At a delivered cost of $600 that makes them about $300 less than a set of Michelin SS with a coupon.
I scrubbed these in with a 3000 mile trip up the East coast and back in various weather including one full day of rain. They stick like dry even on wet leaves and pine needles in MA. A very stiff sidewall compared to the Michelins giving a rougher ride on my Koni's until I backed them off in the front to 1/2 turn firm and lowered the pressure cold to 30psi.
Today took them to a test and tune for some high speed handling tests at a Corvette event. Decent course with enough sweepers and slaloms to really give tires a workout. Andrew Wong corded his Integra tires after only one run so he co-drove my RX8 for the last 4 runs. We both agreed the tires are very predictable at speed. 10/32" tread is like new still and handling will certainly improve when worn down to 6/32" the same depth usual 200 utqg high performance tires come with.
They did not roll over beyond normal. They stabilized over all the runs on a 78F day at 36F-35R psi. They never got over 128F front and 117F rear and grip never degraded even tho' someone looped the car near the finish due to carrying too much speed and lifting in 3rd gear then went on to get fastest time of the day by .015 second on the next run. Darn borrowed cars.
Stopping distances were excellent even tho' my brakes were getting pretty noisy by my last run. We were taking twice as many runs as everyone else so this was a great opportunity to flog on the tires. 9 runs in rapid succession grip improved as did the confidence of both drivers ending up our session with virtually identical times. For comparison Dave Scott ran a 59.687 to my best 62.324 on his new Bridgestone RE11's in his awesome Z06. I can live with that as this was a true HP course. I never run an event in 3rd gear nor does Dave BUT we both did coming down the stretch. **Andrew's first run on his dead 200 Starspec Doneloops tires was 62.903 and two of them got corded. We all know just how well slicks stick at Brooksville!! I think we were both equally impressed with these "daily driver" tires at the track.
They never went away. They will only get faster over time. Now I sort of wish I'd asked Tirerack to shave them to 6/32" for $15/tire. These tires don't come with the 15k mile warrantee of the Michelins but the SS's on my Vetter are worn down to 6/32" from 10/32" in only 2600 miles mostly auto crossing or going to and from events.
As I had been told by 2 experts before I bought these tires they are probably an even better tire than the Michelins for a lot less money. Time will tell. So far they are probably better overall - especially in the wet!!
Two thumbs up
Doug
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... Contact+DW
When they stick they stick and when they howl they might win? If I give my best competitor $300 he will stay home. Or I can give him $100 three times and I will get the T Shirt 