Tires-What are you using, what have you used?
 

I am in need of a set of tires. I keep reading alot of good stuff on the rs-3's and have personally used nittos nt01s, but that is pretty much where my limited experience stands with tires and track driving. I ask specifically about the hancooks because I may potentially be able to get them for quite a bit less than the nittos.

I liked the nittos alot, very predictable, very controllable and they lasted me quite a long time. Grip didn't really seem noticeably worse with age or wear. So my question to all you track junkies out there.

What tires have you used, liked/disliked about them?
What are you currently using, and why?

NT-01 because they make lots of grip and seem to last longer than running street rubbers.

Going back to NT-01s. I did ~5 days on Hankook C71s. They are ~2 seconds faster than NT-01s at peak, but after the 15th session or so they drop off very dramatically. Too expensive to have that happen ($800 for C71s vs. $540 for NT-01s).

For Time Trials/Autocross Toyo R888 offers the best immediate grip without needing to be warmed up like RA1s

For 30+ minutes on a roadcourse, RA1s offer the most consistency and wear like iron

For fastest lap times, Mighty Hoosier tires

NT01 offer lots of grip too but don't last as long as RA1 and not as fast as hoosiers

V710's are cheap, lightweight, and sticky. IDK if they make them in the size you are running.

My car had RS2s on it when I got it. They were bad, I liked Ecsta XS better, although they aren't available in the 225/45-15. I know the RS3 is a different animal, however.

I still really like my NT01s, over a year after getting them. I'm well into the wear bars at this point, and they still have really nice consistent grip, communicate pretty well for an r-comp, and don't fall off very much with heat. For the price, NT01 is a winner, but if you can get RS3s for SUBSTANTIALLY less, then I personally would shop price. You'll get much better life out of either than a V710, obviously Hoosiers will be in a different league in terms of grip AND price.

Nt01 > rs3

I have both.

The RS3 is a great tire if you are going to run one set for both the track and road. I have used them at the track and were pretty damn good.

I run 225 Nt-01 currently and have run 225 RA-1s in the past. The NT-01s wear a little faster but have a little more grip.

Every tire I've run has had its own mix of strengths and weaknesses. It might be best to rank each tire by a few different categories, and compare it to your personal needs.

I used to run and loved everything about Toyo R-1 tires. Several seasons back, I burned through a few sets much faster than before. Fellow buddies experienced the same thing. We stopped running them.

The fastest laps I've turned have been on Hankook Z-211 C50 compound (the medium compound). I've seen the rubber melt off of Hankook C70 tires at a track day. The Hankooks are great when new, but heat cycle out and drop off.

The BFG R-1s weren't as fast, but were more consistent.

I've had great success with Hoosier R6 tires. Hoosier makes a SM6 tire, where "SM" stands for "Spec Miata". Only tire size available is 205/50-15, and the tires can only be purchased from vendors who offer track-side support (ie: not Tire Rack). Construction is exactly the same as Hoosier R6, but the price is discounted by $50.

For time trialing, Hoosier A6 can be a better choice, but that can depends on how the time trial is run.

I run SM6 and A6 Hoosiers. Great mix of performance, longevity, and cost. 205/50-15. 225's are slower, sometimes by quite a bit, with my 135 rwhp engine.

Another thing to consider is the driver's experience level. Some tires flat-spot a lot easier than others, and that can get expensive.

I am running Pilot Sport Cups on the P-car and they are very predictable and have a ton of grip - but $$$$. Will replace with Nt01s just for a price break and good wearing tire.

I have run A6's on the Miata as well, but when they drop off - they just go, and not a bit of a heads up before hand either. Mowing the grass was fun that day! :giggle:
I forget what TDR is running on their NC, but they are very pleased with them and they weren't that $$$$.

How much are you paying for a set of SM6s?

I have/am giving some serious thought to running the autocross compound of the Hankook (for autocrossing). I have found that in regional autocross competition we can have pretty good success with a combo of really good driving, really good car setup, and any old set of rcomps that are laying around. I've decided that the A6s only come out to play when it really matters.

Haven't bought tires since the beginning of the season. I believe SM6 price was $148 last year, $158 this year. 205/50-15 R6/A6 prices were $50 more.

first thing you want to ask is what size you want to run. if it is 225/45-15, you are limited to just few tires, A6/R6/NT01/RS3.

I personally like NT01 by far. RS3 would be my street tire choice.

I have always ran a 205/50/15 tire for street, autocross and track.

I liked Falken Azenias for street use, they are grippy but last a good while, track and autocross they grease up real quick and lose stability.

RA1s from Toyo, kick ass on the street and autocross, take about a lap to warm up real good but stability wise they are great. Ok for the street, I feel comfortable driving to a local event or even further on them but they will wear fast.

NT-O1s from Nitto, one of the best, if not the best, DOT tires you can buy, I was a second faster at the autocross and about 3 seconds faster at our local PCA HPDE compared to RA1s. This may have been situational but I feel it was the tires. They are even ok for a street tire if its not your daily (just weekend cruising in the sun).

I ran Kumo V710s and still have a set about 2 or 3/32 left (that I dont run), they dont even compare to RA1s or NT01s. This again might be situational as I got them used, but they were slower in every way.

All I have to say about "Best" DOT tires is that there is a reason the SCCA has banned Pilot Sport Cups from Autocross at the National Level. I don't see NT01s being banned anytime soon. They are a good tire though.

Yes I have heard good things about these tires, but have also never seen them available in anything smaller than a 16" wheel. I guess I meant "best" in the sizes available to us 15" or smaller wheel guys. I have not researched the available sizes in that tire to the greatest extent tho so forgive me if I am wrong.

best don't necessarily mean the fastest lap time.
long lasting
consistency - don't go greasy after 1 lap.
consistency - lap time of brand new NT01 is within 1 sec of a just cording NT01.
price

Good point - I had no idea they were not offered in 15".
Ran two days of HPDE on 3.1 course with sixteen turns @ 4 sessions a day and never had problems with the PSCs.
Again, I will be replacing them with the Nt01 for the pricing.

I absolutely hated the BFG GForce R1s for track use

too much stick and then they just 'give up' without warning and never predictable (at least not on my spec miata)

turn in totally different than RA1s (what I'm used to)

..but that stick, stick, stick and then NO STICK when too hot got me!!!! I will never ever buy G-force R1s again!!!!

If you end up going that route, let us know your impressions. I decided to just buy NT01s for now, but I will still be considering the C71s for the next set.