For the 2021 Tyre Reviews 200 treadwear Track Tyre Test we have selected eight of the the most popular 200tw track focused performance tyres and have access to Michelin's Laurens proving ground in South Carolina, which has a very fast, high grip, dry handling test track.
You can either watch the full test video for all the glorious shots of the beautiful E36 M3 test car, or scroll down to read the full results.
200TW Track Tyre Test
Test setup & methodology
The test setting, the conditions recorded and how the results contribute to the score.
Show full testing methodology
Score Weighting
Weights express the scoring priorities, not how much each discipline actually changed the finishing order. The size of the performance gaps matters too. Category weights contribute to the overall score. Within each category, discipline weights divide that category’s share. Published finishing positions also need to be read alongside the editorial verdict.
| Test | Within category | Share of overall score |
|---|---|---|
| Dry · 100% | ||
| Dry Handling | 100% | 100% |
Our standard methods
The conditions above are recorded for this test. The descriptions below explain our standard procedures; measurement windows and run counts can vary by test.
Dry Handling
For dry handling, I drive at the limit of adhesion around a dedicated handling circuit with ESC disabled where possible so I can assess the tyre's natural balance, transient response, and limit behaviour without electronic intervention masking the result. I usually complete between two and five timed laps per tyre set, depending on the circuit, tyre type, and consistency of conditions. I exclude laps affected by clear driver error or obvious environmental inconsistency. Control runs are carried out frequently throughout the session, and I often use multiple sets of control tyres so that wear on the references does not become a meaningful variable. For more track-focused products, I also do endurance testing, which is a set number of laps at race pace to determine tire wear patterns and heat resistance over longer driving.
To keep things as fair as possible, we have three sets of new control tyres so we can run a control tyre at the beginning, the same tyre again after set four, and another set at the end to calculate for driver and track evolution. All tyres will be started at exactly the same 30 psi cold.
The test vehicle is a beautiful E36 BMW M3 Lightweight, which thanks to a lightweight chassis, a normally aspirated engine and hydraulic power steering, should be a really wonderful test car and relatively representative of what people use on track and at autocross events.
There are sadly a few key tyres missing. There's no bridgestone RE71R because it's been discontinued in North America and Bridgestone don't plan to replace it, there's no toyo because the R888R is 100tw and the R1R is extremely old, and we couldn't get the Nexen N Fera SUR4 or the new Continental ExtremeContact Force in time for this test.
Dry
The lap times below are taking from the test video, for an explanation of the data please watch from 6:37.
Results
2021 Track Day 200TW Tyre TestWatch the full video of this test on YouTube Watch on YouTube
BFGoodrich G Force Rival S 1.5
225/45 R17
All discipline results (1)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry HandlingLower is better | 1st / 8 | 87.94 s | Best in this discipline |
- Production
- 1319
- UTQG
- 200 AA A
- Tread
- 5.7 mm
Falken Azenis RT660
225/45 R17
All discipline results (1)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry HandlingLower is better | 2nd / 8 | 88.53 s | +0.59 s |
- Production
- 4020
- UTQG
- 200 A A
- Tread
- 5.8 mm
Yokohama Advan A052
225/45 R17
All discipline results (1)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry HandlingLower is better | 3rd / 8 | 89.3 s | +1.36 s |
- Production
- 0921
- UTQG
- 200 A A
- Tread
- 5.3 mm
Hankook Ventus RS4
225/45 R17
All discipline results (1)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry HandlingLower is better | 4th / 8 | 89.63 s | +1.69 s |
- Production
- 0421
- UTQG
- 200 AA A
- Tread
- 6.9 mm
Dunlop Direzza ZIII
225/45 R17
All discipline results (1)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry HandlingLower is better | 5th / 8 | 89.73 s | +1.79 s |
- Production
- 5220
- UTQG
- 200 A A
- Tread
- 6.5 mm
Kumho Ecsta V730
225/45 R17
All discipline results (1)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry HandlingLower is better | 6th / 8 | 89.8 s | +1.86 s |
- Production
- 0321
- UTQG
- 200 AA A
- Tread
- 6.3 mm
Maxxis Victra VR1
225/45 R17
All discipline results (1)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry HandlingLower is better | 7th / 8 | 90.95 s | +3.01 s |
- Production
- 2219
- UTQG
- 200 AA A
- Tread
- 6.8 mm
Cooper RS3 RS
225/45 R17
All discipline results (1)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry HandlingLower is better | 8th / 8 | 91.06 s | +3.12 s |
- Production
- 4818
- UTQG
- 200 AA A
- Tread
- 5.4 mm
I have driven the BF Goodrich extensively on my 2003 Miata (Konig Helium wheels, Koni yellows, Racing Beat front bar) in both SCCA E-Street Solo, track days at Road Atlanta and Barber Motorsports Park, plus regular road trips. I have run the Azeenis RT660 down to the cords on my 2016 Audi A6 Quattro at both Road Atlanta and Barber, as well as on my brothers 2016 Cayman S at Barber. In fact, I ran the Miata and the Cayman back-to-back at Barber with Chin Motorsports today, in wet and dry lap sessions. A few weeks ago, three of my buddies and I drove a Spec E36 on the Hankooks for a Lemons race at Barber.
That said, I concur with every thing said about those three tires in this review. They nailed it.
Excellent review.
PS - After returning from warmup laps this past Saturday morning at Road Atlanta, I discovered my BFG Rivals had shed a blister on the LF outside shoulder, exposing the cords. With three track days to go, I borrowed a set of Hoosier SM7's from a Chin instructor who races Spec Miata...... Dear God, Purple Crack is REAL!!! It's like I opened a cheat code.... Seriously, Hoosiers are, practically, cheating. I have done about 2000 laps at Barber an d the Hoosiers were 3 seconds/lap faster than the excellent BFG's.
I need to try those Hoosiers!! :D
Why didn't test Federal RsrPro?
It wasn't a higher priority than the ones we tested, I'll try and include it next time.
Thanks, good job. I appreciate your works
hmmm it seems umbelievable that you haven't tested them yet. The most budget friendly trackday tyres are the federal rsr/rspro and nankang ns-2r. With so much interest globaly they should be tested years ago but no one seems to make them a priority. I wonder why..
I don't actually see much of Federal in the UK, a lot more Nankang.
Do you have any plans for a similar test for tyres available in the UK as these seem to be mainly US based?
I am looking for 225/45R17 track tyres that won't break the bank and may work in the wet for driving to and from a circuit / leave them on for the summer.
I would have gone AD08R but the AD08RS seems to have lost something with the new compound. It's a small size by modern standards, with no UUHP options and experience tells me road tyres like the PS4 or F1 5 will overheat and wear quickly on track with the power and weight of my car.
I could take a punt on a budget brand like Nankang or Federal but would kick myself if they weren't up to scratch and feel I should have saved up a bit and gone for the R888 or Cup 2.
Cheers
Yes, hopefully next year! Unfortunately I've not got around to it yet
Great stuff, love the reviews and info. Thanks
What vehicle, and will you have second wheels just for the track?
Cheers for the quick response!
It's an old Audi S2 from the mid 90s, ironically a contemporary of the test car used above. Quite heavy, 4wd, over 400bhp... which is fun but hard on tyres.
I've used dedicated track tyres in the past and always drive to and from the track - due to limited interior space - though that's always a gamble with the British weather as semi slicks and rain don't really mix!
Ideally, I'd get some AD08R but they're all old stock now.
I think NS2R or 595RSR may be worth a go but only if they're significantly cheaper than Cup2s.
Cheers
Agreed, though I might be tempted to try the AR1 if available!