[21LE]

Originally Posted by Msquared

Most of us running FS in SS 1LEs or GT350/Mach1 Mustangs are running the 285/35/19 RE71RS this year, with square tire fitment on staggered-width wheels. It's the best we can get from Bridgestone so far. It's not ideal, but it's fast.

Do you have any pictures of the 285/35/19 on a 19x11 wheel? If it’s not too stretched I may consider this route.

[Msquared]

Originally Posted by 21LE

Do you have any pictures of the 285/35/19 on a 19x11 wheel? If it’s not too stretched I may consider this route.

Sorry for the delay. I took some pics this evening while changing tires for a local autocross. Here's the Bridgestone in that size on my 19x11 MRR real wheel:


As a comparison, here is my 295/35/19 Michelin PS4S on the same wheel:

Although it's nominally 10mm wider, it's actually more stretched. Some of that may be due to the thick rim guard, but the Bridgestone is pretty wide for its nominal size. I should also mention that an 11" rim width is within its recommended range.

[21LE]

Originally Posted by Msquared

Sorry for the delay. I took some pics this evening while changing tires for a local autocross. Here's the Bridgestone in that size on my 19x11 MRR real wheel:
Attachment 1129601

As a comparison, here is my 295/35/19 Michelin PS4S on the same wheel:
Attachment 1129602
Although it's nominally 10mm wider, it's actually more stretched. Some of that may be due to the thick rim guard, but the Bridgestone is pretty wide for its nominal size. I should also mention that an 11" rim width is within its recommended range.

Thank you sir, that’s exactly what I was looking for! Definitely not too stretched either, it looks like it suits it well with how far the 71RS tread reaches down the side.

[DemonZL1]

The guys running the 285/35/19 on all 4 for autocross, is this the way to go over a 305/30/19 660 tire? Any tire rollover concerns on the front?

[joelster]

I can't see giving up that much size. I'm 100% certain that an RE-71RS is faster than a 660, size for size, but hard to say when giving up 20mm.

Does anyone have any info if they will be making big boy RE sizes, 305+ for us?

[DaveC113]

Originally Posted by joelster

I can't see giving up that much size. I'm 100% certain that an RE-71RS is faster than a 660, size for size, but hard to say when giving up 20mm.

Does anyone have any info if they will be making big boy RE sizes, 305+ for us?

I went from staggered 315/305/19 RT660 on ZLE spec wheels to 295/35/18 REs on 18x12 square. REs are definitely faster. 660s are good for maybe 6 events before they start to fall off, for those first 6 events the Falkens are not that far off the REs, but they are definitely not as fast. But, 660s also need a lot more warmup vs the REs and the REs also don't fall off as much when hot, so they aren't as peaky as the 660s, you'll get more good runs with the REs. They're also less expensive initially. $380 vs $440/tire or so... Falkens are more expensive, peakier and slower. YMMV though! My results went way up after switching. Won a local SCCA Prosolo in CAM class, 2nd overall at a PCA event, 5th at a BMW event.

[Msquared]

The guys running the 285/35/19 on all 4 for autocross, is this the way to go over a 305/30/19 660 tire? Any tire rollover concerns on the front?

Yes, it's the way to go, believe it or not. I have not notice any issues with rollover on the fronts. There is a "groove of doom" that develops if you run pressures that are low enough for best performance. I'm not sure it will seriously affect tire life, though. I won't know until well into the spring competition season. I have actually wondered if it would make sense to go with their 275/35 up front instead.

Originally Posted by joelster

I can't see giving up that much size. I'm 100% certain that an RE-71RS is faster than a 660, size for size, but hard to say when giving up 20mm.

I literally went directly from the 305/315 Falkens to the 285 Bridgestones and immediately gained on all my local competitors. I agree with every single thing that Dave wrote just above. There is absolutely zero question that the RE71RS is significantly faster, even with 20/30mm less nominal section width (but actual tread widths are closer in comparison).

Does anyone have any info if they will be making big boy RE sizes, 305+ for us?

I've only heard rumors. And if they do, I'm not sure how well it will work on the front 19x10s. What we really need is for them to make a 285/30 to go with the 305/30! Actually, what we really needed was for Chevy to give us 11" wheels up front...

[clyde]

Originally Posted by Msquared

I literally went directly from the 305/315 Falkens to the 285 Bridgestones and immediately gained on all my local competitors. I agree with every single thing that Dave wrote just above. There is absolutely zero question that the RE71RS is significantly faster, even with 20/30mm less nominal section width (but actual tread widths are closer in comparison).

If this were definitively true, I should not have done as well as I did this past year on well worn Falkens from 2022 (with 2021 date codes) at the handful of events I did in the car. I didn't run the Bridgestones either, and certainly not in a back to back to back testing environment, so I don't really know one way or the other. Somehow, last year, a consensus conclusion was drawn that the Bridgestone is definitely faster than the Falken. It might be true, but I don't think it's as clear cut.

I also don't know how much surface plays into how much better one tire is than another (add Yok to the mix). Lincoln is weird. What's "best" everywhere else sometimes isn't so great in Lincoln.

It's worth taking a look at results for top cars at Nats across all street tire classes (except SSC). Which brand looks dominant depends on the class. How much of that is because the tire is better and how much is because of a lemming effect? What was really interesting to me was the total lack of clarity in F Street.

The Yoks, Bridgestones, and Falkens all drive differently, warm up and eventually (in some cases) overheat differently, and wear differently, but... They're all close enough that if one fits you best, it's almost certain to be the fastest and most consistent tire for you...even if someone else is faster on one of the others.

My recommendation would be if you know how you mesh with each, buy the one that's the easiest to get the most from. If you're not familiar with them all, pick one, go with it, and don't think about it again until you need new ones.

Just drive.

As for the sizing difference questions...probably not going to matter as much as the compound. The 285 Bridgestone and 295 Yok square up nicely enough on the 10" and 11" wheels.

I've only heard rumors. And if they do, I'm not sure how well it will work on the front 19x10s. What we really need is for them to make a 285/30 to go with the 305/30!

Last I heard from someone at Bridgestone was "early" next year. If the year goes how I expect, I think we're going to use three sets of tires. First will be 285 Bridgestones. Hope to do some back to back to back with Yoks pretty quick while both are in their prime. Second set will be 305 Bridgestones. Third set will be...ask me in August?

But who knows...

[Msquared]

I should clarify that I was answering a specific question comparing the Stones to the Falkens. I believe the Yoks are generally as fast as the Bridgestones. I just won't run tires that overheat so easily (on heavy cars like ours) and don't last very long, especially since they are more expensive than the other two.

[apexit53]

I struggled this year with tire choice. I ran 305/315 falken on my mach 1(locally) then stones at national events. I feel like i would have been faster if i had just run the falkens. Im having that debate now with myself for my camaro. I like the falken, i know it well. Ive often said and it stayed true the year i won nats on the old stone tire, if you know something and are confident in it, you can make it fast. Well as long as its still in the noise.

[Clam]

Just a heads up, the RE71RS has a new 305/30/19 size on Tire Rack but it is currently on back order

[JamesNoBrakes]

Originally Posted by Clam

Just a heads up, the RE71RS has a new 305/30/19 size on Tire Rack but it is currently on back order

Nice...maybe not realistic for this season...but can probably plan on for the next.

[VR Baron]

Originally Posted by Clam

Just a heads up, the RE71RS has a new 305/30/19 size on Tire Rack but it is currently on back order

That’s cool, and maybe for next year for me. Right now the new 285/35/19s on 10.75” wide wheels are doing well after 24 runs. Some updates for everyone: Getting pressures figured out, 33/34 all around works well so far. These things sure have a stiff sidewall, with a hotchkiss front bar set middle, the main wear line never goes past 1/4” above the arrows, using the soft setting that only gets to 3/16” above arrows. Could be as the lots we have now are small with lots of low speed turns, stretched tires and stiff wall. Heck hardly get any tire squeal..lol wear is good, maybe 1/32” tread worn off except the tread block next to the big outer block, that has worn a bit more on the outer edge then 1/32”. Not sure if that is that it’s softer than the shoulders as I was told, or it wore more when I used 31 psi for a bit during the first event seeing what worked best.

For the 305/30/19s note at tire rack more due 3/8/24. Not sure if any are spoken for though.