17inch 1A tyre recommendation

[Duke Caboom]

I need new tyres for my EP3 Type R #. The car is used for sprinting. Dry grip is the only priority. They have to be on standard wheels and on MSA UK list 1a (ie proper road tyres, not trackday road legal tyres)

Last time I bought tyres it was obvious that Michelin Pilot Sport 3 were the fastest but it seems that they are very dated now. Tyres that win tyre tests are often not available in the correct size as modern performance cars have bigger wheels.

Standard size is 205/45 R17 but can vary this as long as they fit on the wheels. 215/40/17 apparently fit

I run at fairly low pressure, around 25psi warm, usually 2 psi lower at the rear. This seems to be fastest. We are not usually allowed to warm tyres with wheelspin so I try and get as much warmth as possible by allowing the tread to move about.

Continentals seem to do well in lots of tests so was thinking about them but the range is confusing (are "ultra contacts" better than "premium contacts"?) The only "sport contact" I can find is a run flat - is this significant in terms of performance?

Thanks

1a list here

LIST 1A
Production Tyres Suitable for
Competition

4. It is prohibited to re-groove
tyres in this list.
AVON
• ZV 7
• ZT 7
BLOCKLEY
• BR1 (pre 1/10/90)
BRIDGESTONE
• Potenza RE050, RE050A
• Potenza RE070R
• Potenza S007
• Potenza S001
• Potenza S005
• Potenza Sport
• (1)Potenza Race
CONTINENTAL
• ContiSportContact 2
• ContiEcoContact 3
• ContiSportContact 5
• ContiPremiumContact 5
• ContiEcoContact 5
• ContiPremiumContact 2
• ContiSportContact 3
• ContiSportContact 5P
• SportContact 6
• PremiumContact 6
• EcoContact 6
• UltraContact
• PremiumContact 7
• SportContact 7
COOPER
• CS7 (incl. CS7 Avon Academy)
DAVANTI
• Protoura Sport
DUNLOP
• SP Sport 01
• SP Sport 600
• SP Sport Aquajet/CB73
• SP Sport Maxx GT
• SP Sport Maxx RT
• SP Sport Blue Response
• SP Sport Maxx RT2
• *SP Sport Maxx Race 2
• SP Street Response 2
• SP Sport Maxx
• SP Sport FastResponse


(1) Only applicable where an OE fitting.
Contact Motorsport UK Technical
Department for verification.
FIRESTONE
• Firehawk Sport
GITI
• Sport S1
• Sport S2
• GitiSynergy E1
GOODYEAR
• Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
• Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
• Efficient Grip Performance
• Eagle F1 SuperSport
• Eagle F1 SuperSport R
• Eagle F1 SuperSport RS
• Efficient Grip Compact
• Efficient Grip Performance 2
• Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
• Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
GT RADIAL
• Sport Active
• Sport Active 2
• FE2
HANKOOK
• *Kinergy Eco
• Kinergy Eco2
• *Ventus S1 Evo2
• Ventus Prime 3
• *Ventus V12 Evo2
• *Ventus Prime 2
• Ventus Prime 4
• Ventus S1 Evo3
• (1)Ventus S1 EvoZ
KUMHO
• Ecsta PS91
• Ecsta HS52
MICHELIN
• Pilot Sport (Excludes Pilot
Sport Cup and all competition
tyres)
• Pilot Sport 3
• (1)Pilot Sport Cup 2R
• Pilot Sport Cup 2
• Pilot Sport 4 (including PS4S)
• Pilot Sport 5
• Pilot Sport PS2
• Pilot Exalto PE2
NANKANG
• NS–20
• AS–1
• XR–611
• AS–2
• AS-2+
• NA-1
• ECO-2+
PIRELLI
• *P Zero Nero
• P Zero
• Cinturato P7
• CA67
• CN12
• P7
• P Zero Nero GT
• P1 Cinturato
TOYO
• Proxes T1-R
• Proxes T1 Sport
• 330
• 310
• NanoEnergy 3
• Proxes CF2
• Proxes Sport
• Proxes TR1
• Proxes Sport 2
• Proxes Comfort
UNIROYAL
• RainSport 3
• RainExpert 3
• RainSport 5
• RainExpert 5
YOKOHAMA
• A 008 (Advan HF Type D)
• A 539
• Advan Sport V103
• *AC 02 (C Drive 2)
• Advan Sport V105
• *Blue Earth AE50
• Advan Fleva V701
• A 008 P
• GT Special Classic Y350
(pre 1/10/90)
• Advan Sport V107

[df76]

The Michelin PS4 would have been your answer a year ago, but no longer available. The PS5 (which I’ve used on the road) is probably not as good. Have a look at tests like this one. There are some very decent performance tyres now available.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2023-Tyre-Revi...

[df76]

New PS4s still available here. https://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s457p135340/Michel...

[Trev450]

@df76 I think you are referring to the PS4S as the 'must have ' tyre whereas your link it to the PS4 which is not in the same league.

OP, If Conti Sport 7's are ok for List 1A they would be my choice.

Edited by Trev450 on Saturday 6th July 14:35

[df76]

Trev450 said:

@df76 I think you are referring to the PS4S as the 'must have ' tyre whereas your link it to the PS4 which is not in the same league.

OP, If Conti Sport 7's are ok for List 1A they would be my choice.

Edited by Trev450 on Saturday 6th July 14:35

Not ever seen the PS4S available in a 17” tyre.

[Trev450]

df76 said:

Trev450 said:

@df76 I think you are referring to the PS4S as the 'must have ' tyre whereas your link it to the PS4 which is not in the same league.

OP, If Conti Sport 7's are ok for List 1A they would be my choice.

Edited by Trev450 on Saturday 6th July 14:35

Not ever seen the PS4S available in a 17” tyre.

They are available in a 225 but not sure if the OP can go to that

https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/tyres/michelin-pil...

[df76]

Yes, probably not ideal. Interesting that the Tyre Review tests show similar performance from the Potenza Sport. So that might be worth a look.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Compare/Potenza-Sport-...

[Trev450]

Interesting.

I'm limited to list 1A tyres also but run 18" so have a slightly wider choice than the OP.

[stevieturbo]

I think a lot of the name in Continental, is down to sizing, UHP sizes get sport, others get other names.

I've premium 6/7 F/R on one of my cars ( 16" front and 17" rear ). Only used hard around twice so far. First time was in the wet, and I thought they were pretty damn good.

Today it was dry on a longish circuit. Whilst the car was quite loose, that's probably not unexpected but the tyres faired well. I was 3rd in class, although I run in a higher class than I probably should and the only 2 cars quicker were on slicks.
Which TBH in 6b....not even sure they're allowed to be using slicks. But I'm not in it for points or any such things so don't care really. I should probably be in 2a really.

But as always, there are dozens of reviews of many tyres on Tyre Reviews to make an educated choice.

I would have went with PS5 myself, but they didn't offer it in both sizes so I figured the Conti's were the next closest with at least same brand for both

Edited by stevieturbo on Saturday 6th July 18:55

[Galveston]

The PS4 remains the go-to 17” 1A tyre in hillclimbing and sprinting.

I bought a new set from ASDA tyres in April. The date stamps were pretty recent - November 23 or something like that.

Edited by Galveston on Monday 8th July 08:30

[Duke Caboom]

Thanks for all the replies.

I've ordered a set of PS4s.