Topic: Dunlop Dirreza Star Spec Z1s Win Sportscar Magazine's Street Fighter Shootout

[Ben L]

Just got the October issue of the SCCA rag.  In it, there was an article testing seven Solo Street Touring class legal tires: Bridgestone RE-11s; Dunlop Z1s; Hankook R-S3s; Kumho XSs; Nitto NT05s; Toyo R1Rs; and Yokohama AD08s.  Basically, an array of the best extreme performance street tires out there.  It was an elimination shootout format

The Dunlops (which I run!) were crowned "Ultimate Street Fighter," elminated the others, and turned the fastest lap.  Conclusions were:  "Pros:  Great overall performance and driveability.  Cons:  A little noisy at the limit.  Best Lap:  46.1."

See, I told ya!    

[Kelu]

Toyo R1Rs are the new T1Rs?

[Ben L]

Its the successor to the RE-01R.

[Arabas]

Very interesting Ben. in a few thousand miles, i will need to replace my Bridgestone (not very satisfied, take too much effort to reach optimal temperature, but i have to admit that their structure is quite durable), and i haven t still decided what tires to go with...
now that u informed us, Dunlop Z1 is into my consideration set.

[elff]

I'd take whatever the SCCA states in results with a grain of salt.
You have to remember they consider R-Comps a Stock tire.
 

What weather conditions were those tests done and on what type of car?
I'm not doubting the Dunlop is a great tire.  I've heard nothing but good reviews on those.  Just not sure if it really beats the R1R all the time on all vehicles.

Its the successor to the RE-01R.

Kelu was asking about the Toyo tire which isn't a successor to a Bridgestone.

Toyo R1Rs are the new T1Rs?

No, the T1R and R1R are different Toyo Proxes tires.  The R1R [UTQG: 140] fits in between the R888 [UTQG: 100] and T1R [UTQG: 280] with the T1R  being an Ultra Performance Summer Tire and the R1R being designed for higher level track duties and autocross than the normal driver but not quite at the level of the R888

Kelu, because you do a lot of Drag racing, you should seriously look into the Toyo TQ.  It's a street made for people who occasionally drag race.  Sounds perfect for you.

[Ben L]

Dry. Track. And an RX8 I think. 

Just throwing it out there as a datapoint.

Along with my personal opinion that they are great tires after putting about 8k on the Z1s in all conditions.

Go ahead and take this with a grain of salt. 

Didn't expect everyone to agree, and doesn't really bother me if you don't. 

Opinions are like armpits.  Everyone has them and they all stink.

[elff]

Hahaha
I like that

[Ben L]

That's the "G rated" version! 

You can guess what the salty old dog who taught me the real expression said.

[Critterman]

I' going to guess it started with an "as" and ends with a "hole"

[Ben L]

Bingo.  Hey, that salty ol dog may have been you!

[Kelu]

No, the T1R and R1R are different Toyo Proxes tires.  The R1R [UTQG: 140] fits in between the R888 [UTQG: 100] and T1R [UTQG: 280] with the T1R  being an Ultra Performance Summer Tire and the R1R being designed for higher level track duties and autocross than the normal driver but not quite at the level of the R888

Kelu, because you do a lot of Drag racing, you should seriously look into the Toyo TQ.  It's a street made for people who occasionally drag race.  Sounds perfect for you.

Thank for the info, very clear.
I knew Toyo TQ looks almost perfect tire for me but the reason why I ask around is because is this country I barely find Toyos T1R and R888, I thought R1R is the new version of T1R so I might find them around here somewhere in future.

Arabas: I think we have same stock tires, 14 000km (9000mile) and more than half are gone and I wasn't doing any bournouts and very small sliding. I consider them pretty good tires but will not last too much on my car and I will never put such tires on my car

[lil goat]

Ben you left this part out.
The 265/35-18 tires were shaved to 3/32 mounted on 18x9 wheels. The course was Adams Motorsport Park in Riverside, CA, it was set-up to be comparable to a typical Solo course. The article does not call one tire the winner, but says they were after the tire with the fastest lap times, not the highest G's.
Here are the tires test from slowest to fastest:

7. Toyo Proxes R1R- Best Lap: 48.0
6. Kumho Ecsta XS- Best Lap: 47.4
5. Nitto NT05- Best Lap: 47.0
4. Yokohama AD08- Best Lap: 46.8
3. Hankook R-S3- Best Lap: 46.4
2. Bridgestone RE-11- Best Lap: 46.2
1. Dunlop Direzza Star Spec- Best Lap: 46.1

Here is the Tire Shoot out from Grass Roots magazine, the mag for NASA
From the June 2009 issue of Grassroots Motorsports: Tires were tested in 15 inch sizes on a ST Honda Civic (Andy Hollis). All tires were shaved to 3/32nd and test performed on an Autocross set up. Tires sizes are 205/50/15 (RT-615, R1R, RE-11, XS), 195/50/15 (RE-01R), 195/55/15 (Z1 SS)

Here is a summary of times from worst to first.

6th-Falken RT 615-Mean time: 35.302sec Quick time 35.125sec

5th-Dunlop Star Spec-Mean time: 35.209sec Quick time 35.061sec

4th-Toyo Proxes R1R-Mean time: 34.522sec Quick time 34.452sec

3rd-Bridgestone RE-01R-Mean time: 34.478sec Quick time 34.430sec

2nd-Bridgestone RE-11-Mean time: 34.266sec Quick time 34.238sec

1st-Kumho Ecsta XS-Mean time: 34.170sec Quick time 34.030sec

Part 2 August 2009 issue of Grassroots Motorsports: Same car and same setup.
Tires sizes are 205/50/15 (AD08, R1R, XS), 225/45-15 (RE-11)

Here is a summary of times from worst to first.

4th-Toyo Proxes R1R-Mean time: 35.356sec Quick time 35.264sec

3rd-Bridgestone RE-11-Mean time: 35.398sec Quick time 35.262sec

2nd-Yokohama AD08-Mean time: 34.972sec Quick time 34.827sec

1st-Kumho Ecsta XS-Mean time: 34.728sec Quick time 34.541sec

Tests were done on a Auto X course with a Honda Civic.

[Ben L]

Well there ya go.  More info than you can shake a stick at.

Goat, are you home on sick leave?  Thanks for the putting in the effort it took to assemble all that! 

Now get back to work!

[lil goat]

No I am at work just finishing my lunch, you gotta love Google. I actually have the GRM article and had already read it. All the info came fro one post on the Mini forum.

I just read another review where the Dunlop smoked the Bridgstone RE-01 in every category and it used to be king. I think the Dunlop is most likely the best summer tire out there. Then you get into the all season tires and get to start all over again, only mad dogs and lawyers drive summer tires in the winter.

[LiquidPT]

No I am at work just finishing my lunch, you gotta love Google. I actually have the GRM article and had already read it. All the info came fro one post on the Mini forum.

I just read another review where the Dunlop smoked the Bridgstone RE-01 in every category and it used to be king. I think the Dunlop is most likely the best summer tire out there. Then you get into the all season tires and get to start all over again, only mad dogs and lawyers drive summer tires in the winter.

Uh, ya, that's why they make winter tires. All seasons aren't great at either, and I want great on my new baby. That's why I plan to put Hankook Ventus on for summer (better wet traction, quieter and cheaper than the Dunlops) and a set of Blizzaks on in the winter.

Summer tires are NOT meant to be driven in cold temps, even without snow. They become hard and traction is greatly lacking.

[elff]

I'm going a different route.
I'm going with a set of really agressive just barely legal race tires
and a set of all season tires on separate rims for long trips.
I have the benefit of a jeep with some sick @$$ offroad tires for bad weather and winter

[lil goat]

The Dunlops have beat everything out there in more than one comparison. They smoked the old standard the Bridgestone RE-01's nothing else is even close in all around performance. They are inexpensive. The Falken Ziex 912 is the best all season tire out there unless you encounter a lot of snow. The Falken will keep up with most summer tires, ask U-238 or better yet try and catch him on an Auto X cross, he is running the Falken's. I am a firm believer in 2 sets of wheels and tires. I run the RE-01's now but they will get replaced with the Dunlops, I run the factory Goodyears in winter until I can get the Falken's, they are very reasonable but I want 265's and that requires new wheels.

[LatinVenom]

I really like my GoodYears GS-D3's Ultra High performance tires.

[Uranium-238]

The Falken Ziex 912 is the best all season tire out there unless you encounter a lot of snow. The Falken will keep up with most summer tires, ask U-238 or better yet try and catch him on an Auto X cross, he is running the Falken's.

Yep, for all-season tires the Falken's do remarkably well. Sooner or later I plan on getting some good summer tires, maybe even slicks, but for now the $145/tire Falkens will be what I race with. In the meantime I have plenty more parts to add to the car, and there is still much to learn.

[LiquidPT]

The Dunlops have beat everything out there in more than one comparison. They smoked the old standard the Bridgestone RE-01's nothing else is even close in all around performance. They are inexpensive. The Falken Ziex 912 is the best all season tire out there unless you encounter a lot of snow. The Falken will keep up with most summer tires, ask U-238 or better yet try and catch him on an Auto X cross, he is running the Falken's. I am a firm believer in 2 sets of wheels and tires. I run the RE-01's now but they will get replaced with the Dunlops, I run the factory Goodyears in winter until I can get the Falken's, they are very reasonable but I want 265's and that requires new wheels.

I had a brand new set of Falken 912s on my PT last year, and I got defeated by the snow.. in Seattle. Couldn't get up my street, and it's not that steep. Had to throw on some chains. NEVER had to do that before.

Yup, goin full winter tire this year. Thinking about getting a Jeep in the next couple years to supplement.

[LiquidPT]

This piece done by CBC (Canada) on winter tires is very good. I think it's about 20 minutes long, but it's a good watch.

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/get_a_grip/

[Uranium-238]

In the event of snow, I stay home. If their is snow on the runways, planes can't fly, so I wouldn't be needed at work in that event.

[LiquidPT]

In the event of snow, I stay home. If their is snow on the runways, planes can't fly, so I wouldn't be needed at work in that event.

Snow isn't the real problem here, it's cold. And you're telling me they don't plow runways when there's a little snow?

[Uranium-238]

They do, though usually not before my normal work day begins. Besides, a real snow like that is rare here. I drive to work well before sunup in the winter, so it's cold. Maybe not Washington cold, but cold.

[RufusMacblorf]

I've read that the Direzza Star Spec is noisy, particularly after the first few thousand miles.  I'm trying to decide whether to care about that.  For those of you who have these tires, is this the kind of noise that would only be annoying if you drove a luxury car?  With the top down in our cars it's difficult to hear the radio at freeway speeds, much less the tires.  Are a couple of decibels of tire noise a big deal in our cars?