Semi Slicks On The Road

[buzzboy]

Hi all

quick question- are Semi Slicks legal on the road in vic

thanks

[Duncan]

almost certainly....although confirming the actual tyre you mean would help (I have always been very suspicous of the hoosier ones).

as long as they have legal tread depth of course

[some_cs_student]

There are different kinds of semi-slicks, there are the ultra high performance / street/track semi-slicks (not R compound) for example Khumo KU36 and Federal 595RSR.

And then there are R-compound semi-slicks which are mostly road legal too assuming they have appropriate levels of depth

Maybe you could ask a more specific question?

[The Bogan]

Im under the impression that they would wear out pretty quick, otherwise I would run my Dunlop Formula Rs all the time but cannot afford to spend the 2k (ish) to always replace them.

[buzzboy]

i was looking into something like the falken FK 452 or the Dunlop SP SPORT MAXX TT or maybe the Dunlop SP SPORT MAXX GT.i always throught that Semi Slicks were illegal on the street .im not to worryied about K's - i do about 5k a year if that .

if i were to buy a Semi Slick i was thinking either the falken RT 615 or TOYO R888 Direzza - D03G or Potenza - RE55S or Potenza - RE-11S - i havent had much time to reseach a Semi Slick due to the fact i thought they were illgearl so i didnt bother.

im looking at 235/40/18 or the front and a 265/35/18 on the back - i hate 18X8.5 wheels on the front and 18 X9.5 on the back

[scathing]

quick question- are Semi Slicks legal on the road in vic

As long as they have the appropriate markings (DOT and/or E4) and they're above minimum tread depth they're street legal. When it's wet and cold they can also be f**king scary.

R888s, RE55S and D03Gs are in a different league to RT615s and RE-11s. The latter are more aggressive street tyres than a proper motorsport tyre.

[buzzboy]

I would love to get a hold of the some RE-01R or RE-11s - any one know were i can get some??????

[MrStabby]

Are you going to be using them mainly for street or track?

If mainly street then S spec is probably best: Falk RT-615 though they're a bit old hat, so i'm going to try Kumho KU36s or Fed RSRs as they seem to be the preferred options these days. KU36s are cheap, RSRs grip better.

If mainly track then R spec is probably best: R888s, RE55S and D03G etc

But it also comes down to personal taste.

AFAIK

S spec = longer life, better wet grip, more comfortable

R spec = better dry grip

[_Wing_]

The more racier the tyre the gripper they will be once heated up, but you give up tyre life and comfort. RE-01R's are an excellent tyre, its one of the best ones before hitting R-compound semislicks. I can get them cheap, and hence I run a set myself.

[some_cs_student]

Option1garage still has a special on the Federal's, 595RSR are similar to KU36 pricing at the moment

[semislickR32]

I have been informed by Bridgestone Motorsport here in SA that the RE55s are not DOT approved and therefore are not street-legal (for track use though I loved the set I had).

The Advan A048s are another semi that are DOT approved. I've done one trackday on mine and they're good so far (should be: they are the control tyre for the V8 Utes and aussie racecar categories).

[Duncan]

I'd be very surprised if they are correct about Re55 being not being legal for street use. They have been around for about 5 years and used extensively on the road by track people in that time. Also, CAMS define non slick tyres like "semi slicks" as being "DOT approved", and re55s are on that list.

[MrStabby]

Perhaps they are DOT approved (so legal on the road in the US) but not legal on Australian roads?

[scathing]

I have been informed by Bridgestone Motorsport here in SA that the RE55s are not DOT approved and therefore are not street-legal

They must have changed it since I got them a few years back, since mine were DOT and E4 approved.

The Advan A048s are another semi that are DOT approved. I've done one trackday on mine and they're good so far (should be: they are the control tyre for the V8 Utes and aussie racecar categories).

Control tyre actually means "cheap". It doesn't necessarily mean "good".

I didn't like the A048s I've driven on. They are cheaper than RE55S, which is a plus, but if I was chasing dollars I'd have to see how they price up against R888s. The A050s are meant to be better, but the only comments I've seen on them have been marketing fluff from Yokohama.

[Duncan]

I wish it did mean cheap. We were paying 500ea for our control tyre a048r from the nsw distributor Anyway, A048R are pretty bad for the price, at least 1 second slower than DZ03 and Re55s

[TurboDoseBro]

That's gotta hurt the wallet when you wear them out

[semislickR32]

They must have changed it since I got them a few years back, since mine were DOT and E4 approved.

Control tyre actually means "cheap". It doesn't necessarily mean "good".

I didn't like the A048s I've driven on. They are cheaper than RE55S, which is a plus, but if I was chasing dollars I'd have to see how they price up against R888s. The A050s are meant to be better, but the only comments I've seen on them have been marketing fluff from Yokohama.

Yeah I had RE55s fitted two years ago to my street&track S15 by the previous owner of the same store, no dramas. Without bagging the guy too much, whether he was right about the RE55s or not he proceeded to recommend the RE11 (*not* the RE11S) as a comparable tyre to the RE55 (which it's not) and then said he would definitely help me out to get on the track by the following week, but never rang me back. I needed tyres as my old Re001s were toast, hence the A048s.

Totally agree re RE55 legality and CAMS approval, however there seems to be lots of waffle on the interwebs about how they are not legal. Regardless the magill dealer is the sole SA dealer and refused to fit them so didn't have other options other then rocking up with 4 "spare" rims in the boot.

Re the A048 performance, when I said I was happy I was being very generous. the only session I've done so far on them I was very disappointed in grip levels (couldn't find any all day), but didn't want to badmouth the tires until I've made sure it's not

• the way I'm driving on them
  
• the pressures I'm running
  
• the fact I was also trying to get used to new turbos (going from 205kw to 285kw)
  

After this Monday I should have a better idea.

So if you can get RE55s onto your car and you can afford them I would say do it.

[Duncan]

try the A048 with relatively low hot pressures, 30-32. Different tyres react differently

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

also an 80rwkw jump will DRASTICALLY affect your perception of grip...

with only 200rwkw in an R you could plant your foot through the firewall on bob jane allrounders and still find traction

[semislickR32]

also an 80rwkw jump will DRASTICALLY affect your perception of grip...

with only 200rwkw in an R you could plant your foot through the firewall on bob jane allrounders and still find traction

agreed, hence giving the tyres the benefit of the doubt! I expected much better lap times though and am yet to be satisfied - practice will help

Mallala times:

R32 GTR, RE001 street tyres, 205rwkw: 1:24.6

R32 GTR, A048 semis, 285rwkw: 1:23.7

Still chasing my S15 PB though (S15, RE55s, 163rwkw, 1:23.05)

Hopefully it doesn't rain on Monday so I can put in some good practice times...