What Tires should I run Sunday? RS3 vs Star SPecs (it's gonna be cold)
 

I'm heading to Buttonwillow this sunday for a HDPE... It's forecasted high of 47, with rain forecasted for saturday, so the track might be damp/wet until later in the day.


My options are:
225 Hankook RS3's on 15x8's or 185 Dunlop Star Specs on 14x6? stock wheels.


I'm worried the RS3's won't get warm enough to work well in the cool/damp morning. Also there might be snow going over the grapevine getting to the track. Which ones have better snow traction? :rofl:

I did a track day a few weeks ago where the high was 34F on some fairly spent R-S3s on 15x9s, and they held up fine. Take it easy the first few laps, but they will warm up and stick.

(also abuse the hell out of the fact that cold air = more faster)

If I remember right from what Emilio and Bellwilliam posted, the RS3 for hotter days and the Starspec for cooler days/rain. I'd search for it though to be sure.

RS-3s hands down. Most street tires are warmed up in half a lap and overheated after a lap or two. plus larger tires will have more cold traction. I think they will heat up just fine.

This is what I've heard as well- the RS3 does best in the heat and gets a little hard and skatey when cold, while the Dunlops are better in cooler/wet conditions.


If I had 225 wide star specs on 15x8 rims- I'd run them, but I don't.

HELLO, I DID A TRACK WEEKEND NOVEMBER 23 AND NOVEMBER 24. ON NOVEMBER 24, THE HIGH FOR THE DAY WAS 34F AND THE HANKOOK R-S3S PERFORMED WONDERFULLY. I BEAT MY PERSONAL BEST ON THE SATURDAY, BUT DUE TO TRAFFIC I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET WITHIN .5 SECONDS OF MY BEST TIME ON SUNDAY.

I AM USING ALL CAPS BECAUSE YOU SEEMED TO HAVE MISSED MY FIRST POST.

I saw your first post- duly noted... But- did you have any other options?


I'm probably going to run the RS3's because most people are saying they will work fine, they are on my car, and I'm lazy.

The first few session of my last track day 2 weeks ago:
45
wet
4 year old R888s with 20 sessions on them

It was fine. Just go drive.

I'll be at sows this Saturday and it's supposed rain/be cold. Going to run rs3 but I'll bring my star specs just in case. I have a similar situation to the op, 225 rs3 or 185 ss

RS3s will be fine at that temperature, warm them up the first 2-3 laps before before going all out. They will grip just as hard as when compared to warmer temperatures once you get some heat in them.

The RS-3 won't be happy in that temp, but it will still be faster than the skinny star spec option anyways. HOWEVER, if it rains (which I've heard it might at BW this weekend), the star specs will annihilate the RS-3. The RS-3 is terrible in the rain, while the star spec is known for its wet weather awesomeness.

-Ryan

OK- that all makes sense with what else I've read... hopefully it won't rain Sunday.

Or hopefully it does rain and your on the star specs for some win :)