200tw tires for Track use

[DerHase]

I haven’t run them on the GTI, but on my Mazda2 they’d outlast the original RE71R about 4:1 on an abrasive track (NCCAR). I’d get 8 days vs 2 days before shoulders were worn to the point of needing replacement.

My main gripe was they’re a bit vague vs the others but it wasn’t a huge deal, you adapt. Putting them on wider wheels (I ran a 195 on 8in wide wheels) made a huge difference vs the 7.5 wheels I ran originally. I also ran 225s on a 9in wide wheel up front at one point. (Pictured is 225/9 up front and 195/7.5 out back).

The 195 Hankook was wider than 205 RE71R for reference.

For the GTI I budget a set of tires per year, and realistically it’s way easier on tires and a set of RT660s lastest 9 days on track (and could have gone more), so I didn’t have a need for tires to last longer.

 

[Handguns4heaRTs]

Agree with the vague feel on RS4. They also run really wide, which is either a pro or con for some.

 

[Brian_]

Recent sale prices were too good on the Kumho V730 to pass up so I'll be giving those a try this year, but have also loved my RS4s so far especially for the abuse they took when my car still had factory camber specs up front.

 

[DerHase]

The question nobody asked:







The answer: yes it’s possible but almost for sure terrible. 255/40R17 V730 on a 17x7.5 wheel. Got the wheels for free and my procrastination mounting the 255s to non-ugly ass wheels = taking advantage of my tire machines in the name of science.

No I won’t be driving in this. Just mounted up to see. Was actually WAY easier (basically no special procedures or unusual effort needed) to mount than the 245 RT660s on my 17x9 Apex wheels

 

[MonkeyMD]

The question nobody asked:

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The answer: yes it’s possible but almost for sure terrible. 255/40R17 V730 on a 17x7.5 wheel. Got the wheels for free and my procrastination mounting the 255s to non-ugly ass wheels = taking advantage of my tire machines in the name of science.

No I won’t be driving in this. Just mounted up to see. Was actually WAY easier (basically no special procedures or unusual effort needed) to mount than the 245 RT660s on my 17x9 Apex wheels

I'm sure someone is running this in GS

 

[mrmatto]

T h i c c

 

[xXDavidCXx]

I'm sure someone is running this in GS

Fact.

 

[MonkeyMD]

Great tests by tire rack

 

[Autobahn]

Great tests by tire rack

Great videos, it’s nice to have some additional data points to compare my experience too. Their review of the V730 seems positive. I had thought they were around 1.5 - 2.0 seconds off the old RE-71R, with the new RE-71RS being faster I think that estimation still holds up.

 

[SouthFL_Mk7.5]

This is interesting.
For the past couple years I’ve tracked and autox similarly set up cars using 225/45/17 on 7.5” wheels and 245/40/17 on 8” wheels. I’ve always given the nod towards the 7.5” setup for overall performance, feel and feedback. Granted, the application was track days and recreational autox.

 

[MonkeyMD]

I just wonder why ES still put 245 on 7" wheels. Shouldn't they have realized that a narrower tire might be faster

 

[DerHase]

I'm sure the exact differences will range from tire to tire.

For autocross specifically - more tire width can give more heat capacity. So if you're overworking front tires (as a FWD car does...), it can help to make it more manageable over the course of a full run. I remember someone talking about this when I asked why some people stuffed 275 Hoosiers on a 15x6in wheel on Integras in G-Stock. Ran basically identical times to a 245 or 255 (I forget which they said), but with a 2 driver car on a hot day, they never "fell off" as far as grip goes. *Granted you COULD get away with this in street class when it was run on R-comps because Hoosiers are so damn stiff*.

I suspect a lot of people believe that same line of thinking translates over to 200TW street tires. That was a really excellent video/testing done by Tirerack... though I wish they could publish ACTUAL times with it... not just percentages. I know they used a "control tire" but I'd still like the ACTUAL source data to infer my own potential conclusions. But the honest truth is nobody else is going to do that kind of testing at all, let alone share/publish it.

Based on that, I actually just ordered some Conti ECS to be my dedicated track/autocross heavy rain/cooler weather tire. I ordered 215/40R17s to go on a set of 7.5 wide wheels I picked up for "free" (if you don't count the $140 in fuel I burned to drive and pick them up).

 

[Deanjet]

Hankook RS4 question. I was going to buy a set of RS4's but I don't see the size I always get. I have some 18" x 8.5" wheels with a 43 offset. I have to run 7mm spacers on the front due to my BBK. I usually get 235/40 R18's and they rub on my plastic wheel well liners.
The only thing I see close is 245/40ZR18 RS4. Do the Hankooks run a little narrow by any chance?

 

[jay745]

Hankook RS4 question. I was going to buy a set of RS4's but I don't see the size I always get. I have some 18" x 8.5" wheels with a 43 offset. I have to run 7mm spacers on the front due to my BBK. I usually get 235/40 R18's and they rub on my plastic wheel well liners.
The only thing I see close is 245/40ZR18 RS4. Do the Hankooks run a little narrow by any chance?

They run wide if anything

 

[clownish]

235/40/18 is what I normally get also. I may switch to the cup2s because of the sizing they've dropped. This is a decent breakout that's updated - https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/track-tire-buyers-guide/

This chart is at the bottom the article and its a good starting point.