Star Specs vs NT05's

[brainhulk]

I'm probably gonna be in the market for new rubber once my stockers are done after the next track day. I'm leaning towards the star specs right now. anyone have any other suggestions? or sites with good prices for tires?

 

[jlee]

I have no direct experience with either tire, but I can tell you that the vast majority of cars at the last autox I went to seemed to be running Star Specs, and that's what I will be running on my MR2 when I get new wheels. I'll probably run the same tire on my Forester as well, unless I decide to go with an all terrain..

 

[Kirby]

Hoosier A6?

 

[brainhulk]

Hoosier A6?

I'll consider DOT R's if I buy another set of wheels. but for now I only have the stock enkei's and I still like to take drives into the canyons for fun.

 

[coxmaster]

Star specs are amazing in the dry, without a doubt.

I just got a set of Hankook ventus evo V12's which handle just as well as far as I can tell, and they were 50$ per tire cheaper

 

[Demo24]

Star specs are amazing pretty much anywhere but the cold. I've run them on my WRX for like literally the past 20k+ miles and somehow they are still good! Great dry performance as they heat up quick, and they work pretty damn well in the rain as well. Obviously a tire like this you'll hear, but I've gotten so use to it I don't even think about it. Hardly an annoying noise. However like any good summer tire, once the cold temps come around (under 50) its going to start sliding around on you more. Still I run them year round and they do me well, even in quite cold conditions they still work admirably.

 

[brainhulk]

Star specs are amazing pretty much anywhere but the cold. I've run them on my WRX for like literally the past 20k+ miles and somehow they are still good! Great dry performance as they heat up quick, and they work pretty damn well in the rain as well. Obviously a tire like this you'll hear, but I've gotten so use to it I don't even think about it. Hardly an annoying noise. However like any good summer tire, once the cold temps come around (under 50) its going to start sliding around on you more. Still I run them year round and they do me well, even in quite cold conditions they still work admirably.

i don't mind noise at all! helps me know the tires are breaking loose. especially hard hearing them with the stinkin helmet. so the louder the better

 

[Imported]

I'm probably going to try the Star Specs after my Hankook RS-3s wear out. They're also an amazing tire and a bit cheaper than the Star Specs.. I don't know if they'll last as long though.

 

[Demo24]

i don't mind noise at all! helps me know the tires are breaking loose. especially hard hearing them with the stinkin helmet. so the louder the better

They also break away fairly cleanly, but they don't squeal all that much for me.

 

[dawheat]

Can't go wrong with either of those choices as well as the Bridgestone RE-11s.

In most circles they're considered equivalent and basically a pick-em. All have the same caveats as all summer tires.

 

[helpme]

I would have gone with a set of star specs after my first set of RE-01Rs wore out, but I managed to get another set of RE-01Rs on clearance (since the RE-11s came out), so I didn't get to try them 🙁

 

[thomsbrain]

The word from a guy I know who distributes tires and tracks an S2000 is that the Hankook RS-3 is the best bang-for-the-buck street tire out right now. In his opinion, it performs better than the Star Specs, wears reasonably well and is a bit cheaper since Star Spec prices have been rising due to high demand.

I currently run Star Specs and they are the best tire I've driven so far, but I haven't driven the RS-3s yet.

 

[thomsbrain]

i don't mind noise at all! helps me know the tires are breaking loose. especially hard hearing them with the stinkin helmet. so the louder the better

The Star Specs are nearly silent while sliding. You won't get any useful aural feedback from them. I think the other guy meant they have a fair bit of tread roar at speed.

 

[Viperoni]

I've had a good experience with Star Specs on a 350hp Cobalt SS, but I do want to get RS3's for my car next summer for daily driving.
I have R888's that need finishing off then slicks waiting to go on for racing.

 

[Demo24]

The Star Specs are nearly silent while sliding. You won't get any useful aural feedback from them. I think the other guy meant they have a fair bit of tread roar at speed.

Yes, that is what I meant. I can sometimes get my to squeal, but it's been fairly rare. Usually they just break away and you can feel that scrub against the pavement.