Planet 9

Today's mail brought the latest copy of GRM--a great magazine for those unfamiliar with it--and it included a tire test of those tires in what would be the Extreme performance class (street tires capable of handling their own at the track).

Any way, copyright protection being what it is, I'll just post the results:
1)Kumho XS
2)BS RE-11
3)Toyo R1R
4) Dunlop Z1 star spec
50 Falken 615

Price was considered as well as performance; the test tires were 15" versions used a Civic, shaved to 3/32. The track was a short auto-x session--roughly 35 second runs--with a sweeper and slalom. Too bad they didn't include the NT-05 Nitto.

The Kumho had the best time, reasonably priced, good feedback and steering response. Since I've got them in 18" sizes I can't argue with that.

What Kumho 18" sizes are you referring to? Last I looked, they do not have them in the correct rear sizes (265/40) for the CS.

Brian

Brian: I don't know what Mike has, but I thought the 245/35 and 275/35 combination might work well for AX (except for PCA/Parade AX, of course). Those sizes are about .6 and .7" shorter than OEM, so would lower the car about .3" and .35". The RE-11s were only .1-second back in that test.

Gotcha. I seem lately to have way too focus on 100% stock sizes.

That's actually the size I run with my Hoosiers (R6).

Brian

PS and OT: Did the link to the Farmington map that I sent you work?

I'm not very knowlegable about tires, so pardon me if this sounds stupid. Does this mean that the Ecsta's are better than the OEM Potenza's??

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"Sir! We're surrounded!" - "Excellent! We can shoot in any direction!"

I've got the 245/35 275/35/18 set; a bit smaller OD but the lower gearing is noticeable. Very sticky, good steering response and smooth ride

By means of comparison to the PS2, I'll need a few more events to give a qualified opinion, but at Sunday's auto-x, where a guy running a 944 turbo usually wins and beats me by 3-4 seconds (he runs Victoracers) I was only 1 second behind him and a EVO (on hoosiers) was only 2 seconds a head of me.

I don't know if it was the course or me or the tires but this is the closest I'm been to the big dogs in quite a while.

Nitro: The tire test involved only extreme performance category tires likely to be competitive in SCCA's street tire autocross classes. My guess is that all of the tires tested would work better at autocross than any of the Porsche OEM tires.

Brad: Good sizing on the R6s, I think. Link worked fine. Thanks.

Brad's on R6's too?

BGL

Thanks for the reply. Then what about dual role street/AX tire? Grip? Tread life?

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"Sir! We're surrounded!" - "Excellent! We can shoot in any direction!"

Sorry about that, Brian. I'm terrible with names that start with a B.

Now I'm getting dizzy.

Nitro: That's a very good question. All street tires are compromises, so the extreme performance category tires are emphasizing grip (dry more than wet) and handling responsiveness, while tread wear, ride & noise comfort, and cold weather performance are deemed less important. Tires are so specialized now that I think I need at least four different sets; summer street, winter street, autocross, and track.

The OEM PS2s that came on my car are the best all-around road tires I've ever had. Even so, I'm seriously considering the RE-11 as a replacement (like what's-his-name above). Most of the extreme performance tires probably have at least acceptable levels of comfort and tread wear, at least for those looking to maximize grip and responsiveness. In contrast, my R888s sing "On the Road Again" too loud to be an acceptable tire for everyday use.

A while back there were threads on which Cayman owners were looking for the softest riding and quietest tires ("date tires") to keep wives/dates comfortable.

Hi Jim, why the exception for the Parade AX? I also have the Kumhos and have been happy with them overall. The wear at AX/DEs is much better than the OEM PS2s I had, and the grip is also better.

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2007 Cayman S, Arctic Silver
Gone but not forgotten: 1980 911SC
PCA San Diego Region

I think I can answer that.

At Parade, if you run in the Showroom Stock category, you most run the exact stock size tire. It also must have a treadwear rating of 140 or higher.

The RE-11 is the first if the uber street tires that the SCCA Street Touring guys favor which is available in the correct stock sizes for the Cayman S. This is true for 18" and 19" sizes.

Any deviation in tire size on an otherwise 100% stock Cayman S will bump you to Production class, where true R-Tires are allowed.

IMHO, none of the street tires that are under consideration in this thread will be able to keep up with a proper R Tire, such as a Hoosier A6 or R6, or a Kumho 710.

Brian

Just for the sake of accuracy, here are the posted lap times; first number is mean time, the second is best time:

Kuhmo XS--34.15/34.04
BS RE-11---34.27/34.24
BS RE-01---34.49/34.43
Toyo R1R---34.52/34.45
Dunlop Z1 --35.21/35.06
Falken 615--35.30/35.13

I thought it was noteworthy that the falken was the hot street tire just a few years back is now at the end of the list, a full second slower than the XS.

Regarding pricing,a full set of XS tires--245/35 +275/35/18's runs $792 + shipping from TR; the RE-11 (stock 18" sizes) would cost $1028 + shipping. That's a 30% premium for the RE-11's. If price is no object , I guess it doesn't matter; if it does, the XS would seem to be a real bargain. having said that, the Nitto NT-05, which is in the same category and has gotten some rave reviews runs $760 + shipping in the + sizes of 245/40 and 275/40/18. Just another thought....

If any of you uses the XS, do you use them as AX only tires or as dual purpose street/ax tires?

I'm asking coz I'll need a tire change soon, and I was considering the XS, my driving is mostly on the street with an AX every couple of months!

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"Sir! We're surrounded!" - "Excellent! We can shoot in any direction!"

The only downside I can see is that they do flat spot if not driven for a while which goes away after being driven for a few miles.

May I ask what sizes you use? I cant find the stock sizes on their spec sheet!

Also, how about tread wear, do they last well? How about compared to the OEM's?

Thanks a lot

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"Sir! We're surrounded!" - "Excellent! We can shoot in any direction!"

There is only one tire on the above GRM list that is available in the stock 18" sizes, and that is the RE-11.

I believe that is also true of the 19"'s, but have not looked.

If any or all of the tires under discussion prove to be stickier than the OEM tires, it would stand to reason that they also will not last as long, but there are an awful lot of variables in that equation.

Brian

Mine are 245/35/18 and 275/35/18. They make a 235/40/18 but I went with the 245/35 tire because it kept a similar differential in front-back OD ratio--roughly the rear is .75" taller than the front. By comparison the 235/40 was nearly as tall as the 275/35; not something i was looking for.

I just put them on so I have no way of telling how long they will last. They will be my primary tires for DE and Auto-X.

Brian!

Then what are people using when they speak about trying the XS?

Are you referring to the RE-11's??

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"Sir! We're surrounded!" - "Excellent! We can shoot in any direction!"