275/40-17: What tires to run?

You won't be happy with the Sumitomos or the NT-05s. They are not even in the same league with the Falken or Michelin on a racetrack. The Falkens do get greasier when very hot, but on dry pavement they will run faster times than any of the others you mentioned. In the rain the SuperSport is best, and the SuperSport is also pretty good in the dry, a very consistent tire. I use Falken Rt615K/ Hankook R-S3/ or Dunlop Z2 for Autocross, and I use Michelin Supersports on longer track days...

http://speedville.us7.list-manage.com/tr...mp;e=7cdf837b04

TIRE RACK just released this latest comparison... granted, none of these tires are 200 TW. I have the BFG G-Force Sport Comp-2 in size 255-50-16 (340 TW)... mounted on 16x8 mini-lite rims (bought rims/tires mounted from PHJ426 last year), which I drive to/from hi-speed road course lapping events... they perform very well on road course lapping events, highway and street ("street" never counts because you just can't drive fast on the street... IMO). These tires ranked #1 by Tire Rack in their most recent test.. (So, I'm further pleased with them!)

Size 275-40-17s seem to already be limited in 200 TW tires on the market... not as many offerings as, say, 275-35-18 and up, etc.

For any pylon/autocross event (parking lot, etc), you want at least a 200 TW tire or softer, but beware, because many such 200 TW tires have minimal tread depth as compared to full tread common tires...

Look at club/class rules and if there's any sponsorship/contingencies involved... usually that's what dictates who runs what tires at most of the events.... especially the major events on national levels of competition. Some clubs already have discounted sponsorships with local tire dealers.. again, check your clubs to see what's up.

For pylon events, you want a tire which has shallow tread depth.. not full tread street depth.. as the blocks will squirm and chunk.... very common if the tread is deep! Another option is to take your favorite full-tread depth tire and have it "shaved" to a shallow depth.. that's what everyone used to do many years ago (back in the 80s-70s)... in fact, you can order tires that way from the Tire Rack for a fee (~$25 per tire to be shaved)... i know that my BFG Comp-2 tires would perform even better if they had less tread depth... but then, I'm driving them to/from road race tracks... figure they'll last me the next 2-3 years or so until I change to something else.. at that time, probably a 200 TW tire and maybe different size rims, such as 18x10 with ~275-35-18 tire.

The Mickey Thompson tires have a 300 TW rating... they're probably an excellent tire for street/hwy/road course having common full tread depth... but they wouldn't be very good on a pylon course unless the tread depth is reduced.

Alex, with your car, I would suggest you seek hi-speed road course events to enjoy your power more to the limits; the pylon events are, too often, too tight for big cars, but they can still be managed and be fun.... I know you have some experience.



Good luck.

Back to the OP's intention... I don't think the Falkens are good street tires to be driven in the rain, let alone occasional street/hwy driving... unless you plan to replace them frequently and NOT drive in the rain.

I believe Alan Prost knows better than to drive tires like the Falkens on the street for any safe longevity, and NEVER in the rain on the street.

Explain that to a police officer/judge when you're involved in an accident... in the rain.

Never had that problem. Long story short and strawman arguements aside; I've driven on my 615K's in pouring rain, snow, sub freezing temperatures, stop and go summer traffic and never had an issue. They are a fantastic tire and I strongly suggest them.

I've got a summer tire on my GTI. I drive very defensively on the street and may go around a freeway overpass at speed or take a turn on an empty street quickly in the dry.

I don't play around in the wet at all. I just want something that can do 65 in the rain and not hydroplane.

I can make the power for an HPDE to be fun, but I'll be under braked for the near future...so I don't think I'll be quite on a Senna level.

In a perfect world, I'd get a set of Supersports and have a one tire fits all situation. But, I'm not willing to step down to a 245/45-17 to get that size.

Dan, I'm looking at the D windows in black. A nice similarity to what you ran before. I'll make enough power to overcome the weight of the wheels for the time being.

Those wheels are very sturdy and I definitely got my moneys worth out of them. We used them for mock up on quite a few cars. As a note, those wheels are HEAVY! I lost 22lbs a wheel tire combo(so per corner) when I went from those wheels and a 275/40/17 to my New Gens and 295/35/18's.

I run this exact size Falken RT-615K on my Challenger. Tons of grip, especially hot. At Carlisle I was starving my carb. NEVER had that happen before. Kept lowering the floats and finding more power in turns. I'm buying tapered floats for the carb soon.

Any tire over-driven will slide. You just have to find the limits in a controlled environment. Doesn't matter if its a d70-14 or a 285/40ZR18. Eventually there will be a point unique to the tire when you overpower the "friction circle".
I'm very happy with the Falkens.

My buddy ran them for a weekend on his 1979 Magnum (Carlisle 2013) and they were fine in the rain and night. He actually commented how nice they were, but didn't like the height. And I drove the car to a heavy class win! Just remember, when you reach the wear bars, they aren't a street tire anymore, and as they get close to that, just be mindful of weather conditions, like any tire.

What about the Nitto NT01? It has a 275/40-17
NT01's are either a really good street tire or the worst of the R-Comps

I know in my autox/drifter AE86 the falkens are terrible when it starts to get cold outside (I couldn't even get out of my driveway somedays in the fall) and in the rain they are ok, but my car at the time weighed in at just under 2400lbs. I wonder if Dan gets better traction out of them being in a heavier car?