Best Street/Autocross Tires
 

Since I have no local Autocross and haven't made the move to a tire trailer yet ( not anytime soon) i was wondering what the general consensus is on the best street/autocross tires are for a C5. I am running Falkens now and am not terribly impressed so far.

BFG KD is best true street tire for competitve times. My next choice might be Toyo RA1's or Victoracers if class allows. I think they have enough tread to get by in the rain when traveling.

I drive up to 140 miles away to events on GS-CS & 2/32" Victoracers. It's OK unless it rains. Damp pavement is OK, but they won't tolerate any standing water. I'm stuck wherever I am until the rain stops.

I know one guy that does pretty good with Nitto NT-55 RIIs on his camaro. I'm looking at getting a set for myself.

Which Falkens?? The Falken RT615, which I have in 275/17-315/18, are the grippiest street-class tire I've ever used. They are the most popular tire at SCCA SoloII National Events for "street-tire" classes...and that is saying a great deal about the tire.

Falken RT615s. If you find a grippier street-tire, please let me know.

-ace

nope ZE512's

I've run a couple times on my Firestone Wideovals and liked them for the $$.

The Kumho Ecsta MX would be a great tire for autocross and track days and still deliver great street performance and mileage.

The cost is much less than the BFG KD's and are almost as grippy.

I used to drive on RA-1s all the time back in Ottawa (on my RX-7s)... RA-1s and NT-555 RII are basically the same time rebranded with different tread pattern.

I've been surprised by the F1 Supercars that came stock on the C6 Z51. They haven't been horrible...

The Wide Ovals are definitely the best bang for your buck in tires that really perform above and beyond what a street tire is expected to.

I have run multiple sets of Kumho MXs as combo street and track tires - I really like them for the money and the availability in ZO6 sizes:thumbs:

I am probably going to try a set of Firestones - have not run any Firestones since 1979 on my Nova and Trans Am so I am sure they are different by now.

I run the Firestones on the street and have also used them as rain tires for autocross with good results. I don't think you'd be happy with them as dry condition autocross tires, though. They are 340 tread wear rating and just aren't that grippy...not horrible and much better than the price would lead you to believe, but not really strong in the dry.
Having said that, when I bought them on "special" the total cost was only $600 something...best bang for the buck I've seen for Z06 size tires, by far!

The Toyo RA1 and Nitto 555R2 will take you out of the street tire class. Anything with a treadwear rating of under 140 will put you in with full race tires. That being said I run Toyo RA1 and am very competitive with most of the guys running true race tires.If you want to stay in the street tire class I think your best bet is to stick with the stock Z51 supercar eagle F1. They are very good for a street tire.

I agree in the regard that too many on this forum are looking for "R Compound" in a street tire. All tires out there are good street tires if that is what you intend to use them for. For Autocross, tires like F1 SC, T/A KD and PS2s work because an autocross section is less than a minute which the tires will not get greasy on the course. Tires like Bridgestone SO2, S03, RE050, Firestone Wide Ovals, Kumho MXs, Falkens work well on road courses because in the course of the twenty to thirty minute track sessions. They do not get as greasy because of their rubber compounds. I use street tires on the track for HPDE 4 because they are not as forgiving as "R Compound" thus keeping me SMOOTH.

Street/Track
 

Understanding the topic "Street/Track tires" correctly, and also understanding that "R" tires are NOT street tires, according to the manufacturer's, I would recommend that board members at least LOOK at the post by a member who has used Michelen Pilot Sport "CUP" tires VERY successfully:thumbs:

They are a good "R Compound" Tire.

:iagree:

If you're running Super Stock, RA1s are the way to go. (R compounds OK.) Right sizes are available. (Don't know about the Nittos).

The F1 SCs are very good but not as much grip.

I just ran this past Friday and beat the crap out of the MX's and was very happy with them. No chunking or pitting - very predictable and overall I was very impressed with the grip. I passed a guy many times in a ZO6 w/race tires on...

Im on my third set of MXs, and love them, maybe eventually ill switch to 710s

What about Dunlops?
 

I have had good luck with the Dunlop Super Maxx for autocross. Any other users out there? :cheers:

Just to throw my .02

I autocross a 97 and have a set of Bridgestone RE050's. I've got seven events on them plus one track day and they have NEVER been greasy. The tread wear seems pretty good, but they don't stick that well either. I'm probably getting a set of Kumho 700's since I don't have a trailer for race tires.