Okay I'm running 15x9 wheels and have been on 225/45 RS3's for a while now. I'm in need of new tires and am starting to look at my options in 225/45s. What's you experience with these? How much mileage did you get out of them. These will be DD tires but will hit the track once or twice.

Toyo R1R
Toyo R888 (maybe even the 225/50)
Hankook RS3 (not available right now)
BFG Rival

 

 

Yes I did do a search but not much in the way of mileage. Flame if you must, I'm just looking for better answers than the typical "these are faster on the track" and "you don't need that size". Most people on here drive their car more than once a week and also use them in crappy weather.

 

If you want rain grip, buy R1Rs.

If you want them to heat cycle out driving to work and back buy R888s.

RS3s vs Rivals makes essentially no difference for DD duty.

You forgot RA1s, but they go in the bucket with RS3s and Rivals.

--Ian

 

Sorry for my stupidity, isn't the ra1 even softer than rs3s? At least that's what I had been lead to believe.

 

Except that RS3s have better hydroplaning resistance than rivals but rivals make way more grip in the rain when they're not hydroplaning. RS3s will also heat cycle out driving on the street and seem to last forever daily driving. Rivals also have a stiffer sidewall so they give a "harsher" ride on the street. And all this RS3 info might be completely useless on the new compound thats due to come out at some point when the banana boat the tires *** on finally finds its way to port.

 

I'm painting with a very broad brush. Yes there are differences, but I think they're small and subtle enough to not be significant in DD duty.

--Ian

 

I like the round and black kind.

 

You don't say?..

 

I've had both RS-3s and Rivals in that size. I used them for to/from AutoX and Track and at the events.
RS-3's - better in the heat, softer turn in.
Rivals - quicker turn in, the stiffer side wall feels closer to RRs
I don't know about DD wear on either. I've worn them both out on track.

My next set of tires budgeted are Rivals.

 

Buy a spare set of wheels on CL for $100 and get the cheapest non-Chinese rim protectors.

 

I'm going to copy my post from Mazdaroadster about my experience with Rivals on the street.

I've been running 15x9's with Rivals for ~8000 miles now, with one rotation at ~4000 miles and my rear tires are pretty much at the wear bars. I'm going to rotate them one more time and maybe run them another 4000 or however long I feel comfortable. These miles were on my MSM with 180whp and a torsen, pretty much always driving spiritedly, with some slides and donuts in there somewhere. Rain traction for me was actually very good, even right now at the wear bars they aren't that bad in the rain.

Summary, don't expect more than 10k out of a set of Rivals on the street if you drive like I do.

 

I have R-S3s on 15x9s currently, and I'm kind of disappointed that I haven't completely destroyed them after about 6k miles, a bunch of autocross, and a handful of track weekends. They still grip pretty well but are horrifying in the rain.

Back when I was DDing a stock Miata, I would just budget for a set of summer tires per year. On 14" wheels, it was $300/yr. Well worth it. (going to get Rivals in the next week or so)

 

$100 dollar wheels will not fit under my car and look good. I have to have wide wheels on it. A.k.a. Big flares.

 

Oh sorry, I forgot that you had to look good when you're daily driving.

 

I also forgot that you need flares to clear 225/45s.

 

You forgot 30mm spacers.

 

I didn't need flares for the 225s but I need the flares for my application of wheels. And yes I like my car to look good as a daily. I don't like to roll in something that looks like it came out of the hood. And no I don't need spacers. ;P

 

DD Hoosier A6s you racist shitlord.