PCA SDR

After using these tires this weekend, I cannot recommend them to anyone who may run against me. The 225's all around on my SC were not the optimal sizes and I found that they have less grip than the Hoosier A7's. I suggest that everyone who is in my class switch over to RE11's. I got beat by a 914-4!! The best I could do in my CC07 class car with these tires was 3rd TTOD and 2nd in BRI. I am very disappointed.

Thank you Mark, for posting this timely (and accurate) assessment as a public service.

I can state categorically, that if you are in my class, or any class that I may choose to run in at any time in the future, you should never buy Bridgestone RE71-r's, in any size or configuration... they are horrible things: sticky, smelly, get really hot, and pick up all kinds of junk lying around on the track... really folks, you wouldn't want these anywhere near your car.

As evidence of their ugly badness I can say that I only beat one GT3 in my current class (CC12), and missed third by several tenths... and would only have won my actual class (CC09, the one God (Ferry Porsche) and the Classmeister (Steve G.) say I really belong in), by 1.20 seconds. So you know, BAD tires!

I'd hate to see what you guys would have run with a proper tire setup. It appears that Bridgestone may make the RE-71R in one 20" tire size, a 245/35-20, which would fit the front of my car, but I am not brave enough to put those on a 12" rim in the rear and run a square setup like you did. I'm giving Bridgestone a call tomorrow to urge them to make a 305/30-20, though.

TT

Tom, you don't need the RE-71R, you are plenty fast already.

One of the guys at PCAOCR runs RE-71R and Rival-S because he could not get the right size for all four. It is working for him. I can't remember which was front and which was rear. The Rival-S is another magical "200 treadwear" tire. WT Wong is running them. Do not confuse the Rival-S with the regular Rival (non-S).

Are those Rival S tires for 20" rims? I don't see any 305/30-20 size on the BFG website for the Rival S. There's a 315/35-20 but it's 28.6" diameter, which is too tall. There's a 285/35 that is 27.8", which is close to the stock 27.2". In 20" sizes, my choices seem to be the OEM MPSC-2, the Dunlop Sport Maxx Race (which are the only other OEM tires), and the Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R, which are the most expensive and supposedly the fastest (but not Porsche approved). I could have a lot of choices if I went to 19s, but that's not in the budget, since quality 19" centerlock wheels for the GT3 are in the $5-8K range.

I am hoping some more 20" choices show up on the market before I have to replace the original tires on my car. I'll have to go up to El Toro one of these times and see what's happening there these days. I haven't run up there in awhile.

TT

The car is Kurt Ressler, 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S. I don't know what size wheel he runs. He runs Hoosier at PCAOCR and the RE-71R/Rival-S at CalClub SCCA CST (California Street Tire - do anything to your car but must run 200 treadwear tires).

You have to try your GT3 at El-Toro before the site goes away. This may be the last year. GT3 on course like this would be insane:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Yq8HHDo6Y

Robert Joe wrote:The car is Kurt Ressler, 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S. I don't know what size wheel he runs. He runs Hoosier at PCAOCR and the RE-71R/Rival-S at CalClub SCCA CST (California Street Tire - do anything to your car but must run 200 treadwear tires).

Ah, on a 997S he's probably running 18s or 19s.

You have to try your GT3 at El-Toro before the site goes away. This may be the last year.

Yes, for sure I'm going to get up there again before it goes away. I've always had fun running with OCR. So many of their members used to come down here and run with us before they developed their own extensive program at El Toro. Now they don't really feel the need to make the trek to SD with so many events closer to home. I wonder if the tables will be turned when SDR loses Qualcomm as a site. It's a toss-up which site will be closed down first.

TT
PS--I just got off the phone with Bridgestone and they do have plans to put out the RE-71R in 20 additional sizes in the near future (next 6 months), so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I put in my request for a 305/30-20 size.

PS--I just got off the phone with Bridgestone and they do have plans to put out the RE-71R in 20 additional sizes in the near future (next 6 months), so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I put in my request for a 305/30-20 size.

Noooo, if you get these tires on the GT3 we are all toast. (There is no way this is actually a 200 tread wear, it's more like 100. This tire reminds of the Toyo R/A 1 which they re-rated to 100)

Hi all,

Been reading this thread with much interest because I'm in urgent need of replacing the tires on my Cayman, and I'm pretty novice at this stuff. Apparently they don't make the Bridgestone R11 in my sizes (235/35 R19 and 275/35 R19), but they do make the RE71R in my tire sizes. Unfortunately, there's no consumer survey available on these tires and no treadwear report. I would not be changing my tires for AXing. I'd be driving on them full-time. Just wondering if these are a poor choice if I leave those tires on full-time plus AXing monthly. I only put 5K-6K miles on my Cayman per year.

Sara,

Two things to be (slightly) concerned with are tire noise and durability. My car is super loud on the street and I noticed the tire noise driving to and from the track. As someone else mentioned on this thread, there are 200 treadwear tires, and then there are 200 treadwear tires... these are one of those... if you catch my drift. Might be fine for daily driving, or not, but the auto-x sessions will probably make up for any annoyance!

ttweed wrote:TT
PS--I just got off the phone with Bridgestone and they do have plans to put out the RE-71R in 20 additional sizes in the near future (next 6 months), so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I put in my request for a 305/30-20 size.

I've requested the 245/45-16.

Yeah, Charles,

I am very sensitive to the noise level inside the cockpit while street driving. I've noticed that it's much noisier riding in Mike's (Miller) 996 than in my '07 Cayman, and I was concerned about the noise level of the Bridgestone R11s or RE71s, but the noise level on the R11s is the same as those I'm driving on, which are Hankook Ventus V12EVOs. Treadwear rating on the R11s is higher than the current Hankooks at 7.9 vs. 7.4, but I am only using the R11s as a guideline for the RE71s, and as mentioned, who knows how truly trustworthy those treadwear ratings are. On the other hand, I just read a few reviews of the RE71s on Tire Rack, and I guess if I'm not real happy with the RE71s, I need to replace them in a few years (at best) anyway.

I just don't even know what might be a better choice for me under my driving circumstances than the RE71s.

Thanks for you imput, Charles, and everyone.

Any recommendations on a good place to get wheels aligned and camber adjustment in North County? I'm in O'side.

Thanks!

Petunia777 wrote:Any recommendations on a good place to get wheels aligned and camber adjustment in North County? I'm in O'side.

Thanks!

John at Vista Brake
(760) 724-5157
790 E. Vista Way
Vista, CA 92084

Call Vista Brake and set up an appointment with John. Hopefully he is back - he broke his leg a few months ago. John used to race cars and a lot of SCCA AX guys go to him. Ask some of the Cayman folk on this board what settings to shoot for and bring it to him. Ask to sit in the car because it makes a difference. He will let you do that if you ask him. The other great thing is he takes the time to set it to what YOU want as opposed to "factory specs" and it only cost around $60.

ttweed wrote:

Robert Joe wrote:Now they don't really feel the need to make the trek to SD with so many events closer to home. I wonder if the tables will be turned when SDR loses Qualcomm as a site. It's a toss-up which site will be closed down first.

PCAOCR are looking at hiring Angel Stadium for their events.