Newbie HPDE tire recommendations

[bmwpower]

Cheaper is better.
Longer lasting is better.
Any recommendations? I know I don't want R comps.

Read through some of the threads but some stuff seemed a little dated so sorry if this is a rehash...

Tire will be 205/50-16.

I've used Dunlop and Kuhmo's on the street with good success, but never on a track.

Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec (have not used this tire, just seemed like it had a good following)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Direzza+Sport+Z1+Star+Spec&partnum=05VR6Z1SS&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes

Kuhmo Ecsta ASX (have used this one on the street)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Ecsta+ASX&partnum=05WR6EASX&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes

[Danny]

I loved my dunlops on track in both wet and dry.

[bmwpower]

I loved my dunlops on track in both wet and dry.

Which ones did you have?

[laz]

The direzza and the kumho xs (note: not the asx, which is all season) are both competent tires. I'd go with whichever is cheaper (the kumho I believe). Start off with a grippy street tire. It'll howl before breaking away, which helps train your senses to feel the limit of adhesion.

[Danny]

Star Spec Z1

[Brian D]

I love my Z1's. The ASX is not in the same league, the XS as mentioned is your other contender.

[kishg]

star spec. which track event are you going for?

[nando]

if you've never been on a track before, just show up on your street tires.

[Jean]

if you've never been on a track before, just show up on your street tires.

+1.... you'll hate nothing more than ruining a set of new sticky tires otherwise. With street tires they'll give sooner and you'll learn more, sticky tires will let you get away with more "stupid" stuff but will wear fast and if the mistake it too much they'll give up and most likely you won't "save" it.

[jlevie]

The first thing to establish is whether you want a street tire that is up to occasional track use, or a track tire that can be driven on the street. In the first case you sacrifice grip for tire life and in the second case you sacrifice tire life for grip.

For a street tire that is inexpensive and is up to occasional track use I'd pick a Kuhmo Ecsta SPT. For more grip and less life you could move up to an MX or XS. When I corded my RA1's while instructing at a DE, I put my street set of SPT's on the car and could run laps only about 1.5 seconds slower, so they work rather well.

[dreeves]

I agree -- for an HPDE day, just show up in any H, V or Z-rated tire that is less than five years old. And often, a tire with a little less tread is less likely to chunk away.

[Emre]

Everyone seems to agree that the Dunlop Star Spec Z1, Kumho Ecsta XS, and the new Hankook Ventus R-S3 are the best of the current crop of high-performance summer tires. All of them will hold up well under hard track use. All of them cost about the same. All of them offer similar dry and wet grip. You can't really go wrong with any of these three.

[Hick]

Would falken azenis rt-615 be a good hpde tire?

[whiltebeitel]

They tend to get a little "greasy" in a 20 minute session (i.e. over heat a little), but that may just be a issue with living in Texas. They last pretty well. Might as well get the Hankook's for a little more. I am on my second set of RT-615's for the street. I have separate track wheels/tires.

[Hallen]

I have only had the Azenis out on the track once on a cold wet day so I can't say much about them yet. I will say they are bout the only high performance option if you are running stock 14" wheels.