295/30 R18 Tires

The following tires have been reviewed in 295/30 R18.
Tire Reviewed Dry Grip Wet Grip Feedback Handling Wear Comfort
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (156) 94% 87% 88% 87% 80% 85%
Yokohama Advan A052 (12) 99% 78% 88% 95% 52% 71%
Dunlop Direzza 03G (12) 94% 65% 89% 89% 47% 61%
Nankang AR 1 (36) 91% 46% 85% 88% 70% 66%
Toyo R888 (37) 90% 63% 80% 78% 59% 55%
Kumho Ecsta KH11 (5) 72% 64% 68% 66% 83% 73%
Continental ContiForceContact (3) 87% 73% 70% 80% 50% 57%
Pirelli PZero Corsa System (11) 81% 57% 78% 76% 48% 56%
Pirelli PZero Rosso (109) 81% 66% 70% 68% 59% 62%
Hoosier TrackAttack Pro (1) 90% 0% 0% 0% 40% 30%

295/30 18 Tire Review Highlights

Hoosier TrackAttack Pro rated 54% while driving a BMW M3
Driving on track for 0 spirited miles
I do about 15 track days per year in my dual duty F80 M3 with 295/30-18 square tires on 10.5x18. I'm advanced solo.

On Saturday I tried the TAPs at my home track of Lime Rock Park. It was a disappointment. The tires had 5 prior heat cycles at Watkins Glen, including an overnight "cure period" (one session one the first day, then 4 sessions on the second day.)

At WGI the tires were comparable to the RE71RS in terms of pace (similar theoretical ~206.5) and heat tolerance. Saturday at LRP felt like I was driving on heat cycled tires. The first session was meh and the grip got progressively worse. Weather was low 70's and sunny. I tried cool down laps and fiddling with pressures, but nothing helped. Meanwhile, back in steamy August I pounded on the RE71RS all day and was still able to consistently lap sub 60 seconds. See AIM solo snips below. Also, you can see me sliding around in the vid linked below.

The construction of the Hoosiers feel stiffer which provides quicker response/feedback on initial turn-in compared with the RE71RS. They feel good under braking. No squirm (probably due to the shallow tread depth). They don't make a lot noise at the limit.

The RE71RS sidewall roll on my outlaps until tire pressure builds. Not as bad as the AO52 though.
Track Attack Pro
https://youtu.be/DpMBrqrVQk0?si=bPbS9ktypaorLEjw

RE71RS
https://youtu.be/ob_VZpz4498?si=An7C6ylN71nPTe57

RE71RS lap times:


Hoosier lap times:
tire reviewed on 2024-10-07 14:26:24
Yokohama Advan A052 rated 70% while driving a Chevrolet camaro
Driving on a combination of roads for 3000 spirited miles
Ran 141 Autocross ish laps over 21 events. (on 3rd set of A052s)
Corded the pass side last event.
-295/30R18s on 18x11s, fit perfectly
Even nearly bald, the A052 had tons of grip left.
After 50 runs the tires lost about 0.5 seconds vs new.
After 100 runs they lost about 1 second but leveled off. No grip was lost from about 100 to 241 runs.
Tires need 1 good heat cycle before they really start griping well.
Note: THESE ARE NOT TRACK DAY TIRES!
they will overheat and grease off within 2-3 laps at a track.


Wet:
in damp ground these tires are KING at the Autocross or road course. The wet grip is unbelievable.
BUT, deep standing water defeats them like any other tire.
The A052 excel at low temps. I ran a damp rain event at 37F and the Yoks had zero issues.


Dry: again, 2021-2024 Solo nationals showed the A052 dominating the field. The dry grip as of 2024 is #1.
They warm up FAST. 1 run is all you need and the other 3 runs are all 100% flat out.
BUT, you can overheat the tires easily.
Start the run at 110-115F tire temp, and you'll have a good lap. Start above that and the tires will grease off before you finish a 50sec lap.
Tires loose a TON of grip over 135F.
Copious amounts of water Spraying is needed for hot days or dual drivers. I've used a 2 gallon sprayer and ran out before I got 8 runs in

Wear:
I got 141 ish runs over 21 events.
These tires need TONs of camber.
They have soft side walls and EAT shoulders without good camber
A minimum of -2.0 and ideally -3.0+
I know guys running -5.0 camber.
tire reviewed on 2024-09-18 21:53:07
Toyo R888 rated 33% while driving a Nissan Skyline R34
Driving on for 0 miles
No comments left
tire reviewed on 2022-11-02 04:01:50
Dunlop Direzza 03G rated 91% while driving a Porsche Cayman s
Driving on a combination of roads for 0 spirited miles
No comments left
tire reviewed on 2022-10-27 10:25:20
Nankang AR 1 rated 57% while driving a BMW M3
Driving on track for 1000 miles
Like others said in other reviews
I ve used 3sets of Nankang AR1 brefore i write this review on F80 M3 with 490RWHP set up.
My sizes were 265 35 18 front and 295 30 18 rear.
The only problem with AR1 is that it starts to get heat soaked pretty quick for a semi slick tire. You will have to cool down after a consecutive attack, if not it has tendency to become very greasy.

It doesnt last that long obviously but It does provide more grip than most of Extreme summer tires.

If you are limited on tire expense,i would go with something that lasts a little longer.
However if you are not limited, AR1 will provide more DRY grip for a limited time.

Break away characteristic is adequate. I would say it is on the liniar progressive side.

tire reviewed on 2019-11-23 23:47:45
Continental ContiForceContact rated 77% while driving a Porsche 996 Turbo
Driving on a combination of roads for 7000 spirited miles
Great tires. Awesome in dry and wet, when up to temp. Wore quickly and eventually tore chunks out of the tread once I had tracked them.Defintely buy again though.
tire reviewed on 2016-03-11 21:47:45
Kumho Ecsta KH11 rated 10% while driving a Porsche 996 C4S
Driving on mostly motorways for 100 average miles
terrible tires. Absolutely gutted. Side wall must be made of cardboard, as my Porsche is now scary to drive! Lost all confidence in handling, the rear rolls on the rim when you change direction. Very poor. Should have spent the extra 100 odd on Michelin!
tire reviewed on 2015-02-20 13:55:31
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rated 87% while driving a Porsche 996 Turbo
Driving on mostly country roads for 14000 spirited miles
Best tire for my 996T. Tried both Pirelli's (too noisy) and Conti's (tramlining) but they got nowhere near the Michelin's in terms of overall performance. Fantastic grip and decent wear.
tire reviewed on 2013-07-10 04:54:48
Toyo R888 rated 93% while driving a Porsche 996 911 Carrera 2
Driving on a combination of roads for 15000 average miles
These tires are a hidden gem. I have had yoko and michelins but these take the cake. I think they have actually taken a second off the 0-100km/h sprint. I travel the M1 to Brisbane each day and can you believe I've already got 15,000km out of them. I didn't bank on that nor the fact I got them cheap initially but if I have to buy them again I see the price isn't on the low end. Highly recommended. The yokohamas can't compete with these. They do get better when warmed but that is ovestated as it takes 5 minutes only. Noisy but who cares. My suspension wanes before the tires.
tire reviewed on 2012-10-29 05:28:12
Pirelli PZero Rosso rated 57% while driving a Porsche 996 C4S
Driving on a combination of roads for 3000 average miles
Good grip wet and dry. Commuting in 996 C4S.
Wear is dreadful, lasted 3000 miles on rears, fronts ok.
Will not fit again on car.
tire reviewed on 2011-03-24 15:51:03
Pirelli PZero Corsa System rated 81% while driving a Porsche 996 Turbo
Driving on track for 31000 spirited miles
Excellent track tire.

90% of the dry grip of the PS Cup, but waay better in the damp, and lasts lots longer
tire reviewed on 2009-04-20 17:26:31
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