[m2c_6mt]

Needed new tires for my M2 and was deciding between the AD09s and the Michelin PS4S *spec (which were backordered). Decided to "risk" it and buy these tires which hadn't been reviewed by anyone else.

First impressions on the street were that the sidewalls are stiffer than equivalent Pilot Super Sports (and probably PS4S), but as long as I kept cold tire pressures in the 32-34 range, the ride was only slightly firmer than stock. The steering response was improved tremendously, and really brought to life the notoriously vague M2 steering.

Grip on the street is godly - when the tires are warmed up. Under *80F there was still more grip than the old PSS, but there is a huge increase in grip once the tires are warm. I could easily spin through second before and now it seems like on the street, the car just hooks and puts the power down effortlessly - even in first. The front end feels sharper, almost to the point where I feel like the rear needs more toe in to keep the car stable in turns and under braking.

Autocross performance:
These tires have very high grip levels (like RE71rs)...on my fast laps, I was on pace w/992 Carrera S & Cayman S good drivers with similar tires. BUT their "happy" operating window is slim and they DO NOT like getting hot.

If you overdrive and overheat the tires, they have a hard time maintaining that same level of grip and seem to get "greasy". Out of the 12 runs I did, run 3 and run 11 (after a lot of water spraying) were the fastest. At peak, I saw tire temps of 135-140F, and it took about an hour of sitting and some water spraying to get them back to the 100-110.

The car was very predictable and balanced until the tires got super hot, then I had a lot of oversteer (controllable) and some understeer in off camber turns. When I did go over the limit of grip, the car was very controllable and balanced - with a deep, audible screeching that let you know how quickly the car was rotating.

Great tire, but not for super heavy, camber-challenged cars or coarse surfaces IMO. If you are codriving I'm not sure these have the heat resistance to keep up. Will update after a couple more events and more street driving, no idea how these will wear over time but right now I'd be happy to get 5k miles out of them.

[m2c_6mt]

Can't figure out how to embed pics but here's an album of pre install and post autocross pics.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/C9QgKufyZAVbnapC9

[///MPhatic]

Thanks for that!

Hard to compare a 200 tw drive-to-and-from the track tire vs the 300 tw PS4S, so I'm glad you threw in the 71RS (one of my personal favorites).

My biggest issue with the AD09R is how WIDE they run. They're massive, so for fitment guys they will cause some issues.

For my money the V601 is still the clear winner for the M2 vs the PS4S and AD09R.

[m2c_6mt]

Wow, thanks for that post - didn't realize how much wider (comparatively) the fronts are! Makes sense why I feel like they changed the balance of the car. V601 looks good to try next...

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by m2c_6mt

Wow, thanks for that post - didn't realize how much wider (comparatively) the fronts are! Makes sense why I feel like they changed the balance of the car. V601 looks good to try next...

Hard to back after having 200 tw!

I really want tyrereviews to do a head to head on the RE71RS and the AD09R.

[///MPhatic]

Looking at this again, I think this is going to be a GREAT fitting tire for those guys that would normally go to a 255/275 to get a bit of extra width because the 245/265 AD09R is wider than the average 255/275's in other tires, AND they are shorter.

My 255/275 V601 tw's are 8.6 and 9.6, whereas the 245/265 AD09R's are 8.8 and 9.8.

Looked at another way:

OEM PSS 245/35: 8.8/25.8
OEM PSS 265/35: 9.4/26.3

PS4S 255/35: 8.9/26
PS4S 275/35: 9.8/26.6

AD09R 245/35: 8.8/25.9
AD09R 265/35: 9.8/26.4

You can see by the numbers how WIDE the stock star spec PSS is at 8.8, and why the car is a bit tail happy because the rear tire is .4 skinnier.

The AD09R will keep the back more planted, just like the 275 PS4S because the rear is .4" wider. But the overall grip level will be vastly superior to the PS4S.

[chris719]

I plan to go AD09 when my PSS wear out for the steering alone. We’ll see how the other compromises are.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by chris719

I plan to go AD09 when my PSS wear out for the steering alone. We’ll see how the other compromises are.

I'll end up with the 71RS or AD09R, just need TyreReviews to do a proper head-to-head. I'm betting the 71RS is actually going to be better in the rain, and the AD09R better in the dry. I never drive my M2 in the rain anymore, so I'll go with the best dry performer.

[ZM2]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

I'll end up with the 71RS or AD09R, just need TyreReviews to do a proper head-to-head. I'm betting the 71RS is actually going to be better in the rain, and the AD09R better in the dry. I never drive my M2 in the rain anymore, so I'll go with the best dry performer.

I’m guessing one of them will also end up being better for the street/AutoX, and the other for the track.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by ZM2

I’m guessing one of them will also end up being better for the street/AutoX, and the other for the track.

Agreed. Just looking at the size/shape of the blocks I can imagine the AD09R being better on track, but obviously the compound has a lot to do with it. They also can't scalp their A052, which is a track cheat tire really. It'll be interesting to have them compared properly for sure.

[ZM2]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

Agreed. Just looking at the size/shape of the blocks I can imagine the AD09R being better on track, but obviously the compound has a lot to do with it. They also can't scalp their A052, which is a track cheat tire really. It'll be interesting to have them compared properly for sure.

I’ve always found compound and heat resistance to be more important for the track than tread size/shape/pattern, and the OP's first post does not sound favorable to the Yoko as a track tire. Altho, we need more data.

Tirerack and even TyreReviews doesn’t really test for this, but GRM does: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/ar...-buyers-guide/

Will let you guys know if I see GRM post up a review of the Yoko.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by ZM2

I’ve always found compound and heat resistance to be more important for the track than tread size/shape/pattern, and the OP's first post does not sound favorable to the Yoko as a track tire. Altho, we need more data.

Tirerack and even TyreReviews doesn’t really test for this, but GRM does: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/ar...-buyers-guide/

Will let you guys know if I see GRM post up a review of the Yoko.

I mean, it's a rabbithole. The A052 is going to give the best time, but it doesn't last, so you pick your poison. For track tires it's AR1 for me, but that's a different league.

[ZM2]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

I mean, it's a rabbithole. The A052 is going to give the best time, but it doesn't last, so you pick your poison. For track tires it's AR1 for me, but that's a different league.

Sure, but point being compound makes more of difference than tread for a track tire.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by ZM2

Sure, but point being compound makes more of difference than tread for a track tire.

Of course, agreed.

None of these are real track tires though, not at 200 tw.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

Agreed. Just looking at the size/shape of the blocks I can imagine the AD09R being better on track, but obviously the compound has a lot to do with it. They also can't scalp their A052, which is a track cheat tire really. It'll be interesting to have them compared properly for sure.

I think the AD09 will be better on the street actually. Looks to me that AD09 has more void area in those two large grooves and will probably have better hydroplaning resistance. Also because like you said, the A052 exists and that is one tier higher in their performance line.

[ZM2]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

Of course, agreed.

None of these are real track tires though, not at 200 tw.

TW doesn’t mean anything for track tires. Many of the 200tw tires outperform the 100tw options.

Case and point is the AR-1–it’s one of the worst track tires available. It’s not any faster than most other 100/200tw tires, it gets greasy fast in the summer, and sucks in the wet. They’re cheap, but their lack of performance is not worth saving a couple hundred bucks a set.

Another terrible 100tw tire is the R888R. It literally does nothing well, and I’ve seen sidewalls blow out under load on three different occasions. If those guys weren’t experienced drivers and not able to recover 90+ mph on/off-road spins, it would have been three cars in the wall and probably injuries. Worst track tire I’ve ever been on.

If by real track tires, you mean slicks, I’ve run many of those, too. Fast, expensive, don’t last, can’t use them in the rain, and they like to break things on non full time race cars.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by ZM2

Another terrible 100tw tire is the R888R.

This bit I 100% agree with, but personal experience doesn't allow me to agree with the rest, and I've been running sticky tires since 1988. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

My toy wears NT01's at the moment, and has worn A005's, A048's, R888's, AD08R's (the originals), AR1's, and 71R's.

[ZM2]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

This bit I 100% agree with, but personal experience doesn't allow me to agree with the rest, and I've been running sticky tires since 1988. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

My toy wears NT01's at the moment, and has worn A005's, A048's, R888's, AD08R's (the originals), AR1's, and 71R's.

Let’s just say I’ve run everything out there (except the just released tires) over the years = >100+ sets of track tires.

And, tires perform differently on different car setups & weights, so another of the many variables when we talk about track tire performance.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by ZM2

Let’s just say I’ve run everything out there (except the just released tires) over the years = >100+ sets of track tires.

And, tires perform differently on different car setups & weights, so another of the many variables when we talk about track tire performance.

Weight is a huge factor. My Lotus is so light that it won't heat most tires up, which is why guys run the A1 instead of the R1, and why the A005 is the only true track tire for that car. My M2 will never see a track, as it handles like a wounded rhino compared to a proper track car.

[ZM2]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

Weight is a huge factor. My Lotus is so light that it won't heat most tires up, which is why guys run the A1 instead of the R1, and why the A005 is the only true track tire for that car. My M2 will never see a track, as it handles like a wounded rhino compared to a proper track car.

Yeah, big diff bn Lotus and M2 tire preferences. My track experiences are primarily with 3k lb cars with some power—def need more robust tires for that.

And, the weight balancing is part of the fun. Keep the M2 soft enough to be livable on the street and then let it body roll like an E36 race car on the track. It still achieves a very high level of grip without needing to be “flat”.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by ZM2

And, the weight balancing is part of the fun. Keep the M2 soft enough to be livable on the street and then let it body roll like an E36 race car on the track. It still achieves a very high level of grip without needing to be “flat”.

It's funny you mention that. The lightweight nature of the Lotus means it grips best with quite a bit of roll, but I have mine set up to corner very flat because it's more fun that way.

[m2c_6mt]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

I'll end up with the 71RS or AD09R, just need TyreReviews to do a proper head-to-head. I'm betting the 71RS is actually going to be better in the rain, and the AD09R better in the dry. I never drive my M2 in the rain anymore, so I'll go with the best dry performer.

I asked tyrereviews dude to do a review as well, and he said he would try to get a set soon.