New Tire Choices
 

I might have a chance to do a swap for some new tires, but my choices would be limited. For track use what would be the best?
What would be the best if also used for street driving. I don't think the Hoosiers would be any good for street use.

Toyo R888
Toyo RA-1
Falken Azenis RT-615
Hoosier R-6

Why would your choices be limited?

I use Michelin PSS for both.

the R6 is a race tire, it's not even legal to drive on the street, and since you're asking about it my gut recommendation would be to not get it.

the R888 and RA-1 are also high tier "race tires", The RA1 is/was a favorite spec tires for a lot of series. Good grip, good feel, good longevity (relatively speaking) and because they have tread you could get away with running them on the street.. but I would advise against it. The occasional drive to the track to avoid changing tires at the track could be done, but I would not daily them.


the Falken is the only tire on that list that is a more traditional "street tire" that will serve you best in terms of longevity (a full summer of daily + track sessions) and be somewhat more educational in terms of feedback

having said that, there are many high performance street tires other than the falkens..

curious though, how did you come about this "list"?

I bought a new set of goodyear slicks for one of my other cars, which I have never mounted. That car is now up for sale. I can return them for exchange on a new set for my FRS but am limited to what the dealer stocks.

well, if you can get a SPARE set of wheels then I'd go for the RA1 and use that for dedicated track duty.


otherwise go with the Falkens and have yourself a multipurpose ride for maybe 30,000 km

I love shaved and heat cycled Toyo Proxes RA1 in 235/40-17 on track. You can use them on the street in warm weather and rain with full tread but no winter driving or storage in temps below freezing. They are UTQG 100 so will wear faster than more street oriented alternatives. I use 225/45-17 Michelin PSS for summer street duty and as spares for wet track days. Others like Bridgestone RE-11 as dual duty summer street/track, good in dry and wet. No slicks for street.

I wouldn't run any of those tires other than the Falken on the street...

I loved my dunlop ZIIs but they are discontinued, you may be able to pick up a set in the size you need from leftover stock.

New version is coming out later this year, sadly I need tires now :((

Some people that think they want to run race tires on the street must not have actually used them on the track.

Hot race tires PICKUP ROCKS AND THROW THEM AT YOUR CAR.
Anyone who has come in from a hot lap and had to drive through a crappy paddock CRINGES as it sounds like HAIL pounding the crap out of the underside of their fenders.
Do you really want that on the street?

Back On topic: Has anyone tried the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2s?

Well I'm in luck. My tire dealer can get me Nitto NT-01's, 235/40/17,so that's what I'm going with.
I also scored on Enki RPF1 wheels, 17x9x45, $888 and my dealer is giving me $500 trade in for my stock wheels and tires. So I'll have a balance of $388. BUT, the refund I'll be getting back from the tire swap will almost pay the difference in the wheels.

RE Asymmetic 2's: they are excellent street tires, I have 235/40R18's on mine, stick like glue, have a nice breakaway, good feedback/sidewall stiffness without being too extreme, handles heavy rain with no problem. Haven't tried tracking them yet - they're competitors to the MPSS, overall the MPSS might be a tad more responsive, maybe a little stickier, but in real life probably not much in it. I can't really say specifically because I haven't had both on the FR-S (Used to have MPSS on my E36 M3, which is a different beast). The real plus side, I did a little digging around and came up with a set of 4 *very slightly* used Asym 2's for around $180.