Not sure if this was posted already, but just found this tire comparison. My last two sets of tires were NT05s and R-S3s so I can attest to the below results. The NT05s felt about 3 seconds slower than my R-S3s

FINAL TIRE PERFORMANCE RESULTS

TIRE-------------------------TIME (TWO LAPS)---PRICE
Dunlop Direzza Zii-------------56.43---------------$278
Hankook Ventus R-S3 z222----56.90---------------$282
BFGoodrich G-Force Rival------57.10---------------$279
Falken Azenis RTt615k---------57.36---------------$273
Michelin Pilot Super Sport------57.79---------------$252
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11-----57.98---------------$228
Nitto NT05--------------------59.37---------------$219

 

Interesting. It seems any tests grassroots motorsports does concludes the rival is faster. Any tests tire rack is involved In shows the z2 is fastest. Fwiw I read online Andy Hollis (grassroots test driver) declared the kumho xs to be pretty much on par with the rs3 and original star spec z1.
I think the consensus would be both the rs3 and z1 proved to be significantly faster than the kumho by the vast majority of people, especially the rs3.

 

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/top-tires/

Here is the article. I have to admit this does concern me with the credibility/accuracy of their tests. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I was always under the understanding the rs3's were significantly faster that the xs?

 

That's an old (2010) test...

 

I'd rather have a 285 on a 10.5-11" wide wheel than 305....305/315 is more at home on a 12" wide wheel.

 

Oh hell *&^% no. XS blows donkey ballz.

 

Thx Scott. That was my understanding as well and appreciate the confirmation.

Yes it is. My point is something appears to be askew with grm's testing methods/results. If they can get it that wrong in the 2010 test, buyers should be wary about the current test results. Just something to consider when trying to make the best educated decision.

 

If z2 are faster whys everyone on RS3?

 

For me it was price, availability, convenience, and sizing.

285/35/18 R-S3 is $282 at Discount Tire Direct, which ships free to American Tire down the street from me.

The ZII is only available at Tire Rack. They only have a 285/30/18 and it's $306 plus shipping.

Small reasons.

 

Z2's don't handle heat nearly as well as RS3's...

 

RS3 get greesed after a few laps according to friends of mine who are fast, so if that's the case I don't wanna know how Long z2 take to grease

 

On a hot day, you can grease them up on one 50s autocross run.

 

AD08R vs RE11A vs RS3 for 2min track lapping .... discuss

 

2 minute track lapping? is that even a lap?

PS - Sorry for the edit tag, I hit the wrong button and you can't change the tag after it. I swear I didn't change the post.

 

RS3 by at least a second at Thunderhill or the like IMO. AD08R second...RE11A a distant third.

 

I just ran some Maxxis RC-1s for the first time a couple weeks ago. Priced about the same as the Nitto NT01 and has about the same performance or a little better. I'll have more data on them in a couple days. So far so good.

 

Seriously? We ARE talking about the AD08R, not the AD08, right? You are talking new-vs-new I'm sure, but what about after 5/6 track days? I'm still on the same set of RS3s as I bought originally-and-new in September of 2011. Of course they are off pace quite a bit now, but they are still putting down some good laps - I'm amazed! I'd say they are 2-3s off their earlier pace.

 

AD08R really wasn't a big improvement over the prior generation...

 

I've read they are >1s faster on a 2min course. I need data! I'm about to pull the trigger on a set of tires. I have 10" or 10.5" wheels to put tires on, so the 285/30 or 295/30 AD08R is yelling at me over a 275/35 or 285/35 RS3. The ADs are a bit lighter, too...

 

There will be a revised compound for the RS3's coming out later this year as well....

....also, there will be the Z2 star spec coming out around the same time.