I can't wait for this weekend @ SP...

[wrathe74]

I just picked up my new tires (Kumho Ecsta XS KU36 225/45R17)!!! No more regular street tires --- and hopefully no more squealing tires around the entire Summit Point Skid pad!

[Wade Chamberlain]

is there enough traction there to make a squeal?

[wrathe74]

is there enough traction there to make a squeal?

As long as you don't run R-comps

Last weekend there, Mike posted a hellishly fast time with Dunlop Star Specs.

[Wade Chamberlain]

I'll be curious to see how you like the XS's. I'm considering them for the miata as well as the FFR.

[wrathe74]

I'm hoping for good results, though on the Skid Pad it may be a little difficult to get a real feel for them. Grassroots did a review of them compared to the RA11's, Star Specs, Falkens, etc. and surprisingly they did very well - way better then Kumho's previous incarnation.

[Gonz]

talk to Joe S. ( our timing system engineer & computer guru), he put a set on his Mazdaspeed MX-5 this year.


Gonzalo.

[Wade Chamberlain]

will do...thanks!

[hepcatz]

That was a pretty good article

I'm hoping for good results, though on the Skid Pad it may be a little difficult to get a real feel for them. Grassroots did a review of them compared to the RA11's, Star Specs, Falkens, etc. and surprisingly they did very well - way better then Kumho's previous incarnation.

[wrathe74]

Alas, I will not make it tomorrow...long story short, my tires didn't get mounted, and my old tires are no longer useable. So I'm out

Those Kumho's have some really strong sidewalls, so a regular tire mount wouldn't work.

[JoeTR6]

I really like the Kumho XSs on my Miata. They need some heat for traction (don't even think about driving on them below 40 F), but no worse than R-comps. Today at Summit the traction was interesting to say the least, but Mike Moran, Denny, and Ed O all managed to break into the 39s in my car. I only managed 40.1 or so. Denny had a 39.09 compared to something in the low 37s for FTD (Mike in the Suxass, unless I missed a faster run). Not bad for a "street" tire. I've put about 4000 miles of daily driving miles on them, and they do well in the rain. The tread noise is getting more pronounced (especially after today), but they are still quite liveable on the street. Tread wear may be their weak spot.

BTW, I'm running a 215-45-R16. It's just slightly taller than stock and fits without rubbing.

[hepcatz]

Joe,

Thanks for the feedback, they do sound pretty good & I might think about those.

[wrathe74]

This months Grassroots magazine (pg 107) did a followup with the Kumho XS vs [Bridgestone RE11, Toyo R1R, and Yokohama AD08 (New)]

Kumho Morning Run:
34.842
Kumho Afternoon run to make sure conditions hadn't changed
34.541

RE-11
35.262

R1R
35.264

AD08
34.827