Focus Competition Tires: Info, Links, and Reviews

[Oni]

General Information regarding Tires and Air Pressures

Tire Size Information:

This is an explanation by the Tire Rack on tire size information from what the numbers and letters mean. If you're not familiar with what the designations on a tire mean, this is the great place to start learning first.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=46

Recommended Air Pressures for Competition and How to Tune Pressures to adjust Driving Dynamics

This is an article with basic information over tire pressures and temperature fluctations.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=73

This is a good explanation as to how you can adjust the tire pressures to affect the driving characteristics of the car, especially when there is little to no suspension adjustment available to you (i.e., stock suspension).
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=58

This is an explanation on how to measure temperature on the tires and how the temperature can affect the internal pressure and handling of the car. It gives some tips for optimizing the pressure after tread temperatures are read.
http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/t...luke-track.htm

Further reading and discussion over this topic can be found in this thread:
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/s...threadid=33797

More Information and Topics:

I borrowed heavily from the Tire Rack since it's just a great resource for information. You can learn so much about tires and wheels, suspension, brakes, and more. Here's the link to their tech center for various technical topics.
http://www.tirerack.com/about/techcenter.jsp

• Some topics worth mentioning
• How air pressures affect handling and tire performance
• How air pressure affects tire performance and resistance to hydroplaning in the wet
• Getting More out of your Competition Tires
• Tips for Storing your Tires for Long Periods - i.e., the off-season
• Having vibrations? Check out this chart designed by the Tire Rack to potentially diagnose the source of the problem.

• Other topics you might be interested in
• Focus Wheel and Tire Information (Good information for the various sizes and offset on each Focus model)
• General Wheel and Tire Information Topics: Offset, Bolt Patterns, Performance Benefits, Wheel Lug Nut Torquing, Proper Lug Nuts or Lug Bolts, Centerbore.
• A Novice Guide to Autocross
• thefrush's Official Suspension thread
• 2006 SCCA Solo Rules and Class Regulations
• Find an autocross in your region - courtesy of DirtyDeeds

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Street and R-Comp Tires and Dealers:

*Green link indicates lowest priced site (may not apply to all sizes)

R-Comps:

Toyo RA-1

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
Meisterchaft Motor
The Wheel Source
Edge Racing

*This tire is considered more of a road racing tire than an autocross tire

Kumho Victoracer V700

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

Kumho Ecsta V710

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

Kumho Ecsta V700

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

Hoosier A3S05

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

Hoosier A6

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

Hoosier R3S05

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack
The Wheel Source

*This tire is considered a road racing tire
*Prices are the same for the Tire Rack and Wheel One (before heat cycling and shipping)

Hooiser R6

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

*This tire is considered a road racing tire

Avon Tech R-A

Description | Specs | Sizes

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

Pirelli PZero Corsa

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack
The Wheel Source

*The 215/45/17s are not legal in Street Touring classes, though they are 140 UTQG rating, which is the only size that has that treadwear rating
*I found other sites that carry this tire but none that were close to the common Focus sizes

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

*This tire is considered a road racing tire.

Yokohama A048

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

Yokohama A032R

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

*The sizes available are very limited for most owners

Nitto NT-01

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
Discount Tire Direct

Hoosier Radial Wet

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack
The Wheel Source

*This tire is intended for use only in the wet.




Street Tires (eligible for Street Touring and Street Tire SCCA classes):

Falken Azenis RT-615

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
Edge Racing
Discount Tire Direct
Vulcan Tires

Kumho Ecsta MX

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack
Vulcan Tire Sales
Summit Racing

Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD07

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack
Discount Tire Direct

Hankook Ventus RS2 Z212

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
North Coast Performance (215/45/17)
Edge Racing (various sizes)
Discount Tire Direct

Toyo T1R

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
Wheel Max
The Wheel Source
Edge Racing

BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack
Discount Tire Direct (limited sizes available)

Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R

Description | Sizes | Specs

Where to buy:
The Tire Rack

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Test Results and Reviews:

• Grassroots Motorsports published review of the top six Street Touring tires and the top six R-Comp Tires
• Car and Driver's Review of Max Performance Summer Tires by Several Manufacturers

Personal Experiences and Reviews:

If you have personal experience with a tire listed, please list the tire and size and how long you have been running competitions on the tires. Also, please give a short review of your overall thoughts and if you would buy them again or recommend an alternative tire. Please do not post pictures - not necessary, and I want to keep the thread simple and faster to load for all users.

Example,

"Tire: Falken Azenis RT-615
Size: 225/45/17

I purchased these tires to run in my STS class...
..
..
..
....I would highly recommend these tires for STS competition."


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*If there is any information I left out that you feel is pertinent, please PM me to let me know (such as another vendor, a tire no longer made, safety information, etc.). If a tire is not listed, please PM me the information so I can add it; however, remember that the focus is on competition related tires dealing with road racing, autocross, and drag racing - not street performace (a separate summer tire thread should be made for that).

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