SCCAForums.com

TeamRX8:

Fair:

SS RX7 R2:

I guess the tires worked ok this last weekend. :)

http://www.scca.com/newsarticle.aspx?hub=3&news=3301 

Congrats to Richard Jung for winning STU (and the Challenge!) on Dunlops. That's another data point....

7 tenths @ 60 ft due to being a Pro Solo is another data point ...

How does that help him in the Challenge rounds?  Is that not already accounted for in the dial in? 

Still bitter, eh Mark?   At least Fair had something positive to say.

James

TeamRX8:

Fair:

SS RX7 R2:

I guess the tires worked ok this last weekend. :)

http://www.scca.com/newsarticle.aspx?hub=3&news=3301 

Congrats to Richard Jung for winning STU (and the Challenge!) on Dunlops. That's another data point....

 

7 tenths @ 60 ft due to being a Pro Solo is another data point ...

True, but STX and AS were quicker, not that I'm complaining. :)

The Black car wasn't too bad off the line either.  

SS RX7 R2:

The Black car wasn't too bad off the line either.  

Was that my other buddy Max?

Ok, one of the moderators on the VW Vortex forums brought up a confusing point. For my MKV R32, Tire Rack lists the tires as 225/40/18, which is the correct stock tire size, but then it goes on to show it needs to be XL load rated. But the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec is only an SL rated tire for my stock size (which is what I bought). When another R32 owner called Tire Rack, they researched it, and said though within limit, it was not within ENOUGH limit to work on the car properly????

FWIW, I just got off the phone with Tirerack, and they were terribly concerned that I was pushing the limits of the load spec with the tire that H_K spec'd. I had a dialog with them that to my reading, I had about 1,300 pounds of headroom in the 'payload' area (more than the car is rated, IIRC). They just didn't feel like that was enough margin.

They did some research and rang me back. They recommended I bump up the size to 235/40ZR18 (same tire and load rating) and run about 42psi. They felt like that would push me little back into a safe load margin.

When I did a tire search by car, the ONLY worthwhile tire they had in the list, which was XL rated, was the Hankook. And we all know that has a very soft sidewall. The rest of the tires listed in 225/40/18 were garbage all season tires, yech! And when I looked up the Neova and the RE01R which I had on my GTI, then swapped over to the R32, they too were only rated SL. What gives? Anyone got an idea? Because it just don't make any sense why Dunlop, Yokohama, and Bridgestone would make an 18" tire, specially in the size that is most common as OE tire size, and an ultra high performance summer tire at that, with a load rating that would not work on the heavier cars that WOULD be using 18" wheels. Just how many Civics do you see on a track or AutoX using 18's? It makes no sense at all

Rocky:

Ok, one of the moderators on the VW Vortex forums brought up a confusing point. For my MKV R32, Tire Rack lists the tires as 225/40/18, which is the correct stock tire size, but then it goes on to show it needs to be XL load rated. But the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec is only an SL rated tire for my stock size (which is what I bought). When another R32 owner called Tire Rack, they researched it, and said though within limit, it was not within ENOUGH limit to work on the car properly????

FWIW, I just got off the phone with Tirerack, and they were terribly concerned that I was pushing the limits of the load spec with the tire that H_K spec'd. I had a dialog with them that to my reading, I had about 1,300 pounds of headroom in the 'payload' area (more than the car is rated, IIRC). They just didn't feel like that was enough margin.

They did some research and rang me back. They recommended I bump up the size to 235/40ZR18 (same tire and load rating) and run about 42psi. They felt like that would push me little back into a safe load margin.

When I did a tire search by car, the ONLY worthwhile tire they had in the list, which was XL rated, was the Hankook. And we all know that has a very soft sidewall. The rest of the tires listed in 225/40/18 were garbage all season tires, yech! And when I looked up the Neova and the RE01R which I had on my GTI, then swapped over to the R32, they too were only rated SL. What gives? Anyone got an idea? Because it just don't make any sense why Dunlop, Yokohama, and Bridgestone would make an 18" tire, specially in the size that is most common as OE tire size, and an ultra high performance summer tire at that, with a load rating that would not work on the heavier cars that WOULD be using 18" wheels. Just how many Civics do you see on a track or AutoX using 18's? It makes no sense at all

Does anyone have a contact at Dunlop, or a phone number of who I can call to get to the bottom of this issue of SL vs XL load rating? Because it appears that folks on the VW Vortex who have talked to agents at Tire Rack are starting to get scared of buying this tire in our stock sizes.

Dave Wilkins
(330) 796-3758
dfwilkins@goodyear.com

Not sure what his capacity is, but I imagine he can 'get you where you need to be'. 

http://www.dunloptires.com/news/2008/press03_14_08_DirezzaZ1StarSpec.html

ebnrt:

Dave Wilkins
(330) 796-3758
dfwilkins@goodyear.com

Not sure what his capacity is, but I imagine he can 'get you where you need to be'. 

http://www.dunloptires.com/news/2008/press03_14_08_DirezzaZ1StarSpec.html 

Thanks, left him a VM.

Rocky:

Ok, one of the moderators on the VW Vortex forums brought up a confusing point. For my MKV R32, Tire Rack lists the tires as 225/40/18, which is the correct stock tire size, but then it goes on to show it needs to be XL load rated. But the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec is only an SL rated tire for my stock size (which is what I bought). When another R32 owner called Tire Rack, they researched it, and said though within limit, it was not within ENOUGH limit to work on the car properly????

OK, here's what I know and found out. I have an '07 Mustang V-6, about 3400#. The original Pirelli tires were P Zero Nero's at 235/55R17,
rated 98W "load index", or 1635# per tire. I purchased the Dunlop 245/45ZR17, rated 95W, or 1521# per tire. This was *after* being turned
down once by a Tire Rack guy who questioned the load rating. I was first told it needed to be a 98W or higher. When I called back to order
another tire, a second Tire Rack guy said the "first guy was new and that I'd sell you the Dunlops in a heartbeat". He did. It is an "SL" rated tire,
as were the original Pirellis. Seems "load rating" trumps whatever SL and XL are.

They are on the car, have "experienced" seven autocross events running at close to street pressures (36f/30r) with absolutely no issues.

These are the same tires that come on Mustang GT's. Hard to believe that others would need more than that.

Hope this helps........
 

Paxman:

Rocky:

Ok, one of the moderators on the VW Vortex forums brought up a confusing point. For my MKV R32, Tire Rack lists the tires as 225/40/18, which is the correct stock tire size, but then it goes on to show it needs to be XL load rated. But the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec is only an SL rated tire for my stock size (which is what I bought). When another R32 owner called Tire Rack, they researched it, and said though within limit, it was not within ENOUGH limit to work on the car properly????

OK, here's what I know and found out. I have an '07 Mustang V-6, about 3400#. The original Pirelli tires were P Zero Nero's at 235/55R17,
rated 98W "load index", or 1635# per tire. I purchased the Dunlop 245/45ZR17, rated 95W, or 1521# per tire. This was *after* being turned
down once by a Tire Rack guy who questioned the load rating. I was first told it needed to be a 98W or higher. When I called back to order
another tire, a second Tire Rack guy said the "first guy was new and that I'd sell you the Dunlops in a heartbeat". He did. It is an "SL" rated tire,
as were the original Pirellis. Seems "load rating" trumps whatever SL and XL are.

They are on the car, have "experienced" seven autocross events running at close to street pressures (36f/30r) with absolutely no issues.

These are the same tires that come on Mustang GT's. Hard to believe that others would need more than that.

Hope this helps........

It helps a bit, but still what a mess. If you look at the list of tires that TR suggests, there is hardly one tire that I would want on my car shown! Only OE type tires were listed, and most were treadwear of 300+ and all season. UGH! Well, I sent an E-Mail and left voice mail for that Dave over at Dunlop, waiting to get an asnwer back.

HUH??? You Mustang only weighs 3400lbs, yet on the corner ballance scales my car (in AutoX trim, a 1/2 tank of gas, and not me inside it) weighed in at 3500 even? That don't sound right, as the R32 is smaller than you car. Hmmm . . . .

Crosser1:

Your R32 is also AWD, the Mustand is not.  That stuff adds a lot of weight.  His Mustang is also a V-6, not a v-8. 

WOW then, there goes the label Detroit Iron, cause my VW is heavier!

Hey Richard - as you seem to not read your inbox often, check out the new info I posted in the other message (Kumho>Bridgestone)

http://sccaforums.com/forums/14/294804/ShowThread.aspx#294804

 There is an R32 owner over in Japan that has some interesting news and pictures that I placed there. Might be of interest to you (and others).

Sorry Rock, I thought I checked my PMs?

Interesting observation that the new Bridgestone 11s have an even softer sidewall than the RE01Rs.

SS RX7 R2:

Sorry Rock, I thought I checked my PMs?

Interesting observation that the new Bridgestone 11s have an even softer sidewall than the RE01Rs.

Np - just wanted to make sure you seen that. Also interesting that the RE070 is now worth it (at least in Japan, where they changed the compound).

so i ran my first even today with the 195/55/15's

WOW such a better tire than i thought they would be.  the grip is absolutely astonishing.  For such a small tire they grip the surface very well.  they have very very good feed back when getting on the gas, but feel kind of numb through the steering wheel.  it took me three runs to really get used to the extra grip

Once you pass the limits though, the tire likes to churp.  Im pretty sure that its just because of the two mile deep tread so that should not be a problem.  If you are wondering if you should get these, hell yea.  not a single tire can touch these in price and most can't even touch them in grip

I ran my first event (STU) on 245/40/17 StarSpecs today.  Wasn't too impressed actually.  They are at full tread, but they really felt particularly squirmy and vague.  Once you past the limit, you just slid.  Tough to recover. 

Although it was also rainy/occasional snow flurry ~ 40F today at Gateway in St. Louis; I'll need to give it a dry/normal temperature event to be fair.  I can say they felt like crap today, no grip anywhere.  Last place of five in STU against RE-01r's  and the Neova's, no other Direzza's.  I'm usually good for 2nd in my class and the occasional 1st.

John P:

I ran my first event (STU) on 245/40/17 StarSpecs today.  Wasn't too impressed actually.  They are at full tread, but they really felt particularly squirmy and vague.  Once you past the limit, you just slid.  Tough to recover. 

Although it was also rainy/occasional snow flurry ~ 40F today at Gateway in St. Louis; I'll need to give it a dry/normal temperature event to be fair.  I can say they felt like crap today, no grip anywhere.  Last place of five in STU against RE-01r's  and the Neova's, no other Direzza's.  I'm usually good for 2nd in my class and the occasional 1st.

 Interesting. On the opposite end of the temp spectrum, Max H. in his STI, and I set the fastest street tire times in 90 deg+ temps today. Both of us were on Star Specs.

I read that the Neovas and Direzzas can be damaged around ~32 deg. 

Yes, we have found that the Direzza Z1's are fantastic as well!

 Ran our local Street Tire Stock indexed class today in my buddy's Mazda3 (235/45-17 Z1's non-Star Spec) on Koni FSD's.

I was less than 0.3XX seconds behind H-Stock OPEN against Will Kalman who beat me by not much more than that on Kumho V710's.  Tires were great!!  It was 100+ degrees today with 15-25mph winds and 139mph track temps.  Soaked them down pretty well, but with already-hot water.

Results here, click on "SK2" and "HS" for comparison.-- http://www.solo2.com/results/2008-04-13r.pdf

 BTW, Top 3 drivers all on non-Star Spec Z1's.
 

John P:

I ran my first event (STU) on 245/40/17 StarSpecs today.  Wasn't too impressed actually.  They are at full tread, but they really felt particularly squirmy and vague.  Once you past the limit, you just slid.  Tough to recover. 

Although it was also rainy/occasional snow flurry ~ 40F today at Gateway in St. Louis; I'll need to give it a dry/normal temperature event to be fair.  I can say they felt like crap today, no grip anywhere.  Last place of five in STU against RE-01r's  and the Neova's, no other Direzza's.  I'm usually good for 2nd in my class and the occasional 1st.

 Had you put any miles on the tires before the event?  I ran a brand new full tr