Cheap Rain Tires?
 

Hey Gang,

At my last DE event, a Sunday full of rain coupled with a set of Toyo RA1's w/ almost no tread (finally broken in now ;) ) has convinced me that I need a set of backup rain tires.

I contemplated full tread Toyo's but decided that because I don't go through tires that quickly (current set is on its third season) I didn't want to invest in a second set and just having them sitting there getting only occasional use.

So, does anyone have a recommendation on a really cheap rain tire? Something I can get through tirerack.com?

This is for the FC w/ stock rims, so size = 205/50r15.

Thanks,

-b

The Kumho Ecsta SPT's are very good in the rain for a street tire, and pretty cheap. I've run them on my 3rd gen at autox and kept up with people running dedicated race wets.

-Andy M.

Star Specs?

I have a set of Hoosier dirt stockers, they work well. I really don't need them anymore. Let me know if your interested. They are in great shape.

I'll check to see what size they are. Mounted on 15x7 rims now.

Can't seem to find them in 205/50r5.

Checking the autox reviews on TireRack.com for both the Ecsta SPT and the Direzza Z1, both perform pretty well in the rain.

What are general recommendations for choosing tire sizes for the rain?

For the dry I use 285/30/18 V710's. These obviously don't work so well when it is raining, as is wont to happen from time to time here in the sunny Pacific NorthWest.

I've been considering putting on a set of 225/50/16 SPT's or Z1's to use as rain tires.

I wouldn't think that having a wide tire would necessarily be as desirable in the rain, and the taller sidewall would add some compliance to the suspension.

Plus I happen to have a couple sets of 16x8.5 inch wheels lying around. :)

If a larger tire would be better, I can do that as well, but I am actually trying to budget my money this year.

Thoughts?

Those Hoosier dirt stockers that cpa7man has will run circles around any "street" tire in the wet.

Maybe so, but since they are Hoosiers, they won't fit in the 'cheap' category.

Street tires are probably the only rain tires that fall into the cheap category.

Also, if being used for autox where most classes require a DOT tire, street tires are likely the only cheap rain tire.

So, any recommendations for sizing?

the R888's work well in the rain.

But not cheap - about the same price as Hoosier wets.

If you are going to run 225/50/16, the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW did better in recent tests in the wet against the Dunlop tires (and it's a little cheaper).

If you want cheap, I've been doing pretty well with Sumitomo HTR 200s for a few years now. For 50 bucks each (for 13 inchers), they're hard to beat.

.

Which test was that?

And snow! We tested last week, they did way better then expected, but yeah, pretty good in wet.

Riz.

I've ran the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Starspecs in the rain at the track a few times and they have been suffcient. Mine were 275/35/18. I've also ran Falken Azensis RT-615's, about the same as the starspecs.


I'm assuming based on your size you are running an FD. As far as Road Course stuff, I could tell a positive difference when I ran my starspecs over my smaller RT-615's. Not exactly an accurate comparison as they are different tires. If you are AutoXing, I'd ask AMRX7 that posted above. That is Andy McKee who is a multi-time SM2(now SSM) National Champ. Or Chadwick... who won this year in the rain.

Blah, ignore that it was an old test against some older Dunlops. A more recent test shows the Z1 Star Specs being fantastic in the wet:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...r_spec_page_11

Good choice for the money.

There's an emphasis in this thread on 'cheap'. :)

18" would require me to buy another set of wheels, which I would like to avoid.

225 or 245 rain tires would undoubtedly be better than 285 V710 on a wet course.



Yes, FD. I think any autoxers in this section already know who Andy and Dan are. :)

Andy will likely chime in whenever he sees this thread again.

Unless I can find some used Hoosier wets, I will probably go with the Dunlop Direzza Z1 in 225/50/16

you can't get star specs in 205/50/15s....

you can however get Kumho XSs ($89 each) which are a great street tire, and good in the rain. I'm not sure if they'd be as good as the star specs because they're not directional, but they're as good as them in the dry...

or you could just go with the star specs in a 195/55/15.. ($88 each)