GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

Thoughts, opinions? They have great reviews on the BMW forums, I'd really like to try them out......too bad the 17 inch sizes are 255 at the widest

Turbo7MN

I'm having a set of the 195/55VR15s put on a set of 15x7s either Friday or Monday. I'll let you know how I like them after driving on them for a few days.

Risky Devil

iTrader: (1)

All our drift cars are on DZ101s, and time trial cars are on Z1 Star Specs.
http://www.tougefactory.com/blog/
Check it out

Turbo7MN

I know I'm just running the fairly narrow 15" setup so I'm not sure how well this will relate to your application, but I've been very impressed by how well these things grip so far. I took the FC out to my latest favorite back road and not only was I able to enter turns posted for 25mph going over 60, I was able to accelerate through them without even a hint of a squeal from the tires, I'm sure theyre capable of much more but I just didnt feel like pushing my car that hard at the time. Heck, I never thought I'd be able to push it as hard as I did so easily. Sometime soon I'll find out what the car's really capable of on these things, but for the meantime they've definitely got my reccomendation, by far the best grip of anything I've driven on. Oh, and the day I got them put on I had to drive home in a rather hard downpour, they handled the rain just fine. No traction issues whatsoever. Again, I'm not sure how beneficial this will be to you but I figured I'd post since there doesn't seem to be much info about these on this forum.

Bunchies

iTrader: (1)

The star specs seem to be on par with the RE-01R. Hopefully they heat up a little faster with this revision. They were better suited to heavier cars with the last batch of Z1s.

SLOASFK

iTrader: (5)

Did you get to test them out yet, Rich? I'm very eager to see how they perform

jdmsuper7

iTrader: (1)

They just took their first ST win at the ProSolo in Arkansas I believe. My friend has been running them on his stx(?) 240 and ******* kills people with them. They seem to be more agreeable to wider slip angles and don't just push wide under multiple inputs, especially at turn in. He trail brakes on those things like I can never do on my Azenis.

s1mpsons

iTrader: (5)

FWIW Dunlop Direzza Z1 took 1st and 5th in PAX at DC ProSolo!!! They also took 1st and 3rd in STU class (2nd went to Yoko Neovas). I took 5th in STU running Bridgestone RE01Rs (no coilovers )

I have heard nothing but praise and good things from my friends and competitors running the Z1s. The results pretty much speak for themselves. The Z1s have stiffer sidewalls, are more predictable, and provide better feedback than the RE01Rs. Overall traction is probably about equal. My guess would be the Z1s have a little more road noise.

I dont think you can go wrong with these especially considering the price. Good luck with the tire purchase.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

One of the local guys here (Dave MacDougall) is the one who took first in DC ProSolo using those tires.

In a nutshell, they're durable racing tires that are definitely street safe. Really designed for ST class autocrossing. But that said I have a set of RE-01R's (a very similar tire) and they're excellent for doing it all: track, autocross, and safe street driving. If that's what you're going to do you will be very pleased.

Dave

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

I've been running the Direzza star specs on my track wheels (technically Brian's track wheels, they're on loan, hehe) for a bit now, maybe 200-300 miles.

For street driving, highway on/off ramps etc, I absolutely love them. They seem to communicate well (no p/s) and really stick. Last night in 45 degree weather I was able to get traction through all of 2nd gear at 1 bar boost, this with 245 width tires. Pretty impressive.

no_more_rice

Great tires. I'm having a blast with them on the S2000 and they're going on the FD next.

Roen

iTrader: (2)

https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=36

gawdodirt

Just ordered Z1 Star Specs strictly for track work. Only closed course club racing. To be installed on TII 16 x 8's. So by this Summer I'll be able to have a good idea. The price can't be beat though.

Honestly though, I would think that even trailer tires would burn as easily in drifting. No offense, but it's not on the limit of traction, it's over, and a controlled skid. The sidewalls and compound really don't figure in as much. Right?

GD

burtoncr

wrong, more power, more grip, more angle all go hand in hand in drifting. You need rear grip. Additionally, more grip gives you more control of your line which is important for tandem (you need to react to the other driver's line).

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

IIRC, the tire rack reviews on the DZ101s make them seem like poo.

Bunchies

iTrader: (1)

Because the DZ101 is not the Z1.

gawdodirt

So when there is smoke pouring out of the wheel wells, it means they're actually hooked up? I'm kind fuzzy on the definition of traction you gave. I have performed controlled "drift manuevers, and angle and traction had little to do with handling related to road manners in tires. Not being argumentative, just trying to identify terminology.

Gd

Josh18_2k

iTrader: (3)

kinetic friction is what matters in drifting, and it varies from tire to tire. some tires turn to ice once they break traction, and some have almost as much grip as they do when not spinning. a little research on drifting forums will show which tires are most popular, and its due to their slip behavior (and cost...).
the more force a tire puts on the car while drifting, the faster they can go and with better control.

Rx72Heaven

iTrader: (2)

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests

gawdodirt

Sounds like more a function of compound than construction. We had similar issues getting a Goodyear F1 to slide predictably so it went up to 45 psi. Then it was very predictable. But still, at the point of friction the compound would liquefy. But the point of this is that using drifting to describe a road tire is not a substantive enough base of comparison.

GD

burtoncr

At this point I'm not sure what your questions are. Your posts seem more and more argumentative. If that's the case then feel free to not believe me, but I would check out the tires that the top drifters in the US and Japan use. I bet you find they use wide, grippy tires. For example, here is Daigo Saito's setup from what would be considered his "street legal" car.

Josh18_2k

iTrader: (3)

just ran my first autox on direzzas yesterday. i was 10th overall, 2nd fastest on street tires. i was barely edged out by a 996 on pilot sport cups (80 treadwear.. does that even count as a street tire?)

i think i approve of this tire lol

Spirit Rx-7

iTrader: (15)

before i had hankook rs2's in 225 and now z1 starspecs in 205, and the z1 starspecs are the most amazing street tires i've used

gawdodirt

Well. They only seem argumentative because they are contrary to the drifter crowd. I only stated that the thread is about road tires and their suitability for racing. My experience is with Z06 and GY F1 run flats and getting them to slide AKA, drift. I do know that the wider tire does provide more "forward movement before it smokes." "Grippy " is not a description that tire guys use.

But the construction of the tire is not critical. And I am wide open to any substantive data to state otherwise. The posts after yours do provide personal information and first hand experience. All you came up with was , "This guy is a professional and this is what HE does." Please tell me why he does what he does and how that relates to the Dunlop Direzza Spec tire.

Thanks and all of this discussion is good. No flames, just facts and experiences.

GD

Roen

iTrader: (2)

FWIW, Star Spec's come in 265 in 17 now.