Who's running What??

[chug_A_bug]

Hey guys Soo I'm Starting to Shop for tires for my Wheels
and just wanting to know who's got what or tried what?
anything good for the Summer and a few track days??
any good Picks on Makes
BTW I need 225/45R17
235/50R17

thanks

Chris.

[evilC]

I am hugely impressed with Goodyear F1 GSD3. I've tried others and keep coming back to them for good grip, excellent feel and handling, good wear. I've never used them on the track but have for autotesting and they stood up to all the abuse. If fact I've still got the set should I autotest again.

You may consider a separate set of tyres (on wheels) for the track as unless you have the power say, >200bhp then those tyre sizes will actually slow you on the track. Besides, its disheartening to then drive around on massively scrubbed tyres on the street (unless you're into posing of course - a bit like knee sliders on bike leathers on the street)

Clive

[vwdreaming]

(unless you're into posing of course - a bit like knee sliders on bike leathers on the street)

Clive

:D that funny right there

[gonebuggy]

Those are some BIG shoes to fill! lol

back when my car was more GL I used to run P195/50R15 Yokohamas. They don't make that particular model now, but it has been superseded by this:
http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/s.drive.aspx

those tires were STICKY, and they lasted a long time.

Alex

[chug_A_bug]

thanks guys I'll Look into those.
anybuddy got anything Different, Alex I was Looking at those tires just last night too Seem like a good tire
and at a Far price, and you Say they are Sticky and wear is good too ?
Chris.

[petevw]

I'm running Continental SportContacts on my TDI. Real nice. They grip very well, but they wear quickly. They are pricey, but lots of fun.

Have Kumho 712's on the super. Cheap tire, decent quality. They fought hard at last year's track day to keep the bug on the track with the 1600. Could spin that 235 tire at will with the 2332. Not impressed.

Pete

[gonebuggy]

With tires that big and sticky moved by a 1641cc, they'll last a LONG time ;)

Alex

[Humble]

I've gone through a good number of tires, usually at least 2 sets per car per year. I blame the I-can't-help-but-drive-fast mountain roads. I see mostly sunny weather here, a month or 2 of constant rain in the winter and sometimes up to 4-6 inches of snow, yeah even in California 9 miles from the ocean. So here's what I've burned through:

Yokohama S.drive
pretty grippy in dry and wet, not really affected by cold weather >45F. Great street tire and lasts very long with hard driving, but on the track it leaves you wanting more, a little pricey though, great for street though

Yokohama A032R/A048R
grooved R compound tire for street/track use. sticky like duct tape on duct tape, wears like butter on a hot skillet but you'll never be able to get that stupid grin off your face. Do not expose to cold temps below 40F, tires will harden and lose life, they are like plastic at those temps anyway. great for track and you can drive home on it (I do to scrub rubber off) not so good for the street

Kumho Ecsta MX/XS
more grip than the S.drive and they get stickier when they heat up. pretty long life on the bug so far 10k+ and maybe 50% to go. Good in the wet too but in the cold >40F they just slide. good track/street tire

Hankook RS2/RS3
a lot like the kumhos but they stick more and wear a lot faster. got about 8k miles (stretching it) a set. these tires were fantastic in the wet and reacted like there was no water at all, good track/street tire

Continental Contisport Contact 3
like the hankooks but cost twice as much, however they are not as good in the wet, good track/street tire

BF Goodridge gforce t/a kd
very sticky tire more than the hankook, not so good in the wet, useless in the cold, expensive and asymetrical so you can't rotate staggered wheels at all, but a great track tire that will survive on the street

Bridgestone potensa re050a pole position
expensive, better than the hankook and last as long as the kumho's, good tire and you get what you pay for. not very good in freezing temps good track/street tire

Bridgestone potensa re-11
very sticky tire, great in the wet, great on the track but wears fast like the continentals. not good in the cold

As a general rule I stay away from firestone, fusion, and sumitomo because they don't make any sticky tires.

[fast Ed]

I had the Eagle F1 GS-D3 on my T-Bird Super Coupe, used them for summer street driving and some open-track days. Nice ride and great grip, killer wet grip too, which I really loved.

Obviously comparing apples & oranges as far as the vehicle type here, but I've ridden with a few students at track days with those tires on various cars, and they've great on everything.

Another one to look at is the Dunlop Direzza Star Spec, they are a max. performance tire, one step below an R-compound really. I have these on my Taurus SHO, which I put together primarily for doing track days with, but didn't want to be switching wheels & tires when I got there. Stiffer ride than the GS-D3, but grip is a level beyond for sure, and wet grip is quite impressive too. The first time I was out in the car this year for the Solo I school, I was basically driving by almost all of the other instructors in the pouring rain ... pretty funny when I had never been out on the track with the car before, and I had no idea where to set the shocks and tires. :D


cheers
Ed N.

[chug_A_bug]

WOW Humble thanks for the Tire Bibel
I guess I have alot to think about...

thanks to pete and Ed.

Chris.

[Bug@5speed(US)]

I recently had some good success, with AVON Tech R, which as the name implies is a R compound slick racing tire..

I ran them on my DD for a weekend HPDE.. really liked them.. was not able to exploit them as the stock suspension did not really let me push as hard as I would have liked.. But if you do push them past their sticking point they were not as progressive as a street tire.. so you have to pay attention.. But as far as wear they were good, and they heated up pretty quick with the 3 series I was driving..

As you can expect the traction limits are much higher than street tires..
Hope that helps.
Alex

[Humble]

From what I've found on the beetle is that you can expect longer life from tires because of it's light weight. Even sticky compounds that would otherwise wear very quickly, the bug is relatively easy on them, assuming you have done a 4 wheel alignment and you're not running crazy camber.

[evilC]

I'm running Continental SportContacts on my TDI. Real nice. They grip very well, but they wear quickly. They are pricey, but lots of fun.
............
Pete

I tried a pair of Conti SportContact 2 as the F1s were not immediately available. I concur with you regarding the wear rate that is not surprising since they don't supply the tyre with enough rubber! They are all groove - you could cycle round the tyre in the size of grooves they supply - that must be reason they are good in the wet. Without being too dogmatic the Goodyear F1 GS-D3 is very predictable and I reckon I have sacrificed ultimate grip for it but perversely it makes me faster because I'm more confident.

I had a set of Pirelli PZero's that gripped extremely well but the car always seemed to sit down in the corner as if taking up the squidgy side wall before it became stable - it didn't provide much confidence.

I want to try some Kuhmo Ecsta V70 motorsport (road legal) radials on the bug.

Clive

[Wally]

I want to try some Kuhmo Ecsta V70 motorsport (road legal) radials on the bug.

Clive

Me too!
(Humble)
Kumho Ecsta MX/XS
more grip than the S.drive and they get stickier when they heat up. pretty long life on the bug so far 10k+ and maybe 50% to go. Good in the wet too but in the cold >40F they just slide. good track/street tire

Totally agree. I run this tire on the front now. Its a '(ultra) high performance' rated tire, better than most, but its no semi-slick.

What you guys in the us call an 'R-compund' or semi-slick is what works best, period. There are tade-offs in noise and lifespan, but as Humble also says (and I agree again): the bug is usually more gentle on them than most other heavier cars.

So for real grip, you want an R-rates tire or semi-slick as I call them.
You can also look at the ' threadwear' rating on the side of the tire. Its a UTCG rating with 3 different ratings. The other two are for temperature and ...?
Try to shoot for 60-120 for the threadwaer rating. Normal tires have 250-280 or so and even the before mentioned ' ultra high performance' tires have usually no less than 200. Its says how ' soft' the compound is but its relative to that manufactorer. Still, it gives a good reference I think.

I have just bought a slightly used set of Toyo R888's (threadwear 100) for on the rear when the current Bridgestone (or was it Dunlop?) 'SP super sport race' are worn.
Hopefully I can find the Kumho V70's or another set of 888's cheap as well for the front for next season.

[chug_A_bug]

Kumho Ecsta MX/XS
more grip than the S.drive and they get stickier when they heat up. pretty long life on the bug so far 10k+ and maybe 50% to go. Good in the wet too but in the cold >40F they just slide. good track/street tire.

Well after reading and Some thinking I have Order a Set of the Kumho's
thanks for everyones help and when they get put on the Bug I'll let everyone know how they are :)

thanks again
Chris.

[Humble]

I'm a little harder on my tires than most cruising through the mountains everyday. I've always wanted to try r-compound/semi slick tires for daily use but I would have to get smaller wheels to make tire prices a little more wallet friendly at the rate I go through tires. I've pondered redrilling the bug rotors to 5x100 and getting light 15x7" wheels just for this purpose.

[chug_A_bug]

Hey Humble
I Too would Love a Set of R compound tire I may not drive as hard as you through that Mtn roads but are Streets are rough here
and I think I would just burn them up Soo fast and I really wouldn't want to put 15" on I just love the look of a 17" and looked at pricing for them for one Hoosier
like $290 "OUCH"
soo that's not going to be happing anytime Soon lol

Chris.

[evilC]

Chris, It's almost worth importing them from Europe ( a bit of reverse trading for a change): For example http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m12b102s665p0&tbv=KUMHO_TYRES_/_TRACKDAY_TRACK_DAY_/_KUMHO_V70A_ECSTA_KUMHO_V70_A_-Track_Day_Tyres_-_Trackday_Tyres_-_Motorsport_Tyres_R17_-_225/45/17,_225/45_R17
I assume the $290 are USD?

Clive

[gonebuggy]

133 pounds is about 234 Canadian dollars.

[Steve C]

Hi

On my daily/sons 1303 where running 205/45x17 Toyo Teos on the front and 215/45x17s Toyo Proxies on rear, where doing a training & track day on Sunday, these aren't track tyres so I may be buying new tyres on Monday. They handle street driving very well with no vices, the car has been on the road a few years, the front tyres look like new, were on the 3rd set of rears.

On my other 1303 I was thinking of running Falken RT615s http://www.falken.com.au/tyres/passenger-RT615.html

A friend has been using Federal tyres and has been getting good results http://www.federaltyres.com.au/motorsport

I don't mind spending money on good quality tyres, after all bugs are so easy on tyres, I would hate to have an off where a better tyre may have helped.

Steve

[chug_A_bug]

Hey Steve...
So I two was looking at the Falken RT615s and for a Set it would have cost me about $850 Cad so about the same US..
but I have Never Been to Keen on Falkens, and I thought that I may wear them out abit faster then I wanted lol

Chris.

[big daddy]

I have a set of SIMMONS rims that I am trying my very best to use when ever I go to track days:p. My car is a swingaxle with a narrowed rear end. I am running Porsche Turbo Brembo's and for regular street driving I use Porsche Twist with 17 x 7 x 55mm all around. I also have a set or SIMMONS 3Pc RACING RIMS, the fronts are 17 x 7.5" x 51mm offsets, the rear's are 17 x 8.5" x 57mm offsets Rims which are too wide for my ride with 130mm bolt pattern.
I do have 2" wider fenders but I would have to use huge spacers in the rear to make them fit. I want to stick to the original fenders but if I have to I am willing to trade the wider 17 x 8.5 for a 17 x 7 Simmons.
It's hard to believe that nobody out there in Bug/Porsche world has no Simmons 17" Rims or Barrels or parts???

Anyone has any parts, sell, trade or suggestions for me at this point. :rolleyes:

Thanks in Advance

[Humble]

2 of the tires I didn't put in my list were the Falken 215 and 615. The 215 was the older version and was a great all around tire. The 615 is a great street and autox tire but in the mountains and on the track it gets greasy once the tires get hot. They slide a little bit more and the tires wear faster once they get too hot. I'd recommend them for street use but not for track.

[Steve C]

Hi

We ran on the weekend with street Toyos, they did OK and are still in one peice, see my other post http://www.germanlook.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10295

We will get some better tyres down soon. One of the factors that will limit my choice is the "look", they have to look right, that means getting the size and profile that looks right, this may seem a secondary consideration but its important to me. We need to run 205/45x17s and 215/45x17s for the "look".

Steve

[toddygates]

has anyone used FALKEN ZE912?

[Steve C]

Hi

I ended up buying a set of Federal 595R-S, I could only get them in 215x45 in 17s, the look of the same size tyre all round is growing on me. I would have preferred a 205/45 for the front but they don't make one, they will be making a 215/40 x 17 in the future, they would give the car a better stager look.

I'm extremely pleased with them, I've done one track day with them and lots of street driving, they cope well on the street and are not getting chopped up at all, they are OK in the wet, I need to fiddle with tyre pressures as they are not getting hot enough.

Steve

[chug_A_bug]

So I ended up getting a Set of Kumho XS
F 225/45R17
R 235/45R17
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e263/chug_A_bug/tires004.jpg~original

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e263/chug_A_bug/tires003.jpg~original

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e263/chug_A_bug/tires001.jpg~original

[Steve C]

Hi

I was able to find my dream wheels on Ebay, 3 piece 18 inch Simmons OMs, these are for my other 1303. They are 8s & 10s now, but our local registration authorities have strict laws for fitting wider wheels, so I will get them narrowed back to 7.5s & 8s.

These wheels were off a Porsche Cup car, and I was lucky to get them at a reasonable price, $1550 AU, The same brand wheels for a Ford or Holden (local GM) are bringing big money, around $3000 AU as Simmons have now stopped making wheels.

Steve

[Wally]

Nice wheels indeed! If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have said those are BBS wheels... ;-)
What do they weigh?

[volkdent]

Really hot wheels Steve, great buy!

Jason

[Steve C]

Hi

Thanks guys..

I don't think the way that they look like BBs wheels is a coincidence lol.

The 8s weigh 10.57 kg & the 10s weigh 11.93 kg on my Ebay scales.

I have a good friend who is the only authorised Simmons wheel repairer in Australia and is 2 suburbs away from me, so swapping the rims over wont be a headache and I will have the centres repainted silver most likely.

The 10s with inner rims swapped to make them 8s will work out perfectly on the rear with wider Aero fenders/wings/mudguards and alloy 944 arms. The 8s going back to 7.5 on the front is going to need an inner and outer rim swap, they sit in too far now, so I can go to a slightly wider outer rim and narrower inner rims, this will leave me with the outside of the wheels front & back looking the same.

I will still need to push the front wheels out a bit, I already have 911/996 front bakes from my old car, these were set-up using cut down Beetle rotors and the Porsche rotor bolting to the back of the cut-down Beetle rotor, so they gave no track increase, I will look into getting some 944 or 911 alloy hubs which will give me a track increase.

Tyre choice is going to be critical to have the correct "look", I've seen cars with 15s, 16s, 17s & 18s that just miss out on the "look" through poor tyre width & profile choice.

Steve