best tyres under $280 per corner?

[NB8C]

Any recommendation?

- size: say 205/45/R16 (the standard size for NB8B/C) (or similar)
- disregarding the noise/ comfort level
- grip level on dry/ wet/ warm/ cold
- duration of the tyres
- any tyres available and street legal
- track / street use

[sliq]

Goodyear Eagle GS-D3's..

If you look hard enuff it's about $180 a corner in 205/45/16 and excellent in dry and wet.

Would not recommend for the track but these last about 30-35k kms..

[green_comet]

The new Potenza RE001's are meant to be pretty good, they are taking the spot of the G3 and S03..

Im getting a set put on tomorrow, so ill let you know how they go.. They are also on special at the moment at Bridgestone.




Here's a writeup on them..

http://www.aa.co.nz/media/Section?Action=View&Section_id=373&Story_id=4159

[Charlie Brown]

How many kilometres do you want them to last?

As stated in the other post, the Michelins P2s would be my pick at around $230 – 240 a corner.

The P1s lasted me 29,000 kilometres on the NC that included 4 Wakefields, 1 Queensland Raceway and 1 Phillip Island, running between 2.0 & 2.5 degrees negative camber. Without the camber and the track days they would have exceeded 40,000 kilometres. They were good for a 1:15.01 around Wakefield on my NC and 1:17.07 in my NB.

If you are not worried about wear you could get the Kumho V700. A dot rated tyre that is relatively quite when compared to the Dunlop D01J. It won’t stick like the D01s but at least you could live with it on a day to day basis. Keep in mind though that your DOT tyres need to be warmed up to perform. The old Kumho’s on my front track wheels understeer like all buggery until they are warmed up. But then they are shagged and heat cycled to near death.

Keep away from T1-Rs. See comments elsewhere.

[StanTheMan]

green comet......what size & how much?
do they come in the 16\" size?

[NB8C]

would the GS-D3 b only good in general street use? as they are comfort and soft sidewall... yet grip on dry/ wet generally?

has anyone tired the GS-D3 on track? any comments?

btw.. friend of mine bought a set of GS-D3 for a DC2R (size: 195/55/R15) for $110 so would the 16inch b around <$150??

[NB8C]

How many kilometres do you want them to last?

As stated in the other post, the Michelins P2s would be my pick at around $230 – 240 a corner.

The P1s lasted me 29,000 kilometres on the NC that included 4 Wakefields, 1 Queensland Raceway and 1 Phillip Island, running between 2.0 & 2.5 degrees negative camber. Without the camber and the track days they would have exceeded 40,000 kilometres. They were good for a 1:15.01 around Wakefield on my NC and 1:17.07 in my NB.

any tyres can last for abt 30,000 km, I would think that they last extremely long~~~

and how did they look after 6 track days? any appearance of tyre core?

[green_comet]

green comet......what size & how much?
do they come in the 16" size?

I ordered 195/50 R15's they were $125 each, which i was told was pretty much cost price.. They are $129 with the sale, and go up to $160-$170each after sale..

The only price i know in 16's are 205/55 R16 and they are $199 each with the sale..


Best off giving bridgestone tyre centre a call, and having a chat with them.

[StanTheMan]

yep cheers for that......most likely they don't import the 16\" tyre....but i will give them a call.

[green_comet]

Just found this...hope it helps.

[bigdog]

Compromising between track and road is too hard. put some T1Rs on your road wheels ($160 ea for 205/45x16) and buy another set of wheels with some semi slicks for track work - pop em on the night before the event and you're away. The trackwork will stuff your road tyres quicksmart and you won't be happy with the tread squirm etc, and running semis on the road reduces their life considerably. Track rims don't need to be pretty - look for some second hand rims with some gutter rash. You have a choice of 15s or 16s too, and tyres are cheaper and more plentiful in the 15 inch range.

[manga_blue]

FWIW I've had both Yokie C-Drives and Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3s. The C-Drives were better all round - wet grip, dry grip, ride and noise. The GS-D3s are proving to be a real handful on the track for me. I'm a few seconds behind where I thought I should be, both wet and dry.

[StanTheMan]

It all depends on a lot of things.
I also agree on big dogs coment.

trying to find a decent tyre which does both well is pretty hard. Also the problem you have is that a lot of the tyres which are avail in the 15\" or 17\" series are not avail in 205/45x16 unfortunately the sexy OEM 16\" wheels for the NB's or any 16\" wheel for that matter are ignored by a lot of manufactures when it comes to serious road tyres.

you need to figure out how often you intend to track your car.
Then you need to figure out How many k's you are going to do.
you need to figure out where & how you will be driving your car.

C drives, T1-R's, GIII & so on are all mediocre tires as far as i'm concerned. For me they are a ordenary tyre. But thats only because they don't suit my application.

once you get into R Compound the compromises become quite.......obvious. I personally wouldn't drive an R compound on the street. Let alone in the cold weather conditions we are having right now in Sydney. They wouldn't be better than a C drive but you would also start killing the tyre

any tyres can last for abt 30,000 km, I would think that they last extremely long~~~

.so we can assume that if a tyre lasts you 8-15 k K'm you would be happy.

If you do decide you want 1 set of tyres for all purpose


I suggest you look at the federal RS595. Its comparable to the Azenis RT615 but avail in 16\". But just over the $280 mark.
also check out the R888. its an R compound & slotted somewhere between the Azenis RT615 & DO1's probably
The Federal RS 595 is very similar to the Azenis RT615 as its a road compound very stiff sidewalls byt has a semislick trad pattern.

Azenis RT615 not aplicable.....doesnt't come in the 16\" size you require

hannoock.....cant recall the name No. the tyre not quite as good as the RT615 but also not as expensive.

also those tyres mentioned in CT's thread might be worth having a closer look.

R888.....well from what i've heard....awsome tyre......doesn't seem to suffer from heat cycles as much as the DO1's but i'm sure they do suffer a little.....just not as bad as DO1's.

Now these Tyres I've just mentioned are not the best thing ever...... They are the type of tyre which suits my own driving & the sort of driving I do. These tires also have compromises. which you need to understand......& by what you said.....seems as though you do.
having said that. My car is a weekend warrior. sees the track maybe one or twice a year. But sees a fair bit of Putty Rd & old pacific Hwy. I can also assure you i slow down in the rain. This year I'll get 7k km at the most. so its not a real lot.

but if you are planning on going to every club meet at wakefield for the next 12 mths & do your fair share of road driving. DO1 FTW on 15\". For the road I heard the Michelins are good too. Not just from CB.

so unfortunaltey......no easy answer.Just like bigdog said.....

[Slugoid]

I've got GSD3's atm and as a street tyre they are quite good. Good dry grip and decent wet grip. Only every caught me when I was up in Mt. Dandenong in the wet, and I was driving like a granny. That place is treacherous when it's wet .

On track, it's a very average tyre. Comparing my best lap on the GSD3 with proper R-comp tyres (and some experience) I cut at least 5 secs consistantly, and a whole 6 secs on my best lap. With a consistent driver, I'd say R-comps will cut at least 2-3secs a lap over street tyres.

Once you've experience R-comps on track, you'd never go back, even if you have to sell a kidney for a set of new ones

[green_comet]

Im getting a set put on tomorrow, so ill let you know how they go..

Well i went to get the RE001's put on today. They tyre looked great, but the guy working there couldnt get the 195/50 to stretch over an 8inch tyre.. The sidewall on the RE001 is like a rock , i was trying to flex it and it wouldnt move. Looks like ill have to go with a different tyre.