, in 255/35/18 on my BRZ and they are almost down to the wear bars and I've hydroplaned exactly 1 time. Doing 55mph on a divided 4 lane and ran across maybe a 5" deep puddle.
Other than that, don't drive like an *** in the rain. I've done track days on R888s and toasted R1Rs in the rain as well. You have to adjust to the conditions.
I have Star Specs, in 255/35/18 on my BRZ and they are almost down to the wear bars and I've hydroplaned exactly 1 time. Doing 55mph on a divided 4 lane and ran across maybe a 5" deep puddle.
Other than that, don't drive like an *** in the rain. I've done track days on R888s and toasted R1Rs in the rain as well. You have to adjust to the conditions.
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10-26-2016, 10:26 AM
#18
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That would be like complainng that the DZ101 doesn't have the on track grip of an SM7.
*facepalm*
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