Kumho Ecsta XS
06-03-09, 07:26 PM
#2
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Yes. I'm no track star, but I'll leave you with my impressions. I got these after having Falken Azenis ST-115s for a year. Purchased XS in size 225-45-17 on 8in rim.
Street: Noisy. If the pavement you're on has a weird texture, these can make some weird sounds to go along with it. Not necessarily irritating, just something to be aware of. Stiff sidewalls. Ride got noticeably rougher from the ST-115s.
Track: I ran these at Buttonwillow Raceway, CA this past weekend. Air temp was in the mid 90's and the track temp was hot enough to sear you hand. No joke. I knelt down in the pits and it instantly hurt. The tires held up very well. They never felt greasy, even though they did get a nice "smear" of the surface going on. After an off ( that was my fault, not the tire's) I drove back to the pits off-line and the tires picked up so much crap it looked like a post race F1 tire. I'm guessing that means they're sticky when hot. I didn't push them over the limit much, but the instances where I did I found them progressive and controllable.
Auto-X: Not much here, but the one event I did run with them the initial grip seemed good. It was in the low 60s, but the tires still stuck well cold. More instances of controllable breakaway on a slippery surface (concrete with sand dunes all around and windy weather.)
Just my two cents. Hopefully someone with more skill/demanding driving will chime in. I'll admit, the reason I chose them over the NT-05s and Star Specs is that these can be rotated side to side (or 4-way if you don't run stagger)
Street: Noisy. If the pavement you're on has a weird texture, these can make some weird sounds to go along with it. Not necessarily irritating, just something to be aware of. Stiff sidewalls. Ride got noticeably rougher from the ST-115s.
Track: I ran these at Buttonwillow Raceway, CA this past weekend. Air temp was in the mid 90's and the track temp was hot enough to sear you hand. No joke. I knelt down in the pits and it instantly hurt. The tires held up very well. They never felt greasy, even though they did get a nice "smear" of the surface going on. After an off ( that was my fault, not the tire's) I drove back to the pits off-line and the tires picked up so much crap it looked like a post race F1 tire. I'm guessing that means they're sticky when hot. I didn't push them over the limit much, but the instances where I did I found them progressive and controllable.
Auto-X: Not much here, but the one event I did run with them the initial grip seemed good. It was in the low 60s, but the tires still stuck well cold. More instances of controllable breakaway on a slippery surface (concrete with sand dunes all around and windy weather.)
Just my two cents. Hopefully someone with more skill/demanding driving will chime in. I'll admit, the reason I chose them over the NT-05s and Star Specs is that these can be rotated side to side (or 4-way if you don't run stagger)
06-04-09, 09:46 AM
#5
one part from Nirvana
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I've got them on my Fd and love them - only had them on the street so far. They appear to have more stick than my old SO3's, but I also upped the rears to 275's from 255's. I'm putting down close to 350whp and almost he same torque and these tires grip very well. Drove to work in the rain today (70 degrees), and they were not skittish at all.
Not a good tire for cold climates, they are hard when cold.
I've got close to 1,000 miles on them and seem to be holding up nicely. Hope to get to the track this month!
Not a good tire for cold climates, they are hard when cold.
I've got close to 1,000 miles on them and seem to be holding up nicely. Hope to get to the track this month!
06-04-09, 07:36 PM
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Yeah that's another thing. I've got two track days on the rears and I haven't gotten down past that shallow section that turns the outside edge in a larger block. That's like 1-2/32 deep.
06-04-09, 07:36 PM
#7
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Thread Starter
i have 245 toyos t1-s on the car now and if i got wot in second gear the car looses complete traction when the 2nd turbo comes on. i literally have to shift to regain traction. so i just bought a set of these in sizes 255 for front and 275 for rear. i am hoping these wil fix that. also i do about 1 road course event a yr so i am basically hoping these are a good solution for mostly street but some track time too.
i saw alot of talk about a grm article where they crowned these the best tire of the category. thats what sold me.
also when u say cool climates do u mean sub freezing our are we talking 50-60 degrees?
i saw alot of talk about a grm article where they crowned these the best tire of the category. thats what sold me.
also when u say cool climates do u mean sub freezing our are we talking 50-60 degrees?
Last edited by matty; 06-04-09 at 07:39 PM.
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06-04-09, 07:46 PM
#8
Original Gangster/Rotary!
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I'm wondering how these will put down the power in a 275 rear width.....will be making around 500 in street trim. They certainly offer a lot of sizes. Hmmm. Not sure if I can go from RA1s to a street tire and still be happy with the grip levels though.....
06-04-09, 08:12 PM
#11
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Thread Starter
yeah finally is right. what an episode.anyways, i ended up with enkei rpf1 due to the light weight design and fitment available. i got 17 x 9 plus 45 and 17 x9.5 plus 38. i am getting the rears this weekend and the fronts at the end of june. i couldnt wait around i want to get on the track. also just tired of not being able to hammer my car and stay on the road. there has to be something with either my suspension or these damn toyos. i mean the car is all over the place in second gear.
Last edited by matty; 06-04-09 at 08:20 PM.
06-04-09, 08:33 PM
#12
Fun isn't it? 
Those Toyos T1S aren't all that grippy and you've had them for about 5 years or so. That much time will definitely degrade the effectiveness of the rubber. I remember you had those tires on the car when I had my first FD and still lived in NY.
Those Toyos T1S aren't all that grippy and you've had them for about 5 years or so. That much time will definitely degrade the effectiveness of the rubber. I remember you had those tires on the car when I had my first FD and still lived in NY.
06-08-09, 07:29 PM
#15
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Thread Starter
my rear rims and tires came in today. the fronts will be here in two weeks. these things are sticky as hell. i havent given them the full work thru yet but so far i am very impressed. the rear feels very planted.
06-08-09, 08:04 PM
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I'm planning to run these tires strickly for autox using the stock fd rims but I'm not sure if I should use 265/45/16 size tire. Anyone have experience using this size tire on the stock rim?
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