http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...r=17&zip-code=

Available in a 205/50/15. Not sure what all other sizes.

 

The only other 15inch size is a 225/50r15.

Is there really a market for a 60tw tire in this size?

 

I read that the tire was designed originally for the Camaro SS, obviously not in a 205 50 15 size.

 

P1, audi RS, Camaro SS are the 3 cars for the reviews. Yup these tires are slow, probably not worth the time to even look at em.

 

An earlier version of the tire was sized for Porsche and Ferrari and got excellent reviews, other than wear.

 

This is from Rennlist...based on a 2 minute lap (added for clarification)

1) - Hoosier A6 - Fastest
2) - Hoosier R6 +1 seconds
3) - Trofeo +2 seconds
4) - MPSC race spec +2.5 seconds
5) - Shaved RA-1s +2.5 seconds
6) - R888 +3
7) - MPSC N spec +4 seconds
8) - MPSS + 4.5 seconds
8) - MPS2 + 5 seconds

 

That list seems funny. Assuming its over a 1 minute lap, taking the hoosier and MPSS are book ends, basically any modern 200tw street tire falls somewhere between position 6 and 2.

 

Well, that quote was originally posted in 2013. There was an original Trofeo and the newer R version.

Here's from another review. This one is for the original Trofeo. The newer R has the same or slightly more grip but lasts longer.

"The Trofeo is a street legal R-compound track tire. You can drive to and from your track event quite comfortably. It has a great ride (for an R-compound), it is relatively quiet (the quietest R compound I have tried) and it is not darty on pavement ruts.
On the track, instrumented numbers, on a RaceLogic Data box don’t lie. Lateral cornering grip on a Porsche 911 Turbo in the dry was 1.54 G. That is a stunning number. "

"Did a 3 day weekend at Thunderhill (Willows, CA). First day was on Trofeos (not the R, however). My lap timer wasn't in the car, but I found my times via a "creative" manner and recorded a best of 2:02. Didn't run on Saturday due to a mechanical. Ran Sunday on the new OZ wheels shod with new Hoosier R6s. With a passenger in the car I ran a best of 2:01. It was substantially hotter on Sunday than it was on Friday. "

Someone on Rennlist stated that they got about 35 heat cycles out of a set.

Compared to Michelins...

"Ran Trofeo R's at VIR last week. Sunny day, 60 degrees max. Perfect weather. Have run at VIR many times on MPSC - personal best time of 2:08. Second session on the R's - 2:05. Not just once either, consistently lapping at 2:05 and 2:06. Ran another session in the afternoon, this time with a passenger in the car - consistent 2:05's again. Stunned...(all timing via my racekeeper system). Know I have more time to make up, looking at the data and video."


I'm not real familiar with the Michelin Pilot series. Most I looked up had a tread rating from 200-300, so they are basically a street tire.

Some compared the Trofeo R as in between a NT01 and R6...BUT...it's probably hard to deduct any concrete numbers based on the fact that Porsches are running monster wide 19 inch wheels while NA/NB Miatas are running moderate to monster 15 inch wheels.

 

Taking tire advice from Rennlist is like taking sex advice from Reddit

 

That's funny. At the Porsche trackday I attended, they gave out 6 packs of beer as prizes, I was kinda shocked, I expected wine and cheese prizes.

Also, in stock 19 inch sizing the Porsche guys have little selection, a couple Michelins, a couple Pirellis, R888 and R6. So for them, it's an upgrade from the R888, although quite a bit more pricey. To get a NT01 they need to buy 18 inch wheels.

 

Here's a comment from the Corvette forum

"To equate them to a well-known tire, I'd say new R888's have about 75% of the grip as Hoosier R6's. The Trofeo R's are about 85-90% the grip of Hoosier R6's. They are that much better than the R888's."

Read more: Pirelli Trofeo R's vs R888's - Corvette Forum

 

If it's the same tire as what was on the McLaren P1 in Chris Harris' recent video then I'd say it appears to be a pretty good tire... but then again completely different car.

Plus would the 205/15x8 Trofeo R really be that much better than a 225/15x9 NT-01, R888 (or even RS-3) on the track? Seems like it may handle street/highway driving to events better than a NT-01/R888 though?

All assumptions in my post though so maybe someone can confirm.

 

Tread depth is 5mm so it's similar to the NT01 in that respect. In the same size the Tropheo R should be faster. I'd think the wider tire would have the advantage. For those wanting to reduce gearing the Tropheo R is available in a 225/50/15.