225/45/15 BFG g-Force Rival
01-23-2013, 04:46 PM
#22
RS3 was $14x last week and is now $125. Competition is a wonderful thing. Another previous G-Force Sport owner checking in, great tires that lasted forever. Heat cycled them out with autox before running out of tread. This gives me hope that UHP tires will actually be in stock this spring.
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01-23-2013, 08:43 PM
#26
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Charleston, SC
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Some feedback from Sam Strano...
Ok, my take on the BFG G-force Rival tire event, and compared to the other tires and on other cars. Remember this is subjective, and many factors come into play when it comes into things people like and don't like. Driving style, car types, stability controls, etc, etc, etc.
First, it was a first class event. Very well run, super nice folks. And it was greatly appreciated that we weren't told to drive the car to any less hard than we felt was right.
We started with the Mustangs on the road course. This was clearly a better tire than the Falken RT-615K, not that I'm surprised by that. Better at.... well, everything. More stable, more grip, better under braking and power down.
Then moved to the "big" autocross and the E46 M3's. This was vs. Hankook R-S3's which I own a set of for my FR-S. Overall as a pacakge, I give the nod to BFG here. It has more power down than the R-S3 on that car, but it wasn't like they sucked. Braking I found to be about the same. Never blew a zone in either, and was running as hard as I could. Now, to be honest I could point the car better with Hankooks and use the throttle to better point the car. This is my hardcore competitor coming out, and I'm also going to say that getting is right is not as easy as it is on the BFG either. So it depends on your motivation for buying tires, AND how you drive. M3's are more similar to what I drive with some power and RWD. Without times to compare directly it's hard to say which was faster. That said, I know that myself and another 4 time Champion felt the R-S3 might have been every so slightly better.. but again without times.....I think for most folks, the BFG is the easier tire to drive quickly with a bit bigger sweet spot and it more forgiving. Add colder and/or damper conditions and I think the BFG is better for a lot of folks.
Skidpad... eh, is anyone shocked the R1-S is the stickiest? But hey it's a skidpad that was off camber both ways. So...
STi's 'small autocross': Forget the Toyo, I think most of us with knowledge of Solo knew what would happen with a bigger front heavy, more than a little front wheel drive car on full tread R1R's. So, yeah. Also not sure if it was an oversight or not, but the stability control was full on in those cars (full off in the M3's). Maybe there was some confusion about the Intelligent, Sport, Sport Plus **** doing things with stability, but it doesn't turn it off. Consequently, anytime we got near the limit and the car was wiggling, the fun ended. So it's hard to get a true read of what's what on that car between the R-S3 and the Rival. But, overall I find the dry speed to be very slightly better for how I drive, but who knows what, if anything might have been different had the stability control been off.
To summarize: I think the tire is really cool addition to the RT/ST ranks. It certainly wears amazingly well. I feel it's a more capable all around tire than the R-S3 (which IMHO was the main competitor there for my world). I think the BFG trades a touch of speed for a bigger sweet spot. Faster tires do tend to be more edgy. The Rival is probably the least edgy tire I'd actually be happy to own. Once again, I don't run these tires. I don't own a car these tires fit (well I do, and I might well buy a set of these as think they are a perfect summer tire for how I drive my FR-S and for how I like to drive). Is it better than the other RT/ST tires? Hard to say, there were not times, all the other competitors weren't there (not realistic after all) and no cars setup for actual competition except the Mustangs kind of .... but they typically run R1-S's and a 245 on a 9.5" wheel isn't typical of what an autocrosser would run anyway.
I can say this. BFG certainly put a lot of work in. I certainly appreciate the opportunity to join in and experience the newest in the trick street tires (make no mistake any tire molded at 7/32" is not a general use street tire for the average bear). I'm glad BFG is coming back. I'm glad "one of us", an autocrosser, is involved.
And what I REALLY think? You guys running street tires now have even more testing to do. Sorry, if it sucked I'd say so. If I thought it was way faster, I'd say so. I think it's a great new competitor to the market, as the ZII likely will be, and the upcoming RE-11A's too.
Once again, props to Peter Calhoun, and BFG for stepping up. Considering this is their first go around after a long time away, seriously anyway, from Solo it's a great opening salvo.
Ok, my take on the BFG G-force Rival tire event, and compared to the other tires and on other cars. Remember this is subjective, and many factors come into play when it comes into things people like and don't like. Driving style, car types, stability controls, etc, etc, etc.
First, it was a first class event. Very well run, super nice folks. And it was greatly appreciated that we weren't told to drive the car to any less hard than we felt was right.
We started with the Mustangs on the road course. This was clearly a better tire than the Falken RT-615K, not that I'm surprised by that. Better at.... well, everything. More stable, more grip, better under braking and power down.
Then moved to the "big" autocross and the E46 M3's. This was vs. Hankook R-S3's which I own a set of for my FR-S. Overall as a pacakge, I give the nod to BFG here. It has more power down than the R-S3 on that car, but it wasn't like they sucked. Braking I found to be about the same. Never blew a zone in either, and was running as hard as I could. Now, to be honest I could point the car better with Hankooks and use the throttle to better point the car. This is my hardcore competitor coming out, and I'm also going to say that getting is right is not as easy as it is on the BFG either. So it depends on your motivation for buying tires, AND how you drive. M3's are more similar to what I drive with some power and RWD. Without times to compare directly it's hard to say which was faster. That said, I know that myself and another 4 time Champion felt the R-S3 might have been every so slightly better.. but again without times.....I think for most folks, the BFG is the easier tire to drive quickly with a bit bigger sweet spot and it more forgiving. Add colder and/or damper conditions and I think the BFG is better for a lot of folks.
Skidpad... eh, is anyone shocked the R1-S is the stickiest? But hey it's a skidpad that was off camber both ways. So...
STi's 'small autocross': Forget the Toyo, I think most of us with knowledge of Solo knew what would happen with a bigger front heavy, more than a little front wheel drive car on full tread R1R's. So, yeah. Also not sure if it was an oversight or not, but the stability control was full on in those cars (full off in the M3's). Maybe there was some confusion about the Intelligent, Sport, Sport Plus **** doing things with stability, but it doesn't turn it off. Consequently, anytime we got near the limit and the car was wiggling, the fun ended. So it's hard to get a true read of what's what on that car between the R-S3 and the Rival. But, overall I find the dry speed to be very slightly better for how I drive, but who knows what, if anything might have been different had the stability control been off.
To summarize: I think the tire is really cool addition to the RT/ST ranks. It certainly wears amazingly well. I feel it's a more capable all around tire than the R-S3 (which IMHO was the main competitor there for my world). I think the BFG trades a touch of speed for a bigger sweet spot. Faster tires do tend to be more edgy. The Rival is probably the least edgy tire I'd actually be happy to own. Once again, I don't run these tires. I don't own a car these tires fit (well I do, and I might well buy a set of these as think they are a perfect summer tire for how I drive my FR-S and for how I like to drive). Is it better than the other RT/ST tires? Hard to say, there were not times, all the other competitors weren't there (not realistic after all) and no cars setup for actual competition except the Mustangs kind of .... but they typically run R1-S's and a 245 on a 9.5" wheel isn't typical of what an autocrosser would run anyway.
I can say this. BFG certainly put a lot of work in. I certainly appreciate the opportunity to join in and experience the newest in the trick street tires (make no mistake any tire molded at 7/32" is not a general use street tire for the average bear). I'm glad BFG is coming back. I'm glad "one of us", an autocrosser, is involved.
And what I REALLY think? You guys running street tires now have even more testing to do. Sorry, if it sucked I'd say so. If I thought it was way faster, I'd say so. I think it's a great new competitor to the market, as the ZII likely will be, and the upcoming RE-11A's too.
Once again, props to Peter Calhoun, and BFG for stepping up. Considering this is their first go around after a long time away, seriously anyway, from Solo it's a great opening salvo.
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01-24-2013, 05:52 AM
#29
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The only thing I care about is whether they are faster around a track than the RS-3. I have to buy tires within 1 week... doubt I'll have a solid enough answer by then, so will probably stick with the RS-3.
Hooray for RS-3 prices dropping!!!! Couldn't have been better timing for me.
Hooray for RS-3 prices dropping!!!! Couldn't have been better timing for me.
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01-24-2013, 10:32 AM
#30
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 20
Total Cats: 9
That being said, I still haven't bought winter tires for my NA - still rocking the RS3 in sub freezing temps - but I didn't base any part of my tire buying decision off of that.
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01-24-2013, 10:36 AM
#31
So you want to know how a tire that was designed to go fast around an autox course and a road course does in sub-freezing temperatures? I would be reevaluating my tire buying decisions.
That being said, I still haven't bought winter tires for my NA - still rocking the RS3 in sub freezing temps - but I didn't base any part of my tire buying decision off of that.
That being said, I still haven't bought winter tires for my NA - still rocking the RS3 in sub freezing temps - but I didn't base any part of my tire buying decision off of that.
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01-24-2013, 02:07 PM
#35
So you want to know how a tire that was designed to go fast around an autox course and a road course does in sub-freezing temperatures? I would be reevaluating my tire buying decisions.
That being said, I still haven't bought winter tires for my NA - still rocking the RS3 in sub freezing temps - but I didn't base any part of my tire buying decision off of that.
That being said, I still haven't bought winter tires for my NA - still rocking the RS3 in sub freezing temps - but I didn't base any part of my tire buying decision off of that.
Actually today, it snowed
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01-24-2013, 02:58 PM
#36
I can say with confidence that the star spec is better in the snow than the rs3. Star spec you could kind of do something. RS3 actually does get some traction (beter than the star spec by a touch) but has zero lateral grip at all, ie it is impossible to drive in a straight line if the road is sloped at all or your diff isnt a spool.
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01-24-2013, 07:22 PM
#40
I spoke to Greg about this just a few nights ago. Default for any new tire before they have data is to class it with others of the same UTQG. If that proves inaccurate, they'll change it. Looking at the data available, it appears to not be significantly faster (or not faster) than the RS3 but might last longer. I doubt it'll get any bumped by NASA. Chumpcar is another matter. I could see John banning the tire or adding AIV. I mean a bone stock 94 Miata, gutted to within an inch of its life with 15x9's and 225/45 Rivals would be stinking fast and easily win against anything in Chump if it didn't break.
It's race to see what team in each region does it first, then get the inevitable AIV bonus
It's race to see what team in each region does it first, then get the inevitable AIV bonus
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