I have been autoXing for about 5 years now. I started with a MR2 Spyder, the a 3000GT VR4 and now with my 350Z.
Over the years I have tried all sorts of things (including dozens of hours at autoX schools) to better my performance , full suspension TRD "Sportivo" kit on the MR2 and Tein Flex on the 3kgt spending countless attempts to fine tune the handling. Ive raised boost & installed sport seats, changed several different street tires & futzed around with weight removal from myself and my cars forever.....

BUT nothing even comes remotely close to the sheer simplicity of just putting on a foursome of V710....... HOLY _____ (insert your blasphemy here)!!!

I recently purchased 4 of these tires in just 245/35/18 size + 4 rims from tirerack and had them shipped here.
Yesterday I went to a practise event, first I did 5 runs to get a benchmark time - then I change my tires to the Kumhos.
On my first run, driving very carefully because this was their first heatcycle & they still had the FED EX stickers all over them - I improved my time by a full 2 seconds (on a 40-45 second track) By my fifth run, having understood that understeer no longer exists & braking, turnins & accelerations from apex are COMPLETELY different now .... I had improved my time by a bit over 4 seconds!!
4 seconds on a 40 seconds track!!

I Have to say it was a bummer to have to take them off the car and drive home on my regular tires but now they are resting , completing the first heat cycle in preparation for this coming Saturdays event - our seasons finals

 

They dont last very long, just remember that. I do agree, they are magical

 

Once you go to an R-compound tire it's really tough to go back to street tires - they're like crack!

 

I know several guys who have gotten 100 autocross runs on V710's. Even after they pass their prime, you can go quite a while before they cord. It took me about 6-7 events to get to where I am at a slight slip angle for most of the runs (making full use of the tire). It was like learning to drive all over again. I went from the top 20 to the top 8 in raw times, and even got FTD once. The only down side is the nausea induced from high G loads

 

Seconded -- the V710s wear like iron (they'll go two seasons before cording for most people) so I have no idea where the previous comment about them not lasting long came from.

 

I can go all day with the 710s, but they are no better than RA1s after they wear down.

 

My V710's have lasted two seasons (though a season for me is slightly less then a real season ) For someone doing 10 events a year, the tires should easily last three years. The only issue I had with the 710's was increased brake fade .

 

I dont understand the comment that Kumho 710's dont last very long. We put on a new set for every race weekend which includes two, either practice sessions or qualifying and then a 40 to 45 minute race. Last year Kumho made a huge improvement in the tires and the drop off in stick is almost gone. We can easily get three racing weekends out of a set of Kumho's if we wanted to. BTW we have two sets of used tires available if anyone would like them. We get between $300 to $350 a set plus shipping. If you are buying a new race tire for autocrossing be sure to scrub off the "new" before your first run. This gets rid of the mould release.

 

I think the drop off is related to heat cycles more than wear on the tire. I can get about 110 to 120 runs before the grooves are gone but after about 8-10 heat cycles they steadily lose grip. I have to remount the old tires to a spare set of wheels so I can use them for for fun regional events or test & tunes.

The race weekends sound like 3 to 4 heat cycles each.

 

For having 5 years under your belt, I would figure that you would have learned long ago that tires are always the #1 mod for time.
What tires were you running before the Kuhmos?

 

my grooves were gone after 8 events, i went from doing FTD overall in the first 3 races to battle in the top 10 the 5 races after. After that, I was just happy to stay in the top 20.

Of course I am in New England, smooth tire friendly lot isn't what we have.

 

I knew it - I just didnt KNOW it

I was on my regular street tires ,bfgoodrich g-Force T/A KDW-2.

I wont bore you with the saga that is Israeli motor sports and the sub sub sub sub-third world mentality of the authorities towards anybody who even remotely enjoys participating in them.... and lets just say that I am the first one in the short history of Israeli autoX history to use tires of these kind.

And trust me, after tireracks price + fed ex shipping + customs + sales tax + special import permit fee + the importers profit = these 4 buddles of joy came to about the equivalent of $3000 .... so I doubt we here will be seeing many more users in the future

There are a few running on Pirelli PZero Corsas and Yokohama AO48, and those were (until now ) the top guns.

 

I'm sorry to hear of the financial complications to get a set of tires.
Take some vids!

I just mounted some 275/40/17 V710's to my 17x7.5f and 17x8r Volks last night.

 

+1 on the V710's. I run those at HPDE's and LOVE THEM. Granted I came off of street tires to these tires so I am still a little bit in shock. But wow, what a difference that makes!!! I have one track day and one weekend with them on. probably about 6 hours seat time with speeds max at about 130 so autox results probably will vary. but like mentioned above...only problem I had was brake fade what a great problem to have when trying new tires

 

Last event of our season was Saturday, and all I can say is wawaweewa!!

Third fastest run of the day , down about half a second from two modded EVO9's with very talented drivers.
In the finals for the day 4 evos and moi

Came in 4th

VERY VERY happy with these tires, the definately put the power of the Z on the asphalt and keep you in the direction the car is pointed

 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...92824300&hl=en

 

great video, looks like a fun "do-it-again" course