I have worn out my Hankook Ventus R-S2's and I am looking for new rubber bands. I was wondering if anyone is rocking any of these tires and how you feel about them if you are. I would love Hankook Ventus R-S3's but no one carries the 225/40-18's even though Hankook lists them. Right now I'm leaning toward the Parada's BFG KDW's Yokohama Parada Spec 2's Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec Dunlop Direzza DZ101
I absolutely loved the Z1s. VERY good grip, still good in the rain, and they wore quite decently, also.
I was going to buy Eagle GS-d3's but Goodyear discontinued those in the size for my miata, in fact they don't make a single size for that car now! I ended up putting Parada's on the miata and like them, both wet and dry they have good traction. Due to the fact that goodyear quit making tires for one of my cars I'm not interrested in giving them any of my business. Does anyone else have any opinions on any of these tires?
i had a set of the Yokohama Parada Spec's on my focus, they are really, really good in the rain, and on dry pavement. But they wear pretty quick, but if you try to drive on anything slippery (mud,snow etc.) they are the worst set of tires you will own, i spun around (flipped a @#$&#) and got some mud in them and slid all over the place. but for what they are designed for, i couldn't have been happier and they are pretty decently priced. Oh and they leave a nice bluish smoke if you roast them, but they smell horrid (worse than normal tires)
I agree with the Shibbs. I picked up some Z1's late fall last year, and their grip is phenomenal. Handles wet roads well too!
The grip of the Z1's are so good, you end up taking every corner at maximum speed and end up wearing though them really fast, or at least that's what's happening to mine. I got mine late last summer, I'm going to need new ones soon and I ran snows in the winter.
Most of the autocrossers would tell you go with Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec. Great tires at great price.
I have been looking at the specs quite a bit, one thing seems to stick out for me, according to Tire rack the Star specs weigh 2 pounds more PER TIRE, than my other selections. The BFG's have very similar numbers, cost about 25 less per tire, and are 2 pounds lighter. Does anybody have any thoughts on the KDW's?
Well, is 1.5 lbs per corner worth more for maximum grip and more life, or would you rather have a little more acceleration?
1.5 or 2 pounds is ALOT of unsprung weight per corner, truthfully I would think that it's about a balance in qualities. I was looking for some input on the KDW's, the ratings are comparable, but I would value an opinion of somone from this group over ratings on tire rack.
Star specs. period. The KDWs have absolutely nothing on the star specs. it's got to be, what? a 7+ year old tire design? if they were close in levels of grip to the star specs, and 2lbs lighter per corner, the Street tire class autocrossers would be all over them. but they're not even in the running. RS3s may be a better option in levels of overall grip, but they don't do very well in the wet like the star specs. honestly, the dunlops are such a damn good all around fast tire. the new Falken RT615k may be worth a shot... but no real reports on them yet. i did like their older brother, the regular RT615, but even at only a 4 year old design, they're long in the tooth when it comes to grip and turn in compared to the latest offerings on the market. the new compound of the K may bring some life back to them... but not many of us are holding our breath.
My experience with Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec has been they perform much better in the morning when the track surface is still cold; a very fast starting tire with little warm up needed. Cause by the afternoon the tires start to get greasy. I will say they do talk to you well and the corning response is above average. I've only had one experience driving on these at one high speed autox. And a whole weekend at BIR. Our tires where blistering as we powered a +400whp STI around the 2.5 miles track. Maybe I just have a lead foot or maybe these tires just aren't up to part with my style of driving.
Still running Star Specs....for a reason. I had them out on Brainerd (driving the RS) and liked them...for the 5 laps I got before losing the CV boot. :ugh: 255 Nitto NT01 will be much better, though. :biggrin:
Post back from the dead, anyway I bought the Star specs, and I won't ever buy a dunlop again! not that they are terrible, but for the money they are not worth it.
Thats strange, usually people always say they will be buying them again. Whats the issue with the Star Specs? I know they are spendy, but I think they are worth it.
given that they were DOUBLE what I paid for my hankooks and that I felt that the Hankooks performed better in my opinion. I get a greasy feeling out of them almost out of the gates. I like a tire that feels solid and warns before breaking traction, in general I don't much of a traction feel out of these tires, and I haven't ever broken free but I am pretty sure that there would not be much or any warning
Yeah I know what you mean. I loved my Star Specs for autox but they were pretty meh on the street and at the track. I also had RS2's before them, re070, rt615, and rt215 before those. The rs2s felt much better in the rain and for tooling around the street. I wish the re070's from the s2000 CR (255/40) went for as cheap as the STi take offs used to.
I have Prada Spec 2's on my Miata and I coule have bought those for a bit less as well (about 40 a tire), they cirtainly have better feel than the Star Specs. I think alot of people like these becasue they think that they should, nothing more. honestly I would have bought GSD3's but goodyear discomntinued the size for my Miata, so screw goodyear!
