Racing Tire Recommendations, Please

[sopwith21]

I'm considering a switch to a production class which requires DOT tires, most likely on 15 inch wheels. The only real technical requirement is that it must be DOT, tread pattern is up to the team.

My current wheels are 15x9's. I've got four good sets and would like to avoid buying new rims if possible. I'd also like to avoid the $750 price tag that our team currently has to spend on each set of new Goodyear Eagle 10-inch racing slicks (ouch). Maybe DOT's are a bit less expensive?

I need a fast, low profile DOT tire that wears reasonably well and is suitable for full road racing at speeds up to 130 mph. Your recommendations are solicited and appreciated very much.

[260DET]

Can you get Dunlop tyres in the US? Their DO1J is an excellent R tyre, available in several compounds but 225 is the widest in 15". Which seems to be the situation with Toyo, Kumho and a few others as well. I've got a set of Kumho 225 45 15" on order, they seem to be the only ones available in a 45 profile, 50 seems to be fairly standard.

[panchovisa]

Sopwith, you better check if DOT tires are cheap. Your competitors will be using soft compound shaved DOT tires. Hoosier, BFG, and Goodyear all sell these "rule benders" at a tidy mark-up.

[sopwith21]

Yeah, I've been snooping around a little and that's what I'm finding. The only way to get an inexpensive tire is to buy genuine hi-performance street tires, which must then be shaved, plus they have too much tread and they're too hard. Otherwise, its the "DOT racing slicks" which are only about $100 less than the big Eagles we're already using.

I wonder if there's a happy medium. Kumho's maybe? Toyos?

[sopwith21]

I've done some more homework and I'm looking primarily at three tires:

1. Falken Azenis

2. Kumho Ecsta V700

3. Hoosier R3S03

The Hoosiers seem like the fastest tire, but it doesn't look like they'll wear very well and they're very expensive. The Kumhos also look good, but I'm tempted to try the Falkens simply because they are such a good buy. Autocrossers give them great reviews, but I wonder how they'll hold up at well over 100 mph on a 2 mile road course? Anyone have any experience with Falkens at those speeds?

[260DET]

No one around here uses the Azenis for anything serious, they are regarded more as a dual purpose tyre, can be used as a daily driver and the occasional track venture.

[sopwith21]

Thanks... that's helpful. Has anyone tried the Falkens at serious speeds for further review? Also, I tried to find Dunlaps and had a really difficult time of it. Their motorcycle tires are available here, but the 15" race tires are tough to find.

[jmortensen]

Kinda OT, but have you found any of those tires in an appropriate size for a 15x9? I took a quick look and all I could find were 225's... I'd be running 245's or 255's on a 9" rim.

[philUK]

I ended up getting the Kumho V70A faced with the choice, although mine will do some road miles..

The price of £60 each helped me make my decision too as they were on 'special'

afterwards I saw this which made me feel I made the right decision too!

http://www.kumho-euro.com/news/MS_news050202.html

[biker]

The Toyo are getting a good name of late here in Aus for track work - maybe you could check them out over there.

Biker

[sopwith21]

Kinda OT, but have you found any of those tires in an appropriate size for a 15x9? I took a quick look and all I could find were 225's... I'd be running 245's or 255's on a 9" rim.

The manufacturer says that 225's can be run on a 9" rim. I'm sure that's stretching the tire a bit, but apparently it can be done. It might also help put an extra fraction of an inch of rubber on the pavement.

[sopwith21]

The Toyo are getting a good name of late here in Aus for track work - maybe you could check them out over there.

Biker

Do you have a recommendation on an exact tire model? If not I'll check their site and maybe I can figure it out.