S-spec tyres = better wet weather grip

[YanMa YatTai]

Current Motor magazine has a tyre test where they pit the Hankook R-S3 ("S-spec") against other high performance street tyres and it blitzes the field, including wet tests (max lateral G).

This backs up my experience from the recent NSW club track day at Wakefield where it was very wet. I had street tyres and nearly everyone else in my group had either R-spec or S-spec tyres. Where I had next to zero grip they were having no troubles going much fast than me when it was incredibly wet. It could also be that I am hopelessly untalented.

I am using the Motor test as proof it was the tyres and not my lack of skill!

Hankook's write up here - http://www.hankooktyre.com.au/compmed/News_View.aspx?pageNum=5&subNum=5&ChildNum=4&Seq=286&PageNo=1&KeyValue=0&KeyWord=

[project.r.racing]

google motorsport tyre compounds. and look for wet tyres and read.

also dont compare the testing they did to regular street driving. they would've got the tyres up to good temps, where street driving wont. again when you google, you'll see why compounds, heat and grip all come into play together when wet.

[Nevyn72]

also dont compare the testing they did to regular street driving. they would've got the tyres up to good temps, where street driving wont.

So in other words, a good tyre, but despite being S-spec not really suitable for a DD or primarily street dríven car?

[sailaholic]

Don't confuse dd with primarily street dríven...

My car is primarily street dríven and I would have fitted rs3s if the came in the right size. But a DD might find they wear too quickly.


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[project.r.racing]

also dont compare the testing they did to regular street driving. they would've got the tyres up to good temps, where street driving wont.

So in other words, a good tyre, but despite being S-spec not really suitable for a DD or primarily street dríven car?

In relation to what the OP said regards being a better tyre in the wet. It will depend on the conditions surrounding their performance.

Drive a street tyre in the wet, or a RS3 tyre in the wet, at say regular street speeds of 60-80kph, and they will preform the same. As the street tyre doesn't require heat to work. And the RS3 required heat in the compound to activate its performance.

But up the speed, the street tyre doesn't change performance as it doesn't get effected by heat. But the RS3s compound activates it's performance, and the tyre become grippier, even in the wet.

But then go back to where I said conditions. Lots of little things will through all that out alot. After rain with drying road, the RS3 will probably perform even better between the 2. The RS3 in actual heavy rain in cooling conditions, may struggle. It's like anything with tyres and road surface moisture. Gotta find the balnce.

Sorry but go back to what I said originally. If you drive the RS3s on the street in the wet, then don't expect them to drive rings around a street tyre. As they require heat to come good, but doing 120-160kph on the street isn't gonna happen. Or latterally loading the tyres every corner to generate extra friction while daily driving.

On the track, yeah they'll come into their own over a street tyre. Even in the wet.

It would be interesting to know what 9 other tyres were in the test, and their results also to really compare their full results. currently can only find using google Hankook hype.