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Hey Kevin .. off topic a bit, you said in the video that you are running a RS 600 transmission in the car, how is it compared to the tremac?

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I love the RS 600. It's been a great trans, shifts very well, fit without any problems. No complaints... and I paid for it too. So, I'm not just saying that because it was free.

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Dumb question though.... any idea why the Goodyear Eagle Supercar G2's weren't included? They are the OEM tire on the best of the best pony cars (GT500 SVT performance package, ZL1, etc), and it would have been interesting to see how they stack up.

And as an aside- Kevin, your Taxi is awesome.

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I like my Super Sports.

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I like my Super Sports.

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What is it with the Michelin? People are loyal to that tire, but it was definitely outclassed by a lot of the others.

I'm loyal to Falken because they are supporting the project, but if I were buying my own tires it would definitely be the Dunlop. I've fought power on grip since putting the car together and I know now it's not anything with the car. The Falken simply won't put the power down and the Dunlop will.

Here's a bit of perspective if you lay it out in competition. I was 7th on the road course at Motorstate this year. A tire change would have quite clearly put me in the top 4, if not top 3. Sometimes change is good.

Thanks,

Kevin Wesley

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I agree with the test results, but lets face it, nobody except a pro driver is really going to be able to tell the difference. I don't autocross, open track only, so I can't comment there.
That being said, there are so many other factors in choosing a quality tire besides splitting hairs on a closed course. There's ride quality, ease of balancing, treadlife and the longevity (cracking tread, sidewalls, drying out, etc. None of those things were considered in this test. The Michelins come in my size (255 40 18), ride great and quiet, perform well on the track (1:09 at Lime Rock), balance with minimal weight and will last a good long time without drying out.

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I asked about a few tires, it was more limited by time than anything else. There were definitely some that I asked about and they told me it just wasn't even worth it because they weren't any good.

The Goodyear's were one that I would have liked to have seen in action. They are even more limited in size though than the Dunlop and the 275's are $100 a piece more than anything else tested. So, there were numerous reasons why some tires were not included.

I would like to see a 19"/20" tire test for the late model cars. The Goodyear would definitely be a good tire for that test.

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What I don't understand is the sizing? Or lack there of? Is it just us in the Mopar crowd that use bigger sized tires? I've accepted the fact that no one makes "good" tires for 15" anymore... fine, so I'm prepared to go buy new rims in 17" or 18". Sure is frustrating when you research tires... find a "good one" then find out it's not available in the sizes you want? Is it that we are such a small segment that it's not feasible to make "musclecar" sizing compared to tuner cars? I've been watching for over a year now on the hype of the BFG Rival's and how great they are going to be , blah blah ....STILL a year later not sizing? Still seems to be for me Falkens are the only option? Some competition sure would be nice! Next thing will be, I bite the bullet, and buy the rims ,then a year or two down the road find the size I bought is no longer being made? Happened to me in the 15" Firestone Indy 500's

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In review of the original intent of the Tire Rack's testing, they tested ONLY 200 tread wear tires. That magical "200" number is a more commonly accepted "class-spec" tire around most of the country... and some use a little lower number (~140 minimum). So, although many other tires/models could have been tested, they had to be "200" (not greater or less than 200). At that point in time, as may still be current today, I believe the most widely offered single "size" for likely useage on an autocross and/or road course event, say.. for "pony and/or muscle cars", was/is the 275-35-18... thus.. that was the "size" that qualified for being in the tests... I don't think any other tires of "200" tread wear were not included which offered that size of 275-35-18.

For those ppl super-serious about the fastest times on an autocross and/or road course event, there is the ultimate lowest tread wear ratings at "40" for very limited brands (and must be DOT listed) being Hoosier (A6 autocross, R6 road course), Kumho, Goodyear, BFG, and a trace of others. Typically, these super-soft/sticky tires will place the car into specific class/categories where such lower tread wear ratings are allowed (and still DOT listed).. and they DO make a big difference in lap times (although the driver still makes the final difference). These "40" tread wear tires don't last very long, but they grip like glue (and, "Yes officer, they are DOT legal!")... but not truly intended for street or hwy driving.

Take a look at the SCCA Solo National events, in particular the recent results.. they include tire brands on each car. Seek and find other similar "competition" events to see what other cars/drivers are running.

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If you go to a real event, you are going against guys with 300+ all the way around their car.

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But I also run a 19, so maybe this is not my place to talk.

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I agree with the test results, but lets face it, nobody except a pro driver is really going to be able to tell the difference.

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What I don't understand is the sizing? Or lack there of? Is it just us in the Mopar crowd that use bigger sized tires? I've accepted the fact that no one makes "good" tires for 15" anymore... fine, so I'm prepared to go buy new rims in 17" or 18". Sure is frustrating when you research tires... find a "good one" then find out it's not available in the sizes you want? Is it that we are such a small segment that it's not feasible to make "musclecar" sizing compared to tuner cars? I've been watching for over a year now on the hype of the BFG Rival's and how great they are going to be , blah blah ....STILL a year later not sizing? Still seems to be for me Falkens are the only option? Some competition sure would be nice! Next thing will be, I bite the bullet, and buy the rims ,then a year or two down the road find the size I bought is no longer being made? Happened to me in the 15" Firestone Indy 500's

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I dont understand this? The Rivals come in pretty much any size we could need. BFG is usually better than most that way, though they seem to quickly pull some sizes as they go. They come in more sizes than the Falkens, which only go up to 315.

I do get the frustration though... you read all these reviews, and the best performers usually have the worst size range. For years Bridgestones were at the top ov Tire Rack's charts, but that company just wont make a really wide tire, ever.

Its not just old Mopars that want these tires... Its OEM spec on Vipers, for one, maybe other supercars too? Plus with all these super custom builds and 'pro-touring' (ugh) customs coming out every day, those 335's show up a lot more than you'd think they would. Maybe not EVERY model needs to come out in a 14" wide size, but i think the demand is there for a few more. Then again, i also think some killer Y or Z-rated 15's in muscle car sizes would sell too. MANY old car guys will never warm up to the no-sidewall look... and only go to 17's and 18's because they absolutely have to.

By the way, i was on Firestone site last night and they still list that 500 tire as a product. Still just an S-rated tire though.

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I guess I'm one of those " old car guys?" I'm wanting a 27" (18" rim) rear tire 11.5-12" sec width. I know the rubber band look is best for handling but it's just not me. I still have to look at the car the other 90% of the time it's not on a track! I've never really been a fan of BFG's, I guess I'm jaded by the BFG T/A hockey pucks.

Yes your right, they still do sell firestone 500's but they are not available in raised white lettering like my previous tires. Not that it really matters at this point as I've decided on new rims and tires anyway, just my point is tire companies do not seem to keep the same tire around long. When you wear out or damage a tire your buying 4 instead of just one or two.

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I guess I'm one of those " old car guys?" I'm wanting a 27" (18" rim) rear tire 11.5-12" sec width. I know the rubber band look is best for handling but it's just not me.

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the OEMs will drive sizing the manufacturers make to a much greater degree than all of us combined. For this reason, I would look at fitting OEM sizes to my car if I was going to bigger diameter rims.

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If you go to a real event, you are going against guys with 300+ all the way around their car.

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I don't know, I was at a few "real" events this year and the fast cars were all running 200's. The only notable running 300's is Popp and I believe he is on a Michelin deal.

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But I also run a 19, so maybe this is not my place to talk.

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The Dunlop is available in 19 and runs large. Might be worth a look.

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the OEMs will drive sizing the manufacturers make to a much greater degree than all of us combined. For this reason, I would look at fitting OEM sizes to my car if I was going to bigger diameter rims.

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Precisely. Like Brads70 I'm looking to make the move to 17s or 18s due to the lack of available good performing wide 15s. So 5 or 10 years down the road are we all going to have to switch to 19, 20 or even larger rims to get tires? There is a limit to what these old cars can take.

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