Which DOT Legal Tyres?

I am gearing up to start testing for our New Zealand endurance series (mix of 3, 4 and 6 hour races) which starts next March. We have to use DOT Legal Tyres for the series (applies to drys and wets). I am sticking with the 17 x 9" rim size so envisage using either 245 or 255 45 or 40 series 17" tyres.

The list of potential tyres that I am considering for use at present are as follows;

- Kumho Victor Racer

- Kumho V70A (maybe Ecsta V700 in States)

- Hankook Ventus Z211

I would be interested in feedback from those of you who have used any of the above tyres on your cars.

Other possible options also of interest. I have discounted Hoosier R6's as I expect that they would not go the distance. I have used them a lot for shorter distance races and like them but not confident that you could go 6 hours on a set.

the V710 is considered a DOT slick I believe, and it is the best tire out there IMHO for longevity and stickiness

V710 FTW!

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Ecsta+V710


As sticky or better than a Hoosier and they last much longer

if you want some serious longevity and a good balance of stickiness, the Nitto NT01 is a GREAT tire and last FOREVER

Well, Ill chime in here. Spoke at length with a Cobra FFR driver who was/is running the V710's -- he said, he will never run anything else, again.

Compared to the R6's, NT01's, RA1's, hands down, V710 is the tire. He sold me today and they will be my next purchase.

On our 2 Panoz GTS we run Hoosier 17" R6s (295 front and 315 rears). On the "school car" GTRA we run the same Hoosier R6s, but 275 front and 295 rear or 275 all around depending on what's left over [same rims]. We just won the Illgen 4h enduro at Thunderhill California with the GTS and a fresh set of R6s that would have gone several more hours easily. I tend to swap the R6s on the GTS after 4-8 heat cylcles as they tend to get a little hard and there is a a very slight drop in grip (about 1.5 sec/lap). Based on tread wear they should go 10+ cycles. Some of the Vipers will get most of a season out of the R6s.

The V700 are too much a street tire and pretty low performance. I bought a set to use as rain tires and they were terrible in the rain and worse in the dry.

Haven't tried the V710s yet but may give them a try.

If you run these high grip tires make sure your car has the frame reinforcements done.

KB

On our 2 Panoz GTS we run Hoosier 17" R6s (295 front and 315 rears). On the "school car" GTRA we run the same Hoosier R6s, but 275 front and 295 rear or 275 all around depending on what's left over [same rims]. We just won the Illgen 4h enduro at Thunderhill California with the GTS and a fresh set of R6s that would have gone several more hours easily. I tend to swap the R6s on the GTS after 4-8 heat cylcles as they tend to get a little hard and there is a a very slight drop in grip (about 1.5 sec/lap). Based on tread wear they should go 10+ cycles. Some of the Vipers will get most of a season out of the R6s.

The V700 are too much a street tire and pretty low performance. I bought a set to use as rain tires and they were terrible in the rain and worse in the dry.

Haven't tried the V710s yet but may give them a try.

If you run these high grip tires make sure your car has the frame reinforcements done.

KB


What size rims are you runnning on the GTS? and Schoo cars?

When I bought my 2000 GTS used it came with 3 sets of 17" wheels and my school GTRA (#42) came with 2 more identical sets.....so now I have 5 sets of 17" rims. I've thought about switching to the 18" slicks on the GTS, but these are really only good for about 3 heat cycles. Right now the 1-2 sec/lap isn't worth the added cost. Most of the Vipers and Panozs that I see in Norcal are running the Hoosier R6s, but I may give a set of the Kuhmos a try. Also nice to hand down the used race tires to the GTRA for track days.

On the "school car" GTRA we run the same Hoosier R6s, but 275 front and 295 rear or 275 all around depending on what's left over [same rims].

Thanks for the feedback. What width are the 17" rims that you are using? Are they the standard 9" wide rim (this is what I have with my car)?
If so, how are the 275's and 295's performing on this rim width? Are you getting good wear patterns?

They are all the "standard" Panoz rims....I assume 9" wide (same front and rear), but I will have to double check the rims. Both cars wear well if you get the tire pressures right. For R6s we go out 29-31 depending on ambient temp and return in the low 40s with good even wear and heat. The GTRA is pretty mild to the tires so I would guess that you could run a whole season of track days on a single set of Hoosier R6s.