Topic: New Tires for the R

[rrocket]

I'm getting a set of Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s installed either tomorrow or Thursday.  I was literally going to pull the trigger on a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S @ about $150/tire more  but the speedshop/detailing owner said he would love to take my money on the Michelins but I really owe it to myself to try a set of the Firestones.  Firestones on an Audi?  Who ever heard of such a thing?  He said that the big blocky shoulders and tread pattern and other features of the tire are more suited for predominant track day use while not being too much of a compromise for DD use.

I will report!

I think you'll like them.  Lots of IS-F guys run them.

[Angry Chicken]

Well, something different for sure.  Nothing ventured and all that....

Still interested to hear what JohnyMac has to say about his Firestones.  It is his thread!

[dirtyjeffer]

He said that the big blocky shoulders and tread pattern and other features of the tire are more suited for predominant track day use while not being too much of a compromise for DD use.

I will report!

the real test will be hitting some on/off ramps at high speed during the rain to see how good the grip is. 

[Gurgie]

He said that the big blocky shoulders and tread pattern and other features of the tire are more suited for predominant track day use while not being too much of a compromise for DD use.

I will report!

the real test will be hitting some on/off ramps at high speed during the rain to see how good the grip is. 

The real test will be here.... specifically turn 8 

[Angry Chicken]

He said that the big blocky shoulders and tread pattern and other features of the tire are more suited for predominant track day use while not being too much of a compromise for DD use.

I will report!

the real test will be hitting some on/off ramps at high speed during the rain to see how good the grip is. 

You went there.

[JohnnyMac]

You'll have to tell me your thoughts on them.  I'm still running my original conti's until they are down to replacement level, then I have my Firehawks to put on.  I'm kind of hoping my conti's pass inspection next month so I can wait until fall to put the firehawks on my summer rims.

[Angry Chicken]

He said that the big blocky shoulders and tread pattern and other features of the tire are more suited for predominant track day use while not being too much of a compromise for DD use.

I will report!

the real test will be hitting some on/off ramps at high speed during the rain to see how good the grip is. 

The real test will be here.... specifically turn 8 

Yessir

[Angry Chicken]

I'll be taking the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s to the track on Friday the 16th of August.  I've had them in the car for a couple of months now and my first impressions are:
- a bit of a "brittle" ride;
- excellent resistance to hydroplaning;
- they take a while everyday to shrug off the flatspotting they obtain while the car has been sitting;
- reasonable grip but I've yet to explore their performance envelope!
- quiet
- round
- black

The acid test will be the track.  I don't expect world-class performance at a bargain price but I'm hoping they will shoulder (pun intended) the burden of repeated hard cornering at a predominantly clockwise circuit.  The front left tire in particular.  I got asymmetric and non-directional tires precisely because I can rotate them to whatever corner I want so we'll see how much wear I can get out of them.  If they last me to the Fall I will be happy.

[Gurgie]

I'll be taking the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s to the track on Friday the 16th of August.  I've had them in the car for a couple of months now and my first impressions are:

- they take a while everyday to shrug off the flatspotting they obtain while the car has been sitting;

I got that with my Bridgestone RE-11's and now with the Hankook RS4's as well... thought I was crazy for feeling that... 

[Angry Chicken]

I'll be taking the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s to the track on Friday the 16th of August.  I've had them in the car for a couple of months now and my first impressions are:

- they take a while everyday to shrug off the flatspotting they obtain while the car has been sitting;

I got that with my Bridgestone RE-11's and now with the Hankook RS4's as well... thought I was crazy for feeling that... 

Oh, you're crazy alright.  Just for different reasons.

[Gurgie]

I'll be taking the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s to the track on Friday the 16th of August.  I've had them in the car for a couple of months now and my first impressions are:

- they take a while everyday to shrug off the flatspotting they obtain while the car has been sitting;

I got that with my Bridgestone RE-11's and now with the Hankook RS4's as well... thought I was crazy for feeling that... 

Oh, you're crazy alright.  Just for different reasons.

     I can live with that! 

[rrocket]

I had one tire (I forget which) that REALLY flatspot bad enough to shake the wheel/car..

Only lasted a minute of so.

[ChaosphereIX]

yep the Firestones flat spot a bit, goes away after a minute or two. Hazard of a soft tire.

[Angry Chicken]

These Firehawk Indy 500 things do take quite a bit of abuse.  Here they are after 2 full 2-hour lapping evenings.  I'm showing the front left tire since it takes the most punishment at Calabogie.  There's one picture of the front right (3rd pic of 4) as reference.

The tires sacrifice a bit of ultimate grip to the Michelins I was intending to purchase but even at $150 less than the Michelins per tire,  it looks like they might last twice as long as the massive shoulders resist chunking.  I like the math.