Really good summer tire that doesn't heat cycle out quickly

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by venturaII

I loved the DWs I had on a different car; can't wait for the V12 Evos I have now to wear out so I can replace them with the new ExtremeContact Sports to use as my 3 season street tire. V12s are awful in the wet, imho.

My experience had been that the last gen, (more angular tread pattern, ironically like the new RS4,) was worse in the rain, but a bit more direct in the dry, but the newer V12 with the slight curve in the tread pattern was a TON better in both the rain, and wet roads. They are not as good as the S-04, MPSS, or DW, (I'm going to assume I can include the Extreme Contact Sports in here too...) in the rain.

Do you know which V12 you had tried? (I think I may of not clarified in my previous post, iirc V12 is the angular one, V12 Evo is the one with the slight curvature.

[JazzleSAURUS]

I used the S-04's as a 1 and 2 half season tire. I had a set of Forester wheels I keep all seasons on for the WMass 20 degree mornings that end in 60 degree days. I got them cheap for the wifes old Forester before we traded it in and I kept em, and they have proved to be awesome to have around. They see very little wear, and they fit all three of our cars so if we have a blowout or something occurs where one of the cars needs tires quick in any season, it's less of an emergency. It's a set of the '09 fat five spokes with some Conti DWS 06's. About as good as it gets for a no-season, but it avoids the 20 degree morning flat spots on the summers, or the 60 degree melting of the winters we get.

[jasonojordan]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

What's the size/wheel size?
If we use the MPSS as a baseline, the sidewalls on the S-04 are significantly stiffer, and the tread is a bit softer, and deeper. I find that they are far superior in the wet to the MPSS, and not much worse than the MPSS in the dry, but I prefer their breakaway characteristics, and they make funny sounds going over expansion joints on bridges.

The S-04 and MPSS are my two favorites in their price category by a long shot, I think there's some personal preference for sure. I don't mind giving up a tiny bit of precision for a bit of everything else. I'm also a huge fan of wicked stiff sidewalls and don't mind small amounts of tread squirm for it. I don't think you can go wrong with either tire, but if someone finds that they like one, I don't see a reason you have to try the other. They are both so similar, and so good.

When I tried them they were in the 235 40 17 configuration. If I did it again they would be in a 255 40 configuration or w.e is close to that for filling a 9" wheel. I went from the DW to trying the S-04 for reference.

[JazzleSAURUS]

235 is too narrow for a 9" wide wheel. 235 is my preference on an 8" wide wheel. Square tire fitment rules.

[venturaII]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

My experience had been that the last gen, (more angular tread pattern, ironically like the new RS4,) was worse in the rain, but a bit more direct in the dry, but the newer V12 with the slight curve in the tread pattern was a TON better in both the rain, and wet roads. They are not as good as the S-04, MPSS, or DW, (I'm going to assume I can include the Extreme Contact Sports in here too...) in the rain.

Do you know which V12 you had tried? (I think I may of not clarified in my previous post, iirc V12 is the angular one, V12 Evo is the one with the slight curvature.

I believe I have the 'newer' version...I'll check when I leave work, but I believe the tread pattern has a curve to it. I was actually expecting/assuming the tire to perform well in the wet due to this directional pattern, but my experience has been otherwise. Certainly the Conti DWs were a big step above in the wet, though that's more of a compound issue than tread pattern. Standing water is different issue, and one where I'd expect the Evo to perform better due to (potentially) better evacuation as a result of this pattern.

[jasonojordan]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

235 is too narrow for a 9" wide wheel. 235 is my preference on an 8" wide wheel. Square tire fitment rules.

The 235 were used on the stock wheels not my current 9" wheels. Sorry for the confusion.

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by venturaII

I believe I have the 'newer' version...I'll check when I leave work, but I believe the tread pattern has a curve to it. I was actually expecting/assuming the tire to perform well in the wet due to this directional pattern, but my experience has been otherwise. Certainly the Conti DWs were a big step above in the wet, though that's more of a compound issue than tread pattern. Standing water is different issue, and one where I'd expect the Evo to perform better due to (potentially) better evacuation as a result of this pattern.

Same reason why a lot of people thought the S-04 would suck in the wet, but it seems to do about as good as a summer can!

[finch1750]

OP, maybe try out GT Radial SX2. People have used them for full track seasons so you know they last. Not as grippy as the other 200TW big shots but probably fits your bill fairly well.

Originally Posted by jasonojordan

The 235 were used on the stock wheels not my current 9" wheels. Sorry for the confusion.

Originally Posted by jasonojordan

When I tried them they were in the 235 40 17 configuration. If I did it again they would be in a 255 40 configuration or w.e is close to that for filling a 9" wheel. I went from the DW to trying the S-04 for reference.

The S-04 runs wide so I would venture it was too much tire for the stock wheels. I had 225 S-04s on stock wheels and the turn in was much better then Conti I went to after (235 on a 9" for the DWs though). I would try a 235 or 245 on a 9" and it would feel much better I bet.

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by finch1750

OP, maybe try out GT Radial SX2. People have used them for full track seasons so you know they last. Not as grippy as the other 200TW big shots but probably fits your bill fairly well.







The S-04 runs wide so I would venture it was too much tire for the stock wheels. I had 225 S-04s on stock wheels and the turn in was much better then Conti I went to after (235 on a 9" for the DWs though). I would try a 235 or 245 on a 9" and it would feel much better I bet.

I run 225/45's on 17x7 wheels and the stiff sidewalls make it work. If the sidewalls weren't so stiff, you'd be giving up a lot of feedback, (215's would of been the way to go if the sidewall wasn't so rigid.)

[wparsons]

I'd go for RS4's, ZII's (or whatever replaces them) or AD08R's. A few guys I know got a full season of time attack out of RS4's easily, same can't be said for RE71R's on the same car. The ZII's and AD08R's definitely wear way longer (despite the AD08R's being a 180TW). I got two full summers of daily driving and track use out of my ZII's, one summer and track use out of RS3's, and two summers with track use on my current AD08R's (and they still have lots of tread depth left).

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by wparsons

I'd go for RS4's, ZII's (or whatever replaces them) or AD08R's. A few guys I know got a full season of time attack out of RS4's easily, same can't be said for RE71R's on the same car. The ZII's and AD08R's definitely wear way longer (despite the AD08R's being a 180TW). I got two full summers of daily driving and track use out of my ZII's, one summer and track use out of RS3's, and two summers with track use on my current AD08R's (and they still have lots of tread depth left).

Being a 180tw the AD08R bumps cars into full slick classes effectively making them 100% noncompetitive unfortunately.

It's a great tire, but if autox is something you want to do and be able to have fun with other 86's doing, stick with a 200tw. I like the RS4 option.

[venturaII]

Originally Posted by wparsons

A few guys I know got a full season of time attack out of RS4's easily

Seriously? I'd read that they are better able to manage heat than the V2 RS3s, with the same level of grip...those might be a candidate to replace my RT615K+ as trackday rubber. I assume the drivers' natural style is not to overdrive the car in the first place, but that's still really impressive.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by JazzleSAURUS

Being a 180tw the AD08R bumps cars into full slick classes effectively making them 100% noncompetitive unfortunately.

It's a great tire, but if autox is something you want to do and be able to have fun with other 86's doing, stick with a 200tw. I like the RS4 option.

Some events let AD08R's run with the 200tw tires since they're not even competitive compared to RE71R's and Rival S 1.5's, especially if Yokohama is a contingency sponsor for the event/series.