Tires for the TT
 

I figured you guys have tried both so I wanted to get any impressions.

Falken RT-615 and Kumho Ecsta XS.

I've run the falkens before but never the Kumho XS. Anyone have any input? The prices are within $30 for a set of four - fr 235/40/18 , r 315/30/18.

The Kumho is a much newer tire, but I don't know that anybody's run a set here. The 615s aren't bad as long as it isn't wet. How much would the Dunlop StarSpecs be? They are the current dominant street tire in autocross. I personally love them, they're even better than the RE-01Rs I ran in 2009.

They don't make those StarSpecs for the rear sizes. The smallest rear size I can do is 295/30/18 with a 225/40/18 front.

Bummer.

Choices for this car are a little limited. All the "N" rated (which I think is a joke) are around $1500 - $1700 a set. It really comes down to Sumitomo HTR-Z, Hankook V12, Kumho Ecsta XS and Falken RT-615 as the better choices sans "Porsche Tax".

none of those are bad tires. I've had the HTR-Zs on the A4 at one point and the 615s are awesome in the wet at the track, don't listen to Kevin. Newer 615K ones are supposed to be better all around.

Which Sumis? II or III? IIs and v12s are directional so you can't swap sides. III, XS and 615K are asym so you can.

Really depends on what you want to use them for. Sumis and Hankooks are going to be better street tires than the Kumho or Falken which are more autocrossish and will likely wear faster.

I believe it is the II's. Yes the latter two do have a lower tread wear. The biggest wear on this car occurs on the rear tires. Going asymetrical might help a bit being able to swap the worn edge to the outside. Directional staggered arrangement basically limits the wear on the rear to never moving the tire. So maybe I could actually get more miles out of an asymetrical design with a lower tread wear rating? Who knows - one way to find out I guess.

I forgot to say on directional you can't swap sides without flipping the tires on the rim.

If the TT wears inside or out more on one end then you are better off with the directional that you can flip on the rims and then change sides making inside outside. With Asym, the outside is always the outside no matter what side and no flipping on the rim.

Doh! Thanks Dean. Sometimes those cob webs in my head make for intersting thinking.

What sizes? relative costs?

Really, if you aren't going to track or autocross, the huge tread blocks or the 615 and XS and are likely to make the car hunt more than the smaller blocked tires and not be that much fun on the street.

These are all good tires, so cheaper may be a good reason to lean one way or another.

The sizes that work for the stock rims are either 225/40/18 front with 295/30/18 rear or 235/40/18 front with 315/30/18 rear. I see lots of good reviews on the V12's and they are pretty inexpensive. I would love to get out and track this car also, but I need to review that with the Doc. I should be fine as my vision is really back to normal 20/20.

Please, please, please do not put Sumitomos on a Porsche. :lol:

Either of the first two you listed is much better.

I won't. They are at the bottom of the list.

Also, Dean and I define "wet" differently. I mean it as, heavy rain with some standing water. I would personally not drive on 615s in real rain if I had a choice.

That's what she said - sorry too much of the office on netflix.

I am actually leaning towards the falkens as I at least have experience running those, but the Kumhos look pretty promising.

C/D liked the Hankooks and Kumhos better than the Falkens.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests

And Sumitomo makes some good tires. The IIIs kick some butt in the dry beating the RE050As, etc..
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=93

I have autocrossed and track driven the 615s numerous times in pouring rain. At or near full depth they move way more water than you would expect but granted, not as much as a V pattern street tire. Mike and I still remember that autocross in Lovelock as one of the most fun ever!

Again, they are all good tires, don't let Kevin convince you otherwise.

I think the flexibility of the V12 to be flipped, C/D review, price and treadwear would have me leaning toward them.

Thanks for the links Dean