Help me understand tire selection please

jrs580 · 08-10-2023, 11:01 PM

I am 100 % positive this question has been beat to death in this page, but hopefully you can help collect all the answers into one condensed place…here.

I naively want to buy auto cross tires to get the best possible traction and hook up for my Camaro (Whipple SC) even though it’s street driven. But I feel like there’s a reason people choose “max summer performance” tires like the Michelin PS4s over say Toyo r888r’s. I just don’t know why.

I only drove the car rarely, when the temps are well above freezing and I could care less about wet traction because it’s never seen a sprinkle in its life. Please advise.

Msquared · 08-11-2023, 06:31 AM

You'll need to determine what class you plan to run in first, because some tires aren't legal for many of them. The most likely class for you in an SCCA region is CAM-C, in which the R888R is illegal. That and many others require a UTQG treadwear rating of 200 or higher. Also, what size wheels do you have? AVailability in 20" sizes is slim, for example.

The current hot ticket tire in 200tw tires for autocrossing is the Bridgestone RE71RS. The Yokohama A052 is also very fast, but it doesn't like heat and needs lots of negative camber to hold up at all. Some people love the Nankang CR-S, some hate it, and I have no clue because I've never tried them. The Falken RT660 is a fast tire, but a step behind the Bridgestone and Yok. The R888R is lower than 200tw and therefore not legal, and it's probably not as fast as any of these for autocross use anyway.

You can drive any 200tw tire on the street - it's just that these autocross-focused tires won't last a lot of miles in that use. But for occasional street drives and getting to/from events, no problem at all.

ta455ho · 08-12-2023, 10:35 PM

I had R888R's on my 600rwhp C6 Z06 and loved them. Central Florida rarely gets below 35 degrees. Night and day difference for traction over Michelin Pilot Super Sports (never tried the PS4). Didn't track the car, only driven on the street.

WhiteMale · 08-14-2023, 08:46 AM

Sounds like for your car and what you want the PS4S is in there, the GY SC3, but past that it can be really individual even down to brand loyalty, probably the max summer category as you said.

08-10-2023, 11:01 PM	#1
jrs580 Drives: 2016 2ss Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Somewhere Over the Rainbow Posts: 320	Help me understand tire selection please I am 100 % positive this question has been beat to death in this page, but hopefully you can help collect all the answers into one condensed place…here. I naively want to buy auto cross tires to get the best possible traction and hook up for my Camaro (Whipple SC) even though it’s street driven. But I feel like there’s a reason people choose “max summer performance” tires like the Michelin PS4s over say Toyo r888r’s. I just don’t know why. I only drove the car rarely, when the temps are well above freezing and I could care less about wet traction because it’s never seen a sprinkle in its life. Please advise. __________________ 2016 Black Camaro 2SS A8 Red interior Modifications:Red powder coated Whipple LT1 blower, Aeroforce interceptor w/vent pod, FI Interchiller, Roto-Fab breather, ARH full length headers with high flow cats, JRE AFM modules, Borla S type NPP exhaust, Mishimoto catch can, JMS fuel pump voltage booster,MRR 017 1LE replica rims, 285/35zr20 Goodyear Eagle F1 G:2 front, Toyo r888r 325/30/zr20 back, Phastek blackout kit for the reflectors, GM dark tail lamps, Blendmount radar detector mount with Escort Redline hardwired in.

08-11-2023, 06:31 AM	#2
Msquared Drives: Chevrolet SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 1,446	You'll need to determine what class you plan to run in first, because some tires aren't legal for many of them. The most likely class for you in an SCCA region is CAM-C, in which the R888R is illegal. That and many others require a UTQG treadwear rating of 200 or higher. Also, what size wheels do you have? AVailability in 20" sizes is slim, for example. The current hot ticket tire in 200tw tires for autocrossing is the Bridgestone RE71RS. The Yokohama A052 is also very fast, but it doesn't like heat and needs lots of negative camber to hold up at all. Some people love the Nankang CR-S, some hate it, and I have no clue because I've never tried them. The Falken RT660 is a fast tire, but a step behind the Bridgestone and Yok. The R888R is lower than 200tw and therefore not legal, and it's probably not as fast as any of these for autocross use anyway. You can drive any 200tw tire on the street - it's just that these autocross-focused tires won't last a lot of miles in that use. But for occasional street drives and getting to/from events, no problem at all. __________________ Matt Miller 2020 SS 1LE

08-12-2023, 10:35 PM	#3
ta455ho Drives: 2023 Camaro SS Convertible Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 18	I had R888R's on my 600rwhp C6 Z06 and loved them. Central Florida rarely gets below 35 degrees. Night and day difference for traction over Michelin Pilot Super Sports (never tried the PS4). Didn't track the car, only driven on the street.

08-14-2023, 08:46 AM	#4
WhiteMale Drives: 23 ZL1 A10 Rapid Blue Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: MO Posts: 1,992	Sounds like for your car and what you want the PS4S is in there, the GY SC3, but past that it can be really individual even down to brand loyalty, probably the max summer category as you said.

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