ColoQuattro

Most seem to cost about the same generally within about $30 to $40 of each other with a few exceptions.
Tire Rack is having a special on the Dunlop "Race" tire but it is not a R compound and is more of a rain tire. They are $120 each. Not very many good comments about them. Everything else seems to be in that $250 ea range. OK so I have to spend $1000 for some track tires. I have looked at Kumho, Hoosier, Toyo, Michellin, Yokahamma, and the Dunlop. Avon doesn't make a 18" tire, Nitto doesn't make my size, Goodyears gets so so reviews. I like the Hoosier or Toyo. Friends tell me that the Kumhos are fast but I had a bad experience with Kumhos.
Thing is I am leaning toward the Hoosiers hard compound. I like the Hoosier more since it has a actual slick tread pattern and if I get track tires I want real race tires that put the most race rubber on the ground that I can get. I really like the Hoosiers but have spoken with no one that has run them. I probably will not autocross BTW.
Any opinions....please?

Youreviltwin

I like the Toyo T1-s / R's yokohama has a new tire out supposed to kick ***.

s4jones

They do come in the stock S4 size (235/40-18) and cost about $170 from vulcantire.com or edgeracing.com. So that's about $680 for some very robust tires (big tread blocks). They won't give you the absolute grip of R-compounds, but your car can be hell on tires. Hoosiers? Oy. That could get expensive. You did say you are new to HPDEs, yes? Get some cheap and lightweight track wheels for the $$$ you save over the course of a couple sets of R-compounds (quicker than you might believe). The Motorsports forum guys probably would be a good place to ask this question, or search the archive...

bhvrdr

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/toyora1-3-640.jpg">

Attention mods: I am not a dealer and dont make anything off of these tires. I race on them and have a hookup and will pass it along on occasion when they send me extras for the season.

cheers! Mike

s4jones

I was discussing this kind of a deal with an SVT Focus buddy that gets his racing tires from some Speed Challenge guys, but the size is tricky for me: 235/40-17 (my stock Focus size is 215/45-17). He rolled his fenders and runs upgraded springs on KW V3 dampers to avoid rubbing.

As for his pricing: The RA1s in excellent condition (like one qualifying session) were $100; while somewhat less good were $50. My friend puts the good ones in front and the less good ones in back (FWD). He can run almost an entire season of EMRA/NASA events on his SVT Focus with a set of those. Sure is a LOT cheaper.

$40 per tire is an awesome price.

bhvrdr

yeah, they actually wear pretty well. I like them. I wouldnt mind some free Hoosiers though

s4jones

I'm guessing: Duh. What sizes? the only things that fit my car without some adjustments are 205/40-17...

bhvrdr

Sorry, just 235 and 255

JeffW

Street tires will be alot more commmunicative as they're losing grip (i.e they'll make lots and lots of noise as you get on the edge of grip).

Once you've got 6-10 days under your belt, then think about R compound.

This is my 2nd year doing HDPEs. Last year, I just ran my stock contis. Not much grip, but they didn't wear either (I did 9 track days and 25,000 miles on them). This year I'm running Kumho Ecsta MX. At the end of this year or early next year (when the Kumhos wear out), I'll pick up a set of R compound.

I've got 17x8" track wheels, FYI.

bhvrdr

I was surprisingly impressed with the Contis at Sebring. Not bad for a street tire.